A Roadside Stand by Robert Frost

A ROADSIDE STAND

BY ROBERT FROST

POINTWISE SUMMARY

"A Roadside Stand" is a poem by Robert Frost. It describes a scene of a small, roadside stand where  a farmer is selling his farm products.

l The stand is located along a rural road in the countryside, surrounded by fields and trees where he sells wild berries and golden squash.

l The farmer has built a little new shed in front of his house on the edge of a road with the hope that some speeding car might stop to buy his farm products.

l Several  cars speed pass it.

l  He does not like charity. He tries to sell his products for money.

l He believes that money can improve his living standards and give him a better lifestyle as he has seen in the movies.

l However, his hopes are never dashed to the ground.

l People in expensive cars pass without even giving a cursory look at his stall.

l And if few of them do stop but not to make any purchase rather to complain how they have marred the beauty of the landscape.

l They notice how the letters N and S had been turned wrong. They believe that such badly painted signs spoil the beauty of the countryside.

l One of them stops to take a U-turn that comes into the farmer's yard and spoiled the grass.

l Another car stopped to know the way where it headed.

l Yet another to enquire about the availability of as it needed petrol, though it was quite evident that the farmer did not sell petrol.

l The poor village people had little earning. They have not seen much money. They lead a life of poverty.

l They have a very small wish that some money should flow from the city to the countryside.

l Some good-doers promise to remove their poverty. They aimed to buy their property on the roadside to build theatres and stores.

l They promise to give them a life that these people have seen in the movies.

l They wished to teach them the ways that could change their good and healthy habits.

l They even aimed to teach them to sleep during day time.

l The 'greedy good-doers' and 'beneficent beasts of prey' desired to force the benefits on the poor village people and befool them.

l The poet feels quite miserable at the pitiable condition and sufferings of the poor village folk.

l He even has a childish desire ro remove their poverty and misery in one stroke.

l He wants to end their pain in a single go. But he knew that it is childish and vain.

l So, he desires that someone relieves him of his pain.

l The poem highlights the simplicity and honesty of life in rural areas.

l  Frost uses vivid imagery and sensory details to create a vivid picture of the scene.

l he poem is characterized by its quiet, contemplative tone and its celebration of the beauty and simplicity of rural life.

KALEIDOSCOPIC  VIEW 

It would be unfair to assume that the stand was set up for charity, as a “dole of bread” is referring to donations or an unemployment allowance. The stand asks for money that usually goes toward the development of cities, to instead support the development of the countryside.

The “flower of cities” juxtaposes the characteristic of the natural countryside with the industrial city. This flower that requires care and support for its growth is used as a metaphor for the development of industry and urbanization.

Here, contrast is used in the very first line “The little old house…a little new shed”. This shows that the house had been there for a long time and can mean that the shed is either brand-new or refurbished

Outside, on the road, the traffic was “polished”, which reveals that the cars that pass are high-class, and belonging to the relatively rich.

They criticize without remorse, as they do not think about the people who cannot afford to fix their signs and ignore the product set up for sale.

They do whatever they can to find sources of revenue, and this combined with the deteriorating signs show that the people are reaching a state of desperation.

The interjection of “(this crossly)” shows that the responses of the rich that drive by lack any sort of elegance and politeness. In fact, they are outright rude, as they place more value on the beauty of the scenery than the livelihood of the people who live there.

This is hypocrisy, as the industrial cities destroy nature in order to grow, and thus they have no basis to lament about a slight break in the beauty of the countryside.

They ask simply to feel a connection with the rest of the world, for some “city money to feel in hand”. This money that can be so easily given by those that pass by will make a significant impact on the lives of the sellers and let them dream about the kind of lives that are shown in movies.

The farmers refer to these people as “pitiful kin” because, though they may have more physically comfortable lives, it slowly saps away their mental acuity.

The poet directly sympathizes with the farmer, putting himself in their shoes.

 The cars that pass spare nothing, and are “selfish”. They think only of themselves, and thus, all their stops are for self-serving reasons.

Day in and day out, it is a charade that the farmer is forced to participate in, always hoping for that one car that stops for a good reason, to buy his produce.

Here, again, “(this crossly)” is repeated as an interjection, but in this case, it is in reference to the sellers. Their anger is in response to the nonsensical requests made of them and the total ignorance of their actual produce.

The poem ends with this question left open, prompting the reader to think of it themselves. The tone, however, portrays a feeling of pity, and the knowledge that such an offer would not be appreciated, as life is more valuable than a release from suffering to him.

