Class 12 English Poetry|Chapter 5|A Roadside Stand: Welcome to bodotutor.com ! Here you will get complete Class 12 English notes based on the AHSEC|ASSEB syllabus. We are starting with Class 12 Chapter 5|A Roadside Stand, and we’ll continue to provide clear, easy-to-understand notes for every chapter to help you in your exams. Stay connected for regular updates and more study materials!
Class 12 English Poetry|Chapter 5|A Roadside Stand
Short Type Question and Answer
1. Who is the poet of “A Roadside Stand”?
Ans: Robert Frost.
2. What is the central theme of the poem “A Roadside Stand”?
Ans: The central theme of the poem is the disparity between the rural poor and the city-dwellers, and the yearning of the rural people for a better life.
3. Where is the roadside stand located in the poem?
Ans: The roadside stand is located on the edge of the road, where the traffic speeds by.
4. What does the roadside stand ask for?
Ans: The roadside stand asks for some money, not as a charity, but to support their livelihood and expand their life.
5. What does the speaker think of the city dwellers’ attitude towards the roadside stand?
Ans: The speaker suggests that the city dwellers pass by without any concern and are irritated by the sight of the stand.
6. What kind of products are being sold at the roadside stand?
Ans: Wild berries, crook-necked golden squash, and beauty rest in a mountain scene are offered for sale.
7. What is the significance of the line, “If you want to be mean, why keep your money”?
Ans: This line expresses the frustration of the people at the roadside stand, who feel rejected by the city folk and are accusing them of being selfish and unkind.
8. What does the speaker mean by “the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid”?
Ans: The speaker refers to the unspoken desire and hopelessness of the rural people who trust that someone will stop and offer help, but that rarely happens.
9. What is the dream of the people at the roadside stand?
Ans: The dream of the people is to experience the life promised by the moving pictures and to have access to the prosperity and benefits that city life brings.
10. What happens when the cars stop at the roadside stand?
Ans: The cars stop only to ask for directions, gas, or to plow up the grass, showing no genuine interest in buying anything.
Long Type Answer & Questions
1. Explain the symbolism of the roadside stand in the poem.
Ans: The roadside stand in the poem symbolizes the plight of the rural poor who, despite their efforts, are ignored and sidelined by the more prosperous city dwellers. It represents their silent struggle for survival and recognition, as well as their desire for a better life. The stand is not just a place for selling goods; it is a metaphor for the rural people’s hope to be noticed and helped. However, the stand is largely ignored by the fast-moving traffic, representing how society overlooks the suffering of the rural poor.
2. Discuss the role of the city dwellers in the poem “A Roadside Stand.”
Ans: In “A Roadside Stand,” the city dwellers are portrayed as indifferent and self-centered. They speed past the stand without showing any real interest in the rural people’s plight. They are irritated by the sight of the stand, and some stop only to ask for directions or gas, without acknowledging the farmers’ needs. The city dwellers represent a society that is disconnected from the struggles of the poor and is focused on its own fast-paced and selfish life.
3. How does Frost criticize the so-called “beneficent beasts of prey” in the poem?
Ans: Frost uses the phrase “beneficent beasts of prey” to criticize those who claim to be doing good for the poor, but in reality, they are just exploiting them. These “good-doers” impose their own solutions on the rural poor without understanding their true needs. They try to “soothe them out of their wits,” which suggests that their help is more harmful than beneficial, as it deprives the rural people of their autonomy and leads to the destruction of their way of life.
4. Explain the emotional impact of the line “I can’t help owning the great relief it would be / To put these people at one stroke out of their pain.”
Ans: The speaker expresses deep sympathy and sorrow for the rural people’s suffering. The line suggests that the speaker feels a sense of hopelessness regarding their situation and wonders if it would be a relief to end their pain altogether. This line conveys the emotional weight of the poverty and despair experienced by the people at the roadside stand. It also reflects the speaker’s frustration with the inability to change their circumstances and the lack of support from society.
5. What does the speaker suggest about the rural people’s longing for city money in the poem?
Ans: The speaker suggests that the rural people’s longing for city money is not just for material wealth, but for a sense of dignity and recognition. They hope that receiving money from city dwellers will help them expand their lives and fulfill the promises of prosperity depicted in media and films. The poem highlights their longing for a better life, a desire that is never fulfilled because the city people ignore them. The money represents a symbol of the opportunity to escape their miserable condition.
6. What does the speaker’s use of the term “sane” in the last line suggest?
Ans: The speaker’s use of the term “sane” in the final line reflects a shift in perspective. After expressing sympathy and frustration with the rural people’s suffering, the speaker contemplates whether offering relief to them would be a real solution. The use of “sane” suggests that the speaker is reconsidering the idea of offering help and wonders how it would feel if someone were to offer him the same relief. It points to the complexity of understanding and responding to the struggles of others, as well as the emotional toll it takes on those who observe suffering without being able to change it.
Comment Type Question and Answer
1. Why is the title “A Roadside Stand” significant?
Ans: The title “A Roadside Stand” is significant because it symbolizes the rural people’s struggle for survival and recognition. The stand is a metaphor for their desire to be seen and heard by the fast-paced city life that passes them by without a second thought. The stand, while physically insignificant, represents the rural people’s silent plea for help and their hope for a better life. The title reflects the disparity between the rural and urban worlds and emphasizes the emotional pain of being overlooked by society.
2. What does the title “A Roadside Stand” reveal about the poem’s theme?
Ans: The title “A Roadside Stand” reveals that the poem is about the unnoticed and marginalized lives of the rural poor. The roadside stand is not just a physical structure but a symbol of their hopes, dreams, and frustrations. It reflects the theme of social inequality, where the rural people are left to fend for themselves while city dwellers are unaware of their struggles. The title encapsulates the idea of being on the margins, with the stand serving as a quiet plea for help and recognition.
