A Roadside Stand by Robert Frost In this poem, the poet contrasts the lives of poor and deprived countryside

people who struggle to live, with the thoughtless city people who dont even bother to notice the roadside stand that these people have put up to sell their goodies. Lines 1 to 6 The poem starts with the description of the roadside stand and the intention behind it. A small time farmer builds a vegetable stand at the edge of the highway outside his house in the hope that passing cars would buy the produce and earn a bit of the money that supports cities from falling into ruin. He only wants to earn a living, he is not begging for money. Lines 7 to 13 However, no cars ever stop and the ones that even glance in the direction of the stand without any feeling of compassion or relatedness (out of sorts) only comment about how the construction spoils the view of the surroundings or how badly painted the wrongly pointed North and South signs are or to notice without interest the wild berries and squash for sale in the stand or the beautiful mountain scene.

Lines 13 to 22 The farmer tells the rich travelers to keep their money if they meant to be mean and that the hurt to the view is not as important as the sorrow he feels on being ignored. He only wishes for some (city) money so that he may experience the plush life (make our beings expand) portrayed by the movies and other media, which the political parties are said to be refusing him. Lines 23 to 31 Frost goes on to say that even though these people have benefactors (good-doers), who plan to relocate them in villages where they can have easy access to the cinema and the store, they are actually selfish (greedy gooddoers and beasts of prey) and only help these "pitiful kin" to indirectly advantage themselves. The altruists wish to make these villagers completely dependent on them for all their benefits and comforts, thus robbing them of the ability to think for themselves and be independent. 'The ancient way' could mean the old way when people worked during the day and slept at night. This is being reversed by the new 'greedy good doers' who teach these people to not use their brain. They are unable to sleep at night because they haven't worked during day time or because they are troubled by their

new lifestyle. Lines 32 to 43 Frost then talks about his personal feelings, saying that he can hardly bear the thought of the farmer's dashed hopes. The open windows of the farmer's house seem to wait all day just to hear the sound of a car stopping to make a purchase. However they are always disappointed, as vehicles only stop to enquire the price, to ask their way ahead, to reverse or ask for a gallon of gas. 'The polished traffic' refers to the rich class who drive their cars to their destinations (with a mind ahead) probably to another city unmindful of the countryside roadside stand and if at all they did get distracted by the countryside (if ever aside a moment) they seemed out of place in it (out of sorts).

Lines 44 to 51 According to the poet, the progress required has not been found by these country folk (the requisite lift of spirit"). Their lifestyles provide ample evidence to support this fact. He sometimes feels that it might be best to simply put these people out of their pain and hardships of existence. However, once rational thinking

returns to his mind, he wonders how he would feel if someone offered to do him this supposed service. Solved Questions: 1. It is in the news that all these pitiful kin Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in To live in villages, next to the theatre and the stone, Where greedy good doers, beneficent beasts of prey Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits That are calculated to soothe them out of their wits, And by teaching them to sleep all day, Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way. a) What is in the news? It is in the news that the poor are to be relocated to better surroundings near the theatre and the shops. b) Which word in the verse means the same as generous in the above lines? Beneficent c) Who is going to exploit the rural people and how? The politicians and the Government exploit the poor by offering them benefits that are supposed to solve their problems but in reality only add or pose problems of a different nature thereby making them feel cheated. d) How will the greedy good doers soothe the rural poor out of their wits? By offering them free benefits like housing and other facilities, they rob the poor

of their voice to protest and lull them into a feeling of false security. e) Who is referred to as beasts of prey and why? The politicians in power and in opposition and they make no difference in the conditions of the rural poor. Questions for Practice 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, The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead, Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts. a. Where was the shed made? b. Why did they put up the shed? c. Why is the cash import for the cities? d. Why didnt the polished traffic stop at the roadside stand? e. What was being sold at the roadside stand? 2. Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass, just one to inquire what a farmers prices are. And one did stop, but only to plow up grass in using the yard to back and turn around; And another to ask the way to where it was bound; And another to ask could they sell it a gallon of gas They couldnt (this crossly); they had none, didnt it see?

a. Explain Selfish Cars. b. What did the car owners generally do not bother about? c. Why do people generally stop there? d. What made the rural people cross? Questions for Practice 1. How did the country folk react when they knew why the passers by had stopped? 2. What did the people at the roadside stand sell? 3. Why does the poet call their longing as childish and why? 4. Why are the country folk always low in spirits? 5. What kind of life do the rural folk lead? 6. How and why do the good doers soothe the poor out of their wits? 7. What would give great relief to the poet? 8. Is the poet serious about the suggestion he offers to put the people out of their suffering?