NCERT Solutions: Poem - The Road Not Taken

I. Thinking about the Poem

Q1: Where does the traveller find himself? What problems does he face?
Ans: The traveller finds himself in yellow woods where the road diverges into two. The problem that he faces is that he cannot decide which road to take to continue his journey since he can't travel both roads at the same time.

Q2: Discuss what these phrases mean to you.

(i) A yellow wood
Ans: Yellow wood represents autumn, which is linked to old age. The poet may be symbolically referring to the later stages of life.

(ii) It was grassy and wanted wear
Ans: It means the road was covered with grass and looked less used, suggesting that few people had taken that path before. It symbolises a choice that is less common or unconventional.

(iii) The passing there
Ans: The use of the path by passersby.

(iv) Leaves no step had trodden black
Ans: The leaves had not changed colour and turned black because not many people walked on them. This could represent a path in life that someone rarely takes because they are afraid of the unknown.

(v) How way leads on to way
Ans: This phrase means that certain decisions one makes in life could pave the way for many other decisions.

Q3: Is there any difference between the two roads as the poet describes them
(a) in stanzas two and three?
(b) in the last two lines of the poem?
Ans:
(a) In stanza two, the poet describes how the only difference between the two roads was that the one he chose seemed to have a better claim to be taken because it was grassy and appeared less travelled. Other than that, both roads were worn down by people walking on them. In stanza three, the poet mentions that both roads were equally covered with leaves, and no one had walked on them.
(b) In the last two lines of the poem, the poet says that there is a difference between the two roads because he took the road that was less travelled by other people, and that made all the difference to his journey.

Q4: What do you think the last two lines of the poem mean? (Looking back, does the poet regret his choice or accept it?
Ans: The last two lines of the poem mean the acceptance of reality. The poet made a choice and accepted the challenging path. He took an unexplored path in his life. He wanted to do something different in his life, so he chose the less-travelled road. No, he does not regret his choice.

II. Thinking about the Poem

Q1: Have you ever had to make a difficult choice (or do you think you will have difficult choices to make)? How will you make the choice (for what reasons)?
Ans: No, I have not faced a difficult choice yet. I might still be too young to make independent decisions.
However, I believe that someday I will have to make tough choices. After finishing my general education, I will need to decide on a career, whether to become an engineer, a doctor, or something else. I will have many options, and choosing among them will be challenging. I will base my decision on my skills and strengths at that time. I want to pick a path that brings me satisfaction and peace of mind. I won't chase money like everyone else. Instead, like the poet in the poem, I will choose a challenging and unexplored path in my life.

Q2: After you have made a choice, do you always think about what might have been, or do you accept the reality?
Ans: Making a decision can greatly affect our future. Once I choose, I accept the consequences as part of my reality. Constantly rethinking or worrying about a decision isn't a healthy way to live. Those thoughts stop us from appreciating the results of our choices. Therefore, I strongly believe in sticking to my decisions.