Daffodils main course of book of English reader

               Chapter-1

      The Road Not Taken 

Let's go through the questions one by one!

### **LET'S GO EASY FIRST**

#### **1. Choose the correct option:**

(i) **bent into the undergrowth.**

- **(b) One of the roads**

(ii) In the line *'And having perhaps the better claim,'* the phrase *'better claim'* means:

- **(a) better looking because it was less travelled**

(iii) In the phrase *'I shall be telling this with a sigh'* the poet tells with a 'sigh' because:

- **(a) he regrets not taking the other road**  

(*The sigh suggests some form of regret or reflection, though the exact emotion is ambiguous.*)

#### **2. Write 'T' for true or 'F' for false statements:**

(i) The poet is sure of coming back one day to follow the other path.  

- **F** (He doubts whether he will ever come back.)

(ii) The poet used the term *'wanted wear'* to tell something was used very often.  

- **F** (It means the road was less worn, not used often.)

(iii) Not taking the road more travelled made a difference in the poet's life.  

- **T** (The poet says that this choice made all the difference.)

(iv) The poet was happy about having to choose one of the two roads.  

- **F** (The tone of the poem suggests reflection, not necessarily happiness.)

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### **A STEP AHEAD**

#### **1. Short answer questions:**

(i) **Why did the poet stand for a long time at the fork?**  

The poet stood for a long time at the fork because he was contemplating which road to take, as both seemed equally viable, and he could not travel both.

(ii) **Which road did the poet take?**  

The poet took the road that was "less traveled by" or seemed less worn.

(iii) **Where did the poet find the two roads?**  

The poet found the two roads in a "yellow wood," a forest, during autumn.

(iv) **What do you think was the reason behind the road taken by the poet?**  

The poet chose the road that appeared less traveled, possibly because he wanted to take a unique path or make a choice that seemed less conventional.

#### **2. Long answer questions:**

(i) **Describe the two roads the poet had to choose from.**  

Both roads appeared quite similar, with one road possibly being less traveled than the other. Both roads were covered in leaves, and neither had been worn by many footsteps. One road, however, appeared to be grassier and less used, making it seem like the more unique or "better" choice, though the poet acknowledges that both roads were equally worn in reality.

(ii) **Why would the poet tell with a 'sigh' that he had taken the less traveled road?**  

The "sigh" reflects the poet's reflection on the consequences of his choice. It may signify regret, nostalgia, or relief—feelings that arise when reflecting on decisions that cannot be undone. The poet recognizes that the path he chose shaped his life in a unique way, even though he will never know what might have happened if he had taken the other road.

(iii) **Why do you think the poet was sorry for not being able to travel both roads?**  

The poet was sorry because, like many of us, he wished he could explore all possible paths in life. By choosing one road, he closed off the possibility of experiencing what might have been if he had chosen the other. This creates a sense of regret, or at least a wistful longing for what could have been.

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### **3. Answer the following questions with reference to context:**

(i) **'Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim,'**

(a) **Name the poet and the poem.**  

The poet is **Robert Frost**, and the poem is **The Road Not Taken**.

(b) **What is 'the other' the poet is talking about?**  

'The other' refers to the second road at the fork in the forest, which the poet ultimately decided to take.

(c) **What were the choices available here to the poet?**  

The poet had two choices: two roads in a forest that symbolized two different life paths or opportunities.

(d) **Why did it have a better claim?**  

The poet says the road had a "better claim" because it appeared less traveled, more grassy, and less worn down by others, which made it seem like a more unique or intriguing choice.

### **3. (e) Why did the poet make this decision?**

The poet made the decision to take the less traveled road because it seemed to offer a unique or different experience. It appeared less worn, symbolizing a choice that not many had made, which could have appealed to the poet's desire for individualism or a path less conventional. However, the poet's decision is also somewhat spontaneous, as he recognizes both roads were essentially similar.

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### **4. 'Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.'**

**(a) Where was the poet going?**  

The poet was journeying through a forest, where he came across two diverging roads. Symbolically, this can be interpreted as the poet making a life choice—choosing one path or decision that would shape his future.

**(b) Why did the poet decide to do so?**  

The poet decided to take one of the two roads because he had no choice but to make a decision. After standing for a long time, he ultimately chose the road that appeared less traveled, which seemed to offer a different or less common experience.

**(c) Why did he doubt if he would ever come back?**  

The poet doubted he would ever come back because life tends to move forward. Once a choice is made, it often leads to other choices and opportunities that carry us further away from the original crossroads. This reflects the reality that once we make a decision, it is difficult to return to the exact same point in life and make the opposite choice.

**(d) Explain the meaning of the phrase 'Yet knowing how way leads on to way.'**  

This phrase suggests that one decision inevitably leads to another, and once we set out on a particular path, it often opens up new experiences and possibilities, carrying us further along in life. The poet acknowledges that choices build upon one another, making it unlikely that he will have the chance to return to the same fork in the road. The phrase captures the idea that life moves forward and, once a choice is made, it is nearly impossible to retrace our steps to the exact starting point.

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Would you like to explore any of these answers further?