THEME

The poem, 'A Roadside Stand' is Robert Frost's scathing criticism of an unequal society where there is a huge division between the rich and the poor, the haves and the have-nots, owing to the iniquitous distribution of wealth. The poem depicts, with clarity, the plight of the poor and the complex dynamics of their existence. It also focuses on the unfortunate fact that the unequal progress and development between cities and villages have led to the feelings of distress and unhappiness in the rural people. 

POETIC DEVICES

"A Roadside Stand" by Robert Frost employs several poetic devices to convey its themes and create its atmosphere. Some of the most notable devices used in the poem include:

 Imagery: Frost uses vivid, sensory imagery to create a picture of the scene and evoke a sense of the countryside. He describes the roadside stand, the fresh produce on offer and the expectant farmer waiting for a customer.

 Transferred Epithet:

Polished traffic

Selfish cars

 Personification: 

The sadness that lurks behind the window

The roadside stand that too pathetically pled

Alliteration:

“pathetically pled”

greedy good-doers”  

“beneficent beasts”

“sound of a stopping car”.

Oxymoron: 

Greedy good doers

Beneficent beasts of prey

Metaphor: The roadside stand can be seen as a metaphor for the simple, honest, and hardworking life of farmers and rural communities.

Anaphora is used in the repetition of “And another” in lines 41 and 42, which emphasizes the fact that these frustrations are never-ending. 

Reference to Context

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow by choosing the correct option. 1.

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.

A. What prompted the extension of "a little new shed" at the edge of the road?

i. To encroach the extended space

ii. To promote their products

iii. To grab the attention of the passers-by

iv. To divert the attention of the passers-by 

B. Why has the roadside stand been called 'pathetic'?

i. Because they are not neglected

ii. Because it is not comfortable and attractive

iii. Because it is in the outskirts

iv. Because they are a smooth sailing

C. What do the sheds offer?

i. Gas to the passers-by

ii. Pessimism and  hopelessness

iii. Eatables to the passengers speeding by

iv. Their farm products for sale

D. 'flowers' as discussed in the final line of the given stanza signify

i.  the beautiful vegetation offered by the roadside stand.

ii. the benevolence and kindness of the traders.

iii. the money that the government has promised.

iv. the city money as the incentive for the growth and upkeep of the city.

E. What do you understand by ‘pathetically pled’?

F. The roadside stand was built by ____________.

 2 .

The hurt to the scenery wouldn't be my complaint

So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid:

Here far from the city we make our roadside stand

And ask for some city money to feel in hand

To try if it will not make our being expand,

And give us the life of the moving-pictures' promise

That the party in power is said to be keeping from us. 

A. The poet's vehement admission that the hurt to the scenery is not his complaint. The poet actually tries to:

i. render his assistance to the people who are highly optimistic about receiving their prodigality

ii. draw the attention of the governor and the authority to raise their standard of living

iii. unfold the charismatic lifestyle that the country people had been leading without any assistance of the government or the authority

iv. unfold the plight of rural poor who want to feel only a small slice of city wealth in their hands which help them alleviate their distress and uplift their living conditions

B. 'trusting  sorrow'  stands for

i. Magnanimous blessings that the country people had been enjoying

ii. Philanthropy that dwells in the countryside

iii. Fascinating modern life that offers an unspoken promise, which is not being kept

iv. Altruism the country people are blessed with

C. The the phrase ‘moving pictures promise’ refers to :

i. The speeding and ignorant cars that are careless about the existence of the rural people.

ii. trajectory in life where people are optimistic about their journey from poverty to prosperity.

iii. the temporary shelter solely for the sake of their survival.

iv. none of these

D. How are the poor people exploited in the hands of 'the parties in power'?

i. They are swindled even with their prevalent possessions in the hands of the powerful people.

ii. They are exploited in the name of getting permanent citizenship in the periphery of the city.

iii. They are being tricked for their permanent shop in the vicinity of posh colonies.

iv. They are deprived of their rights by the tall and fake promises made by 'the parties in power'.

E. The roadside stand was built to ________

F. "Life of the moving pictures" means the same as :

i. Enjoy the kind of life shown in pictures

ii. The luxury displayed in films

iii. The urge to secure their lives as is shown in the movies

iv. All of the above

3. 

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.

And then next day as I come back into the sane,

I wonder how I should like you to come to me

And offer to put me gently out of my pain.

A. What can be inferred from 'the voice of the country people'?

i. the complaints of injustice and requisite lift of spirit.

ii. the minds of the readers seeking empathy.

iii. their utter darkness and hopelessness.

iv. None of these

B. It is clear that the speaker in the given stanza has a/an ____________attitude towards the countrymen.

i. callous ii. wearisome iii. courteous iv. affable

C. What does the poet aspire to do for 'the country people'?

i. alleviate their distress and relieve the country people of their agony and sufferings.

ii. to rejoice with them and sleep whole day because someone else is thinking for them.

iii. embrace all their joys and sorrows and extinguish their aspiration in a single jab.

iv. Both (i) and (iii)

D. Which one of the following statements is NOT substantiated by the information in the stanza given above?

i. The life of the rural people is miserable due to scarcity of money.

ii. The rural people feel devastated because of their perpetual state of poverty.

iii. The poet would feel conscience stricken when he regains his consciousness.

iv. The poet craves for the required lift of spirit to alleviate the distress of the rural people.

