All questions of Poem - The Road Not Taken for Class 9 Exam

Robert Lee Frost was an American poet. His work was initially published in England before it was published in the United States.

In "The Road Not Taken," the speaker doubts that he will ever come back to this fork in the road because he knows he will continue to travel along the path of his choice. He realizes that after one makes a choice, one is unlikely to go back and make the alternative choice.

The poet regretted his decision as he thought that he would have been successful if he would have taken the other road and so his life would have been different.

The poet looked down the road as far as he could see because the road he was walking on that morning diverged into two; he was in doubt as to which road he should continue walking. The poet was making up his mind. Finally he decided to continue to walk on the grassy road.

The poet took the second road because he thought the road needs to be worn out as it was less travelled and secondly the poet being adventures took the second road. The poet thought of a different destination and he wanted to go different from other travellers, so he took the second road.

Grassy in the poem means "the road which is not used by anyone".

Explanation:
- The word "grassy" is used in the poem to describe one of the two roads that the speaker is considering. The speaker mentions that this road is "just as fair" as the other road.
- The grassy road is described as having "the better claim" because it is less traveled and therefore less worn out. It is not frequently used by people, which is why it is covered in grass.
- The speaker suggests that the grassy road "wanted wear," meaning that it needed to be traveled on more often in order to be worn down and become more like the other road.
- However, the speaker also acknowledges that both roads have been worn down to a similar extent due to people passing through them. The passing of people has worn them "about the same."
- Therefore, the grassy road is not necessarily better in terms of its condition or comfort, but it is less traveled and less worn out compared to the other road.

In summary, the word "grassy" in the poem refers to a road that is not frequently used by people and is covered in grass. It is not necessarily a comfortable or well-built road, but it has the advantage of being less worn out compared to the other road.

Diverged: (of a road, route, or line) separate from another route and go in a different direction.

The poet decides to explore one road and then come back and explore the other but this might not be possible. The choice of roads in the poem symbolises the choices that one has to make in life. All the choices appear to be equally attractive.

In the poem Robert Frost had to choose between two paths and he choose one which was less traveled. In his journey he saw that two roads were diverging in the woods. Hence the poet was able to travel in one road only.

In the metaphorical sense, it means that the poet is standing at a crossroads in life and considering which path he should follow for a better future.

Reason for choosing the second road:

- Less traveled: The poet chose the second road because it was not used by many people. This made it more appealing to the poet as it symbolized uniqueness and unexplored opportunities.

- Mystery and adventure: The road less traveled represented a sense of mystery and adventure for the poet. By choosing this road, the poet was seeking new experiences and challenges that the familiar road did not offer.

- Possibility of discovery: The second road held the promise of discovering something new and exciting. The poet was drawn to the unknown possibilities that lay ahead, sparking curiosity and a sense of exploration.

- Potential for growth: By taking the road less traveled, the poet saw the potential for personal growth and development. The challenges and obstacles along this path would allow the poet to learn, adapt, and evolve as a person.

In conclusion, the poet chose the second road because it represented a path of uniqueness, mystery, adventure, discovery, and growth. It symbolized a departure from the ordinary and a journey into the unknown, inspiring the poet to embrace new experiences and opportunities.

Trodden: set one's foot down on top of.

A yellow wood – This phrase suggests that the author might be in the autumn of his life, as yellow wood symbolizes an autumn scene. The colour yellow is also significant as it symbolizes light, joy, warmth, intellect and knowledge.

Diverge: (of a road, route, or line) separate from another route and go in a different direction.

The road is a metaphor for the journey of life. The poet says that the path that we don't choose in our life is 'the road not taken'. He describes his feelings about that choice that he had left in the past. The path which we have chosen, decides our future, our destination.