Poem A Roadside Stand Explanation Class 12

Poem A Roadside Stand Explanation Class 12 is available in this post, The Summary and Theme are also attached here for help, NCERT students should learn A Roadside Stand Line by Line Explanation because it is an essential part of the examination. Note down the explanation and learn it by heart,

Poem A Roadside Stand Explanation Class 12

A Roadside Stand Explanation- Stanza 1

Explanation of the poem with Reference to the context:-

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 Roadside Stand Line by Line Explanation–

Reference –

These lines have been taken from the poem, ‘A Roadside Stand.’ It is composed by Robert Frost, a famous American poet.

Context –

The poem begins by introducing us to the location and some details of a roadside open shop. It also explains the purpose of the shop.

Explanation:- 

A little house was extended further and a new shed was constructed. In front, at the edge of the road, stood a roadside stand without interrupting the traffic. This stand was near the main road and a lot of traffic passed that way. The inmates of the roadside stand stood and awaited with expectation for the passers-by to halt and buy some food- items from them.

It would be unfair to say that these people were begging for some food because they wanted to make a decent living by selling a few things. They wanted some cash from these city people because the money flow always supports the cities to expand. So it could be used to support the lives of these people from sinking deep into poverty.

A Roadside Stand Explanation- Stanza 2

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

 A Roadside Stand Line by Line Explanation–

Reference:- 

These lines are taken from the poem ‘A Roadside Stand.’ It is composed by Robert Frost.

Context –

Here, The poet explains the goods offered for sale and the stand owner’s concern about why he did not get enough business on the roadside.

Explanation:- 

The city people are totally indifferent to the people in the roadside stand. Their cars pass by with speed, and their minds are only busy thinking about their destination. If at all they look towards their side, then they become irritated by their clumsy signs and bad paint.

The signs “N” and “S” are hanging in a wrong manner. Moreover, the rich dwellers are least interested in buying wild berries or the country-made squash that they sell. The city people feel that these badly-maintained sheds spoil the beauty of that lovely and scenic mountain scenery.

A Roadside Stand Explanation- Stanza 3

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

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

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 Roadside Stand Line by Line Explanation–

Reference:-  These lines are taken from the poem ‘A Roadside Stand’ composed by Robert Frost.

Context:-  The poet shows his anger at the rich as they show no interest in selling goods offered by these roadside owners and besides, these city folk complain about the destroyed landscape’s beauty by these poor people.

Explanation:- 

The poet becomes irritated and questions the city folk as to why they are being mean and indifferent. Although they have so much money. He feels that the rich shouldn’t complain about the harm these poor people are causing to the surroundings. This kind of complaint is unjustified. The poet is more concerned about the unexpressed pain and sorrow of these poor people. These poor rustic people set up their roadside stand away from the city.

They sincerely hope that some money from the rich city dwellers will come into their hands and improve their living conditions. With this money, they will be able to fulfill their basic needs in a better manner. The ruling party has promised them financial independence and better living but they have failed to keep their promises.

The poet wishes to say that neither the city-dwellers nor the ruling party have come to uplift and help these poor people. Some are indifferent, and others make false promises.

A Roadside Stand Explanation- Stanza 4

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 store, 

Where they won’t have to think for themselves anymore, 

While 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 how to sleep they sleep all day, 

Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way

 A Roadside Stand Line by Line Explanation–

Reference:- These lines are taken from the poem ‘A Roadside Stand’ composed by Robert Frost.

Context:- The poet explains how the greedy people take advantage of these poor kins by showing them unrealistic dreams after selling their property by the roadside.

Explanation:- 

The speaker says that it was recently flashed in the news that all the poor people will be collected from their places and made to live in a village, where they would also have urban comforts like a theatre and a store and they wouldn’t have to worry about their living. The capitalists and social workers pretend to do welfare but they are selfish and greedy like “beasts of prey”. They cheat them, make false promises, and lure them with comforts which are cleverly planned to cheat them.

They hover over them like a large number of flies and pretend to provide amenities¹ and comforts beyond their imagination. The innocent rustics get lured² and become lazy and ignorant. They become puppets in their hands and forget about their rights. Then these greedy benefactors teach them to forget about their rights and privileges³ and keep sleeping.

A Roadside Stand Explanation- Stanza 5

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 

For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car, 

Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass, 

Just one to inquire what a farmer’s 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 couldn’t (this crossly); they had none, didn’t it see?

 A Roadside Stand Line by Line Explanation–

Reference:-

These lines are taken from the poem ‘A Roadside Stand’ composed by Robert Frost.

Context:- 

The poet explains how eagerly these shop owners wait the whole day for the customers to buy their petty things.  But their wishes never get fulfilled.

Explanation:- 

The narrator cannot bear the thought of so much exploitation and deprivation of the country folk. They have been lured with false promises that are not going to be fulfilled. The poet hopes in vain, like a child for his wishes to be fulfilled. He cannot tolerate to see these people suffering. He feels bad when the people on the roadside stand waiting expectantly for some cars to stop and keep praying needlessly. Their hopes are dashed to pieces and disappointment surfaces in their eyes.

Thousands of cars pass but all the city folk are selfish and are not bothered about these people. If at all a car stops, it is either to enquire about prices or directions, or they spoil the grass in backing the car. Sometimes some people stop and enquire if gas is available. This kind of attitude angers the poet because there is no sign of gas anywhere on the roadside stand so why do they stop and raise the hopes of these poor people?

A Roadside Stand Explanation- Stanza 6

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 Roadside Stand Line by Line Explanation–

Reference:- These lines are taken from the poem ‘A Roadside Stand’ composed by Robert Frost.

Context:- The poet explains he feels tension whenever he thinks about these poor people by the roadside. He wants to give relief and comfort to these people.

Explanation:- 

The poem ends with a feeling of remorse⁴at these feelings when the poet realizes that the problems of these poor people cannot be solved instantly. Since these people lack money, their standard of living cannot be improved, as there are no resources. The rich of the country complain about the backwardness of the countryside but do not share their prosperity with these poor people.

The poet feels helpless in the end and wants that someone should relieve him out of his pain by telling him that the poor people have been provided with justice, care and comfort. This will ease the poet’s emotional burden. The poet feels that the day he learns of the relief work it would gently pull him out of his pain and suffering.

A Roadside Stand Explanation pdf

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A Roadside Stand Summary, Theme and PDF

Students who want to read the summary, Theme and PDF can click on the button given below.

Important Vocabulary Meanings from this Post

1. amenities (सुख-सुविधाएँ) ↩︎
2. lured (लालच) ↩︎
3. privileges (विशेष अधिकार) ↩︎
4. remorse (पछतावा) ↩︎