This page offers A Roadside Stand summary Class 12 pdf in easy language. We have presented short and long summaries from 50 words to 300 words. Go through to get a deep insight of the chapter A Roadside Stand from the Book Flamingo.  It is useful for exam point of view and quick learning of the chapter. Downloadable PDF is also available.

Short Summary:

In A Roadside Stand by Robert Frost, poor villagers build a small stand beside the road. They sell things like wild berries and squash to passing travellers. The villagers hope to earn some money. They dream that city people’s money could make their lives better. But most city people do not stop. If they do, it’s only to complain that the stand spoils the view.

The villagers want a better life, like the promises they see in movies. But people in power make false promises. They pretend to help the poor but keep them struggling.

Sometimes, the poet feels it might be kinder to end the villagers’ pain than let them suffer. This poem shows the unfairness faced by the poor and the lack of care from city people and leaders.

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Detailed Summary:

The Roadside Stand by the Village:The poem A Roadside Stand by Robert Frost talks about poor villagers who set up a small stand by the side of a busy road. The stand is built from a little old house with a small new shed.

They hope that city people driving by will stop and buy some goods. The villagers sell simple things like wild berries and squash, hoping for just a bit of “city money.” They think that with some money, they can live better lives. They don’t want to beg or ask for charity; they just want to earn through hard work.

Ignored and Disappointed:The villagers feel disappointed because most of the passing cars don’t stop. The “polished” cars keep moving, with the drivers looking straight ahead, ignoring the stand completely. Even if someone does look at the stand, it is often with annoyance. Some people feel that the stand makes the beautiful countryside look messy.

They don’t like the simple, homemade signs painted by the villagers, even if the villagers did their best. The villagers used simple letters that sometimes got painted the wrong way, which made the signs look a bit funny to the city people.

Dreams of a Better Life:The villagers dream of a better life. They imagine that some money from city people will make their lives as nice as in the movies they see. They believe that with money, their lives will be filled with joy, just like the promises they hear about. The villagers hope to feel secure, free from hunger and worry. But the poet, Robert Frost, feels sad for them because he knows these dreams might never come true.

Broken Promises from People in Power:The poem explains that people in power—like the government or rich organisations—sometimes promise to help the poor. These people say they will take the villagers to new homes near theatres and shops.

They act like they want to improve the villagers’ lives. However, the poet shows that these are often false promises. Instead of helping, these “greedy good-doers” control the villagers’ lives and take away their independence. The villagers feel helpless because the rich and powerful people make decisions for them, but these decisions only serve to keep them quiet, not happy.

The Poet’s Sadness:The poet feels sad as he watches the villagers wait all day, hoping a car will stop. There is a lot of “childish longing,” or simple, innocent hope, in their hearts. They wait for the sound of brakes, hoping that a car will finally stop.

Sometimes a car does stop, but it’s often not to buy anything. Once, a car stopped just to turn around in the yard, ruining the grass. Another car stopped only to ask for directions. This behaviour hurts the villagers because they feel ignored and unwanted.

The Poet’s Frustration:At the end, the poet feels deeply frustrated and wonders if it would be better for the villagers to be free from their struggles and pain.

He feels it would be a relief to end their suffering because it’s painful to see them disappointed every day. However, he quickly realises that this thought is not the right answer. He knows it’s not fair to wish that for anyone, even if they are suffering.

Message of the Poem:In the poem A Roadside Stand, Robert Frost highlights the hardships of poor villagers. They want a better life, but they feel ignored by city people and tricked by those in power. The poem shows the unfairness faced by the rural poor and teaches us to be kinder and more understanding towards them.