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A ROADSIDE STAND

A ROADSIDE STAND
       - ROBERT FROST

I. Read the given extract and answer the questions : 

(i) The little old house was out with a little new shed
In front at the edge of the road where the traffic sped, 
A roadside stand that too pathetically pled, 
It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread, 
But for some of the money, the cash, whose flow supports
The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint. 

1. Name the poem and the poet. 
Answer : The name of the poem is 'A Roadside Stand'. The name of the poet is Robert Frost. 

2. Where had the roadside stand been set up? 
Answer : It had been set up in front of an old house at the edge of the road. 

3. What would not be fair to say and why? 
Answer : It would not be fair to say that the roadside stand had been put up for a dole of bread. It was put up to sell some cheap common things. 

4. What is that supports 'the flower of cities? 
Answer : It is the flow of money that supports the 'flower of cities', i.e.all the best part of city life. 

(ii) No, in country money, the country scale of gain, 
The requisite lift of spirit has never been found, 
Or so the voice of the country seems to complain, 
I can't help owning the great relief it would be
To put these people at one stroke out of their pain. 

1. Explain the phrase 'the requisite lift of spirit'. 
Answer : It means the poor need a better treatment at the hands of the rich ruling classes. But this lift of the spirit has not been found so far. 

2. What does the voice of the country complain? 
Answer : The voice of the country complains that nothing substantial has been done to improve their lot. 

3. What could give the poet great relief? 
Answer : He could get a great relief if the poor could be brought out of their pain at one stroke. 

4. What is the central idea of these lines? 
Answer : The poet feels sad at the miserable plight of the poor people. He says that some urgent steps should be taken to improve their lot. He says that it will give him great relief if it happens so. 

II. Short -Answer Type Questions 

1. The government and other social service agencies appear to help the poor rural people, but actually do them no good. Pick out the words and phrases that the poet uses to show their double standards. 
Answer : The poet calls such people greedy good-doers and beneficent beasts of prey. They soothe the poor out of their wits. They teach them how to sleep, but in fact destroy all their sleeping at night. And they themselves sleep all day. 

2. Which lines tell us about the insufferable pain that the poet feels at the thought of the plight of the rural poor? 
Answer : The poet says : 
'Sometimes, I feel myself I can hardly bear
The thought of so much childish longing in vain, 
The sadness that lurks near the open window there, 
That waits all day in almost open prayer. '

3. What were the various things put up at the stand for sale? 
Answer : The stand offered for sale wild berries. They were put in wooden quarts. There were crook-necked golden squash. They had on their body silvery warts or they had some picture of a beautiful mountain scene. 

4. Why did no one stop to buy at the roadside stand? 
Answer : People in the car had money in their pockets. Yet they did not stop at the stand to buy anything. They thought it mean to stop at such a place and shop there. So they kept the money in their pockets and moved away. 
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