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Read the poem below and then answer the questions that follow. The Road Not Taken Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not...

      

Read the poem below and then answer the questions that follow.
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
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,
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.
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.
By Robert Frost
(Adapted from Understanding Poetry by Jim Reeves London: Heinemann, 1965)

  

Answers


gregory
(a) Explain the meaning of the poem.
? Literal meaning: The traveler comes to a cross road and has to determine
between the two ways which one to take in order to continue with his
journey. After much mental debate, the traveler picks the road "less
travelled" .
? Symbolic meaning: Our choices determine how our lives will be in the days
to come/future. The persona makes a rare choice (uncommon choice which
will determine his destiny).
(b) Explain the meaning of the line 'Yet knowing how way leads on to way.'
? Our chice will lead to new things and other opportunities
? One road will always lead to another. The choices we make lead to other
openings/opportunities.
(c) Identify and explain the use of symbolism in the poem.
? Symbols: forked road - process of making choices in life
obstacles/challenges/pitfalls
? grassy- The road is not well used and needed someone to walk on it. It is
more challenging or difficult option to take .It is less popular and people
avoided it.
? Undergrowth – Challenges / hardship in life
(d) What does the poet means when he says that 'I took the one less
travelled by'?
? He took the road that looked less used. A rare / unusual option
(e) What does the poem reveal about the character of the persona?
Characteristics of the persona:
? Adventurous – explores unknown territory
? Daring/ courageous – challenges the unknown
? Cautious – weighs his option
? Decisive - makes uncommon choices
(f) What is the tone of the poem?
? The tone is solemn (negative)/ soul-searching/ regretful/ remorseful -
makes a bad choice and regrets.
? The tone is contentment/ relief/ contented/ optimism - made the choice he
doesn't regret/ a way leads to another way
(g) Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the poem.
(i) diverged
? Divided/forked/ separated/ parted/ branched/split
(ii) sigh
? relief/ sign of good/ bad ending/ satisfaction/ contentment/ regret/
gregorymasila answered the question on January 31, 2018 at 10:29


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