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The Road Not Taken - Beehive - Class 9 - CBSE English
The Road Not Taken, Class 9, Beehive, "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost is a famous poem about making choices in life. Read this analysis to understand its themes, symbols, and poetic devices.
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About the author - The Road Not Taken | Beehive | Class 9 Literature | CBSE English
The poem "The Road Not Taken" was written by Robert Frost, an American poet who lived from 1874 to 1963. He was one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century and is known for his simple yet profound poetry that often explores themes of nature, human experience, and the complexities of decision-making. "The Road Not Taken" is one of Frost's most famous poems and is often cited as a quintessential example of American literature.
Summary - The Road Not Taken | Beehive | Class 9 Literature | CBSE English
"The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost is a poem that speaks about the human experience of making choices and the impact that those choices can have on our lives. At its surface, the poem is a simple description of a speaker who comes to a fork in the road and chooses to take the less-travelled path. However, there are many deeper meanings and interpretations of the poem that have made it one of the most well-known and beloved poems of the 20th century.
The poem begins with the speaker describing himself as standing at a fork in the road. He looks down both paths as far as he can see, but he cannot determine which one will lead him to his destination. He wishes that he could travel both paths but knows that he cannot. The speaker then describes the two paths in detail, noting that one appears to be "grassy and wanted wear" while the other is "just as fair, and perhaps the better claim." Despite his uncertainty, the speaker decides to take the path that appears less travelled because it seems to offer greater potential for adventure and discovery.
As the speaker travels down this path, he becomes aware of the fact that it is unlikely that he will ever return to this place again. He realizes that the decision he has made all the difference in his life. The speaker seems to be looking back on this decision with a sense of nostalgia and perhaps even regret, wondering what might have happened if he had taken the other path. The final stanza of the poem is often interpreted as a reflection on the human experience of making choices and the way that we often look back on our lives and wonder about the paths we did not take.
One of the reasons that "The Road Not Taken" has remained so popular is that it can be interpreted in many different ways. Some readers see the poem as a celebration of individualism and taking the path less travelled, while others see it as a cautionary tale about the dangers of making hasty decisions. Still, others see it as a commentary on the human experience of regret and the way that our choices can shape our lives in unpredictable ways. Ultimately, the meaning of the poem is left up to the reader, making it a deeply personal and resonant work of literature.

Themes - The Road Not Taken | Beehive | Class 9 Literature | CBSE English
The themes in "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost can be categorized as follows:
Choices and Decisions:
The most prominent theme of the poem is choices and decisions. The speaker faces a choice between two paths, and he realizes that he can only take one of them. This theme is explored throughout the poem as the speaker considers his options, weighs the pros and cons, and ultimately makes his decision. The poem suggests that our choices have consequences and that we must be thoughtful and deliberate in the decisions we make.
Individualism and Nonconformity:
Another important theme in the poem is individualism and................................................
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Symbols - The Road Not Taken | Beehive | Class 9 Literature | CBSE English
"The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost is rich in symbolism. Some of the symbols in the poem are:
The Two Roads:
The two roads in the poem are the most obvious symbol. They represent the choices and decisions we face in life. The fact that the speaker chooses the road less travelled suggests that he values individualism and nonconformity.
The Woods:
The woods are a symbol of the unknown. They represent ............................
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Poetic Devices - The Road Not Taken | Beehive | Class 9 Literature | CBSE English
Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken" employs several poetic devices to convey its themes and imagery. Some of the poetic devices used in the poem are:
Metaphor:
- The two roads in the poem are a metaphor for the choices we make in life. The fact that the speaker chooses the road less travelled by is a metaphor for his individualism and nonconformity.
Personification:
- The speaker personifies the two paths as if they are .................................
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Vocabulary - The Road Not Taken | Beehive | Class 9 Literature | CBSE English
- Diverged: To split off in different directions
- Undergrowth: Low-lying vegetation
- Trodden: Walked on or beaten down by foot traffic
- Sigh: A deep breath...............................
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The Road Not Taken - Questions and Answers | Beehive | Class 9 Literature | CBSE English
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Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveller, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; (a) Why could the speaker not travel both the roads? (b) Why did he feel like traveling both the roads? (c) "... long I stood". What did the speaker do while standing for a long time? (d) "And be one traveller". Explain.
(a) It was not feasible for him to take both options simultaneously as he had to make up his mind on one of them as he was a lone traveller. (b) He had an adventurous spirit and wanted to venture out both the options. (c) The speaker was in a dilemmic state as to which one would be a better option as the road, which is symbolic of option, should he travel on. He pondered over it for a long time before making up his mind. (d) It means he alone had to cover the journey himself.
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Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, (a) Then took the other. What -does 'the other' refer to here? (b) 'the better claim". What better claim did 'the other' have? (c) Give the rhyme scheme of these lines.
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And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. (a) Having chosen his road, what decision did the speaker take about the first road? (b) Explain: "leaves no step had trodden black". (c) Why is the poet not sure whether he will ever come back to the first road? (d) "If I should ever come back", Why would the speaker like to come back?
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I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, And I - I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference. (a) What will the speaker be telling with a sigh? (b) Why do you think the speaker will have to sigh? (c) As a symbol, what does 'road' signify in the poem?
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Describe the two roads that the author finds.
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Which road does the speaker choose?
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Which road would you choose? Why?
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Does the speaker seem happy about his decision?
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The poet says, "I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference." What is 'the difference' that the poet mentions?
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Find the rhyme scheme of the poem.
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When do you think Robert Frost wrote the poem - before sailing from the USA to England or after? Write your answer in not more than 75-100 words.
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Why was it so difficult to make this decision? Think and give more than one reason. Write your answer in not more than 75-100 words.
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What does 'road' symbolize in the poem? How importance is it to take right decisions in life? Give your opinion. Write your answer in not more than 75-100 words.
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What moral does the poem βThe road not takenβ present before us?
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Fill in the blanks to complete the following paragraph that deals with the theme of the poem. Use the words given in the box below:
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Where does the traveller find himself? What problem does he face?
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Discuss what these phrases mean to you. (i) a yellow wood (ii) it was grassy and wanted wear (iii) the passing there (iv) leaves no step had trodden black (v) how way leads on to way
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Is there any difference between the two roads as the poet describes them (i) in stanzas two and three? (ii) in the last two lines of the poem? In "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost, the two roads are described in different ways throughout the poem.
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What do you think the last two lines of the poem mean? (Looking back, does the poet regret his choice or accept it?)
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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)?
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After you have made a choice do you always think about what might have been, or do you accept the reality?
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The Road Not Taken - Line by line explanation in Hindi | Beehive | Class 9 Literature | CBSE English
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Quiz - The Road Not Taken | Beehive | Class 9 Literature | CBSE English
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