IV.

IMPORTANT STANZAS FOR COMPREHENSION

each :
Read the stanzas given below and answer the questions that follow
IS I. 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. (Page 100) (Imp.)
Word-Notes : Out-(here) extended outside, aI3T 0 3TR aGI fI IShed-a simple
of vehicles,
building for storing things, BuR|Edge-border, T | Traffic sped fast movement
TIfS0 a d YIar4IGIRoadside-by the side of the road, HEc6 fht I lStand-a place at
which people can buy things or obtain information, GSIPatheticallyin a pitiable manner,
4i4 By HIPled-made a request, frt baI 1, RR0 HI Not be fairit would not be
just, 48 h¿ 3ÍA iBIDole of bread here) donations, NGICash-money in hand, HI
Supports holds up, keeps from falling, 4. REI, HERI IThe flower of cities-best things
of the city, 18 t HH afçI t i Sinking (here) ruin, atI Withering drying and shrinking,
FeAIA gI Faint-lifeless, 3NTI
 A
ROADSIDE STAND
49

gTT f (3
fy, t
IG ,
Paraphrase. There was a little house. It was extended and a shed was built. In front
and at one corner of the road traffic moved ahead fast. The roadside stand was set up there. It
anpeared to be begging for customers. It would be unfair to say that the people who ran it
nleaded for a dole of bread. But they seemed to be expecting their customers for earning some
money. They wanted to earn some cash. This cash supports the best things of the city. It is
money and wealth that saves all these best and beautiful things in cities from ruin and withering
away.
Questions
Where was the stand situated and how was it made ?
B) Explain : 'too pathetically pled.
(C) Is it right that the roadside stand was set up for a dole of bread ?
(D) What was the real aim of those who are running the stand now ?
(E)Find words from the stanza which mean :
and faded
(i) corner (ii) money given to the unemployed (i) becoming dry
Answers
road. A little house was extended
(A) The roadside stand was situated at one side of the
and a shed was constructed to open it.
(B) It begged in the most humble way. some money.
It was set up to earn
(C) No. it was not set up for a dole of bread.
it now was to earn some money. They
(D)The real aimn of the people who are running
passed from there.
expected city people to oblige them who
(E) (1) edge (ii) dole (ii) withering
a mind ahead,
2. The polished traffic passed with
then out of sorts
Or if ever aside a moment,
marred with the artless paint
At having the landscape S turned wrong
wrong and
Of signs that with N turned quarts,
Offered for sale wild berries in wooden
squash with silver warts,
Or crook-necked golden mountain scene,
Or beauty rest in a beautiful
you want to be mean,
You haye the money, but if and go along.
(Page 100) (V.Imp.)
(this crossly)
Why keep yourPolishedrefined, yral Traffic--movement of vehicles, yaIAIMind
money
Word-Notes: gI i
straightforward, T AT qGIIf ever-if at any time,
ahead-here) going
Out of sorts--(here) irritated, not feeling well, f - aà aI
Aside-on one side. ya a5, feh1ItI Marred-spoiled, NA f E3 Artless clumsy, yaI
Landscape sight of the land, yG4I of the forest, Te Berries-(here) a small
Wild-here)
Offered-presented. gdd hdl T1 Wooden-made of wood, ht q1 Quartsa
HhI
round fruit growing on wild bush,
fEI Crook-necked bent
auarter of gallon, HIY F61,y# T1 T HosISilver
measuring unit of like pumpkin, FI, HE UTitat t
TÈ arefI Squash--gourd,
necked, H
 50
SUPPLEMENTX1
warts-hard lumps, ai 0I Mean--here) miser, h I Go along-move forward

Paraphrase. The refined and rich people drove past the roadside stand without stopping
there. If someone stopped there he was irritated by the clumsy paint that spoiled the landscape
He was 'out of sorts' when he found the letters N' and S' turned wrong. Ordinary things like
wild berries in wooden quarts (1/4 of a gallon)were offered for sale. Similarly, golden gourds
with silver hard lumps (warts) could be bought from there. The place also provided a beautiful
mountain scene for staying there if one had the money. But if one wanted to be a miser then he
could keep the money in his pocket and move ahead.
Questions
A) How did the traffic pass ?
(B)Why was a person turned out of sorts' ?
(C) Name two things that were sold at the roadside stand.
(D) What should one do if one wants to be mean ?
(E) Find words from the stanza which mean :
(i) refined (ii) movement of vehicles (iii) clumsy
Answers
(A) The traffic passed through the roadside stand without stopping there. The vehicles
drove past ahead.
(B) The sight of the clumsy paint.with which the building was painted spoiled