E. In the given stanza the poet empathizes with

i.  himself ii. the owner of the roadside stand

ii. the moving traffic iv. the city dwellers

F. What change does the poet want to see  in the villages?

(1) progress (2) comfort (3) relief (4) complain (5) deterioration (6) pain

i. 1, 2, 3 ii. 3, 5, 6 iii. 4, 3, 6 iv. 1, 5, 6

4.

The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,

Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts

At having the landscape marred with the artless paint

Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong

Offered for sale wild berries in wooden quarts,

Or crook-necked golden squash with silver warts,

Or beauty rest in a beautiful mountain scene,

You have the money, but if you want to be mean,

Why keep your money (this crossly) and go along.

A. The city folk who drove through the countryside:

i. are sympathetic about the plight of the roadside vendors.

ii. wish to alter their destiny by providing them legal aids.

iii. remain ignorant about the unattractive and dull roadside stand.

iv. want to be their pioneers and torchbearers in the hour of utter darkness.

B. The phrase 'with a mind ahead' refers to the ______ attitude of the city people.

1. callous  2. wrathful 3. compassionate  4. affable

5. indifferent 6. courteous 7. insincere 8. illegitimate

i. Options 1, 3, 4 and 8 ii. Options 1, 5 and 7

iii. Options 1, 5, 6 and 8 iv. Options 3, 7 and 8

C. The expression - polished traffic - suggests _____.

D. Select the suitable word/phrase from the extract to complete the following.

Beneficent beast: oxymoron :: _______:  Transferred Epithet

E. The polished traffic in particular refers to the:

i. sophisticated city dwellers in their vehicles.

ii. shiny cars that the poet sees on the road.

iii. extremely affluent people living in the neighbourhood.

iv. civilised manner in which traffic is coordinated.

F. 'The urban and educated people have their minds ahead.'

Choose the option suggesting the correct meaning behind this line.

(1) The people are well-educated and knowledgeable about the condition of the poor.

(2) The people are focused on the road that is ahead in order to drive safely.

(3) The people are preoccupied by the thoughts of their lives and nothing else.

(4) The people are focused on their goal of improvising the country.

(i) Option (1)   (ii) Option (2) (iii) Option (3) (iv) Option (4)

5.

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.

And then next day as I come back into the sane,

I wonder how I should like you to come to me

And offer to put me gently out of my pain.

A. 'country money' in the above context refers to:

i. money kept aside for the rural development.

ii. wealth accumulated by the whole country.

iii. meagre income earned by the countryside people.

iv. riches collected by the ancestral farmers over time.

B.  'requisite lift of spirit' refers to upgradation in

1. Confidence 2. Ego 3. Self-esteem 4. Fame 5. Status

i. 1, 2, 4 ii. 2, 4, 5 iii. 1, 3, 4 iv. 1, 3, 5

C. Choose the correct option with respect to the two statements given below.

Statement 1: The poet is agitated and depressed.

Statement 2: The poet realizes the futility of his thought about giving up.

i. Statement 1 can be inferred but Statement 2 cannot be inferred.

ii. Statement 1 cannot be inferred but Statement 2 can be inferred.

iii. Statement 1 and Statement 2 can be inferred.

iv. Statement 1 and Statement 2 cannot be inferred.

D. Choose the option that correctly paraphrases the given lines from the above extract.

"I can't help owning the great relief it would be

To put these people at one stroke out of their pain."

i. The poet wants to kill the impoverished people.

ii. The poet feels that death is better than living such a miserable life.

iii. The poet wants to eliminate poverty from the society.

iv. The poet states that it is important that these people become rich.

E. 'voice of the country' refers to the:

i. the voice of the rural folk when they speak to the city dwellers

ii. the songs of the rural folk as they are busy doing their work

iii. the voice of the problems and hardships faced by the rural folk

iv. the voice of the city dwellers complaining about the rural folk

F. "I wonder how I should like you to come to me

And offer to put me gently out of my pain." What is the poet wondering?

i. if the rural folk will think he is foolish to join in their sufferings.

ii. if the rural folks whom he proposes to help, will help him when he is in pain.

iii. if it is sensible to ease them out of their pain.

iv. why the rural folk are not helping him in his pain.