Class 9 English / Beehive / Chapter 1 / The Road Not Taken - Question Answer

Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 1
 The Road Not Taken - Question Answer

1. Where does the traveler find himself? What problem does he face?

Ans: The traveler finds himself standing at the fork of the road in a yellow wood. He needs to decide which road to choose, and he stands at the fork analyzing his dilemma. 

2. Discuss what these phrases mean to you:

(i) A yellow wood

Ans: Yellowwood symbolizes the autumn season in the forest. Autumn represents the shedding of the old and the dead leaves on the tree withers away. It also refers to old age in human life where he loses all his physical abilities, preparing to ascend to the next stage.

(ii) It was grassy and wanted to wear

Ans: It conveys that the road was full of undisturbed vegetation because it was a less traveled one. The poet personifies the road by saying ‘wanted wear.’ It could imply the road wanted to be explored or traveled by visitors, which it was not.

(iii) The passing there

Ans: The phrase is used to address the other path that is frequently traveled by visitors. He addressed the road as secondary as he was keener to explore the road with outgrown vegetation.

(iv) Leaves no step had trodden black

Ans: The poet uses the phrase to describe the untouched state of the path. After walking over the leaves their edges turn black which was not the case here. He went on a walk early in the morning, and one had walked on either of the roads, and leaves from the trees lay fresh on them.

(v) How way leads on to way

Ans: The phrase tells us about the poet's desire to try both roads and see the destination. But he soon realizes how one way will lead to another until one is extremely far from where they started. All the decisions in life pave the way for a new one and help us create our life journey, which is unique for everyone.

3. Is there any difference between the two roads as the poet describes them

(i) In stanzas two and three?

Ans: In stanza two, the poet explained the physical difference in the roads. One road was frequently traveled by and had a clear path with less vegetation while the other path was covered with vegetation, was not stepped on and was used often.

In stanza three, the poet concludes that in the morning since no one had stepped on either of the roads and they were covered with fallen autumn leaves both roads were untravelled.

(ii) In the last two lines of the poem?

Ans: For the poet, in the last line, the difference arose from the fact that he chose the road that was less traveled, and it would embark him on a different journey, different from the one he would have if he chose the first road. It was not the difference in the physical appearance but the destination that it would end at.

4. What do you think the last two lines of the poem mean? (Looking back, does the poet regret his choice or accept it?)

Ans: The last two lines of the poem show the poet's acceptance of reality and his being accountable for his decision. The poet made a daring choice and took a path that was challenging. He took an unexplored path in his life since wanted to do something different. Years ahead in his life, he is not disappointed by his decision. 

For a common person, the phrase reflects the everyday dilemma one must face when presented with choices. No matter how far they take him in life, one should not regret not taking the other path and wondering if life could have been better than what it is.

II.Thinking About the Poem

1. Have you ever had to make a difficult choice (or do you think you will have difficult choices to make)? How will you make the choice (for what reasons)?

Ans: No, till now I have never been presented with such a situation. There are various minor instances in our life too that present us with a choice and decisions are to be made. In such instances, we should be guided by our hearts and make the best possible decision.

In my case after completing my general education, I will have to decide upon the profession I wish to continue. I will have multiple options before me. I will try to choose a path that gives me satisfaction and mental peace. Like the poet in the poem, I would love to choose a challenging and unexplored path in my life.

2. After you have made a choice do you always think about what might have been or do you accept the reality?

Ans: I always believe in taking time and thinking about all the possible consequences before planning. Some decisions can change our life forever and hence we should go with what our heart desires. We should not try our best to not do things and take actions to satisfy others. We should give preference to our desires and wishes and work hard for them.  Therefore; I believe in sticking to my decisions and being accountable for them.

Additional Questions

Short answer type questions

Question 1.

What was the poet’s dilemma?

Answer:

The poet was standing before the two roads. He had to decide which one would lead him to success. It was not easy for him to decide. So he stood there and introspected. Out of the two options, he had to choose the one. Of course, it was not an easy choice.

Question 2.

What was the poet’s opinion about both roads?

Answer:

The poet opined that both roads were the same. They were equally traveled and there was no difference between them. So he got confused. It was difficult to decide which road would be more convenient and comfortable. He wanted to choose the one that would take him to his intended destination.

Question 3.

What do the roads represent?

Answer:

The roads represent the problem of decision-making. Human beings suffer because of their choices and decisions. They find themselves in such situations at every step of their lives. Out of the available options, they have to choose the one that may take them to their destination. The choice decides the outcome of life.

Question 4.

Did the poet take his decision haphazardly?

Answer:

No, he speculated and brooded over the situation. He took this decision after a lot of contemplation. He did not take this decision haphazardly. No doubt, he was a bit confused. After all, it was not quite easy to make the right choice. But he exercised his option after much contemplation.

Question 5.

Why did the poet choose that road?

Answer:

The poet chose that road because it was less traveled. He wanted to do those activities which had not been done by anyone earlier. The poet didn’t seem to be interested in choosing a much-trodden path of life. Avoiding the popular rat race, he opted for the option that broke fresh ground.

Question 6.

What is the message of the poem?

Answer:

The message of the poem is to make people aware of their analytical skills. The poet wishes to say that choices should be made carefully and thoughtfully. One should behave responsibly because life does not offer multiple chances every now and then.

Question 7.

Did the poet make the right choice?

