The Road Not Taken-Value Based Questions

The Road Not Taken-Value Based Questions edumantra.net

The Road Not Taken

By- Robert Frost

Value-Based Extra Questions and Answers– The Road Not Taken

1.‘The Road Not Taken’ symbolises the metaphor of choices made in life. Describe the theme of the poem justifying its title.
Answer- ‘The Road Not Taken’ is a biographical poem of Robert Frost. In the poem, Frost uses the fork in the road as a metaphor for the choices we make in life. It tells us about a man (the poet himself) who comes to a fork in the road, he is travelling upon. He can’t travel both paths and must choose one. This fork represents a point in man’s life where he has to choose the right direction.
He stands and watches the first alternative that life provides to him. Then he views the other road or the other option of life. He resolves the dilemma by choosing the road less travelled by the people. He hopes that his choice will be more rewarding when he reaches the end of the journey. The poet leaves the first road for another day. He has a genuine doubt that one road leads to the other and he will never get a chance of going back. The title The Road Not Taken’ is quite appropriate and logical. It is very difficult to say whether he has made the right choice on the spur of the moment. It is possible that after many years from now he will not be too happy with his choice. But he had already taken the decision which couldn’t be altered now.

  1. What is the dilemma of the poet in ‘The Road Not Taken’? How does Frost use the fork in the road as a metaphor for the choices we make in life? How does he resolve this dilemma and with what result? Had you been in place of the poet, would you have chosen the same road as chosen by the poet? If not, give reasons for your choice.

Answer- Robert Frost’s poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ is about the choices that one makes in life. In the poem, Frost uses the fork in the road as a metaphor for the choices we make in our lives. How our life will shape much depends on what option, and what direction we choose in life. The dilemma before the poet is how to make the right choice. Two roads are separating in a yellow forest. Both are equally fair. The poet sees the first road as far as it goes and assesses the situation.
Then he turns to the second road as far as the first one. But the second road is less travelled by and its grass wants to wear. The poet resolves the dilemma by choosing the road which is less travelled by. He keeps the first road for another day. He knows that it becomes impossible to come back to the road one has left for another day. Frost himself chose the risky and unconventional profession of becoming a poet.
Perhaps he was not happy about making his choice. Perhaps the road that was not taken would have proved more rewarding. But once the choice is made it becomes irrevocable. And this choice has made all the difference in life.  Being a man of adventurous nature, I would like to follow the unconventional path like the poet.

  1. The poet will be telling ‘this with a sigh’ that he took the road ‘less travelled by’ and ‘that has made all the difference’. What is the difference that the poet mentions? Do you believe in making choices that are less ‘risky’ and acceptable or the ones which are adventurous, ambitious and unconventional? Give reasons for your choice.

Answer- The poet resolved the dilemma of making a choice. He chose the road that was less travelled by. Here, the two roads represent two options, two alternatives, two ways and two directions of life. The poet left the more acceptable and convenient road thinking that he would walk on it on another day. Though he doubted that once followed a path it would become impossible for him to come back to the one he had left. The poet had options to follow the road that led to prosperity, fame and money.
It could have been a less risky and acceptable conventional option. But he chose to be a poet. His choice made all the difference in his life. Perhaps the road he had not taken would have proved more rewarding. Perhaps other professions would have proved more fruitful. The poet would regret it but without any redressal. The choice had been made and it was irrevocable.
I believe in making choices which are adventurous, ambitious and unconventional. The reason is simple. I am young and full of vigour I like to come across new challenges in life.

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  1. “The choice we make has far-reaching consequences.” How can you make the right choices in life?

Answer- Life is a continuous journey full of divergences every now and then. Life throws up many alternatives. Man being an individual cannot take up all the choices. The impact that our choice will make on one’s life also cannot be foreseen. Hence, our decision is a shot in the dark though our future depends on it.
Man revolves around the dilemma of making the right choice in life. If the choice made by him happens to be erroneous, he has to face the consequences as steps once taken cannot be retracted.
We should make a choice after taking advice and suggestions of elders who are more experienced than us. If we want to do something new and unconventional, we should see both positive and negative aspects because once we make a choice it cannot be retracted. We should be very careful and cautious and think many times before choosing any road in our life because whatever the choice we make today, it will have far-reaching consequences on our life tomorrow.

  1. “I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference.”

(a)What is the difference that the poet mentions?

(b)What values do you learn from the speaker?

Answer- (a)The poet says his choice of the less travelled road has shaped his life in a specific manner with which he is not very happy. Had he chosen the other road, his ambitions and aspirations in life might have been fulfilled and he would not have looked back with a sense of regret. Probably, he would have called himself a successful man.
(b)“The Road” is the symbol of the choice made by us in life. Many times, we regret the choice made by us but what is done once, cannot be undone. Man yearns for what he has denied himself in life, rather than what he has chosen. We have mainly two types of choices in life, the easier path and the more challenging path. The selection of the difficult road symbolises man’s urge to live life boldly. In the holy book the Gila, it is written that man should do work without thinking about rewards.

  1. ‘The Road not Taken’ symbolises the metaphor of choices made in life. Describe the theme of the poem justifying its title.

Answer- The Road not Taken’ is a biographical poem of Robert Frost. In the poem, Frost uses the fork in the road as a metaphor for the choices we make in life. It tells us about a man (the poet himself) who climes to a fork in the road he is travelling upon. He can’t travel both paths and must choose one. This fork represents a point in man’s life where he has to choose the right direction.
He stands and watches the first alternative that life provides to him. Then he views the other road or the other option of life. He resolves the dilemma by choosing the road less travelled by the people. He hopes that his choice will be more rewarding when he reaches the end of the journey. The poet leaves the first road for another day. He has a genuine doubt that one road leads to the other and he will never get a chance of going back.
The title ‘The Road not Taken’ is quite appropriate and logical. It is very difficult to say whether he has made the right choice on the spur of the moment. It is possible that after many years from now he will not be too happy with his choice. But he had already taken the decision which couldn’t be altered now.

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