‘The Road Not Taken’ poem Question answers are given here. The textbook exercise solutions given here are in easy language in compact word limits as per the CBSE Board Exams. The poem ‘the Road Not taken’ is written by Robert Frost and is a part of class 9 syllabus content given in the textbook ‘Beehive’.

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The Road Not Taken Question Answers

‘The Road Not Taken’ Poem is about choices and how our choosing them may have impact on our life. Many times, in our life, we are confounded with different choices and such a choice is often difficult to make. The poet stands in the woods, considering a fork in the road. Both ways are equally worn and equally overlaid with untrodden leaves. The speaker chooses one, telling himself that he will take the other on some another day. Yet, he knows it is unlikely that he will have the opportunity to do so. And he admits that someday in the future, he will tell others about his decision that he took the less-travelled road and it is certain that his choice will bring significant difference in his life.

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Thinking About the Poem

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

Ans. The traveller finds himself in a forest in autumn at a point where the road divides into two. He faces the problem as to which road he should choose. He wants to travel both the roads but he has to choose one of them since it is not possible for him to travel both simultaneously.

2. 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

Answers:

(i) Yellow wood symbolises the forest with autumn season.

(ii) It conveys that the road was full of grass and nobody had walked on that road. Unlike the other one, it was not worn out.

(iii) The use of the path by passers-by

(iv) The leaves had not changed their colour and turned black because of less people stepping on them.

(v) This phrase means how certain decisions one makes in life could pave the way for many other decisions.

3. 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?

Answers:

(i) In stanza two, the poet explains that the only difference between the two roads is that the road he takes has the right to be chosen (the better claim) because it is covered with grass and looks as if it has not been used too much. Besides, both roads have been equally worn down by passers-by travelling them. In stanza three, the poet says that both the roads were equally covered with leaves and that no person had stepped on.

(ii) In the last two lines of the poem, the poet says that there is a difference between the two roads because he took the road that was less travelled by other people and that made all the difference to his journey.

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 mean the acceptance of reality. The poet made a choice and accepted the challenging path. He took an unexplored path in his life. He wanted to do something different in his life so he chooses the less travelled road. No, he does not regret his choice.

II. 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. I don’t think, till now, I have ever been in a situation in which I had to make a difficult choice. Perhaps I am still too young to make an independent choice. Yes, I think sooner or later I will have difficult choices to make. After completing my general education, I will have to make choice of profession whether I should become an engineer, doctor or something else. I will have hundreds of options before me. Then it will be difficult to make a choice in between them. I will make a choice according to my capabilities and strong points at that time. I will choose a path that gives me satisfaction and mental peace. I will not join the rat race for money. Like the poet in poem, I will 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. Taking a decision makes or mars our future. Having made a choice, I accept the reality. Reconsidering a decision or contemplating over it is not a positive approach towards life. Such thoughts never allow us to be happy with what we have gained from our decision. Therefore, I believe in sticking to my decisions.