Answer:

It is not easy to say whether the poet made the right choice or not. He, himself couldn’t reach any such conclusion. It is possible that he may repent for making such a choice. He avoided the popular and off-beaten path of life. He dared to choose the path which was less frequently used by the people. This bold decision might bring all the difference in his life.

Question 8.

Why did the poet take the ‘other’ road? Why did the ‘other’ road have a better claim than the first road?

Answer:

The poet had to choose one of the two roads. He left the one which was a popular choice. He decided to take the ‘other’ road which was less frequented and traveled by the people. The ‘other’ road had a better claim as it was grassy. It invited the people to walk on it.

Question 9.

Describe the conditions of both the roads that lay open before the poet on that morning.

Answer:

In the yellow autumnal wood, two roads diverged in two directions. Both of them were covered with fallen leaves. In the morning, both of them were still untouched. The steps of travelers have not blackened them. One was frequently used by travelers. The other one was not a popular choice. It seemed to invite people to walk on it.

Question 10.

Was the poet certain to come back on the road he had left for another day?

Answer:

Life and its ways are complex and confusing. One road leads to another. On this web, one has to make a choice. The poet left the one road and hope that he would use it on another day. But he was quite doubtful. It often happens that the road that is left once, is left forever. Rarely do we come onto that road again.

Question 11.

How does the outcome of our life depend on the choice we make to reach our destinations?

Answer:

Life is full of complexities. It provides us with different choices and options. The choice is never easy. Our success or failure depends on the choice that we make. Most people choose the most popular or frequented paths in life. But some bold and adventurous people take risks and choose the less frequented paths and ways of life.

Long answer type questions

Question 1.

In the poem “The Road Not Taken,” what do the woods symbolize?

Answer: The poem reveals the complex nature of a seemingly simple decision. The narrator is conflicted as he thinks about which road to take. Even after some deliberation and the fact that usage “Had worn them really about the same,” he cannot help wondering, but then doubting “if I should ever come back”. He is even trying to convince himself that he has made the best choice as, when he looks back “Somewhere ages and ages hence”, he is sure that he will be able to say that he made the best choice and that it “has made all the difference”.

This poem highlights the fact that freedom (of choice in this instance) brings with it its own set of responsibilities. His poem also, perhaps, indicates the futility of overthinking some situations. If, even trivial decisions require so much thought, how can anyone ever make life-changing decisions? Apparently, for the narrator, this is life-changing. At least the choice is his to make.

Question 2:

What do the two roads symbolize in passage 1? What is the significance of choosing a road?

Answer:

The two roads that the poet-traveler faces in his walk or journey are symbolic of the choices that we have to encounter in our life. The journey or a simple walk itself is a metaphor for the great journey of life. In the poem the poet, after prolonged thought, decides to take the road less traveled, accepting its challenges and uncertainties. The decision is final and irreversible and it has its own consequences, which may be positive or negative. In real life also we confront such critical situations where we face life-altering options. The decision we make is crucial. We should contemplate the choices before and then decide our priorities. Once we make the decision and proceed accordingly, we can never reverse it. Life takes its own course, and it does not give us a second chance to alter our decision and change our course of life. Hence, decide wisely.

Question 3:

What is the theme of the poem “The Road Not Taken’?

Answer:

The poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ offers a profound perception of the process of decision-making. The traveler at the crossroads of the diverging roads is symbolic of an individual at a decisive moment in his life’s journey. His decision or choice of future action is of utmost significance since the decision decides his destiny. The poet, Robert Frost, through this poem, asserts the importance of the right decision at the right time. In life we have to make our choices; sometimes we have to make these choices without the full understanding of the state of affairs. Even then, we should arrive at a decision only after carefully considering all the available options. We may regret our choice or we may be excited about our choice, but the choice at the crucial moment will determine and change the path of our life. Hence, the poem stresses the need for deep and critical analysis of the situation before we arrive at a life-transforming decision.

Question 4:

Discuss the anticipation or remorse in The Road Not Taken.

Answer:

There is a fair amount of irony to be found here in the poem but this is also a poem infused with the anticipation of remorse. Its title is not ‘The Road Less Travelled’ but “The Road Not Taken”. Even as he makes a choice (a choice he is forced to make if he does not want to stand forever in the woods, one for which he has no real guide or definitive basis for decision-making), the speaker knows that he will second-guess himself somewhere down the line— or at the very least he will wonder at what is irrevocably lost: the impossible, unknowable Other Path. But the nature of the decision is such that there is no Right Path— just the chosen path and the other path. The Road Less Travelled is a fiction the speaker will later invent, an attempt to polarize his past and give himself, retroactively, more agency than he really had. What is sighed for ages and ages hence are not so much the wrong decisions as the moments of decision themselves— moments that, one atop the other, mark the passing of a life. This is the more primal strain of remorse.

Question 5:

What appeals to you in the poem?

Answer:

The poem, “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost is extremely appealing as it, in simple words and style, presents the importance of making judicious decisions at critical moments in our life. In life we have to choose our options; sometimes we have to make these choices without a full awareness of the circumstances. Even then, we should come to a decision only after vigilantly considering all the offered alternatives. We may regret our choice or we may be thrilled with our choice, but the choice at the vital moment will determine and transform the path of our life. Hence, the poem emphasizes the necessity for deep and serious reasoning of the circumstances before we arrive at a life-transforming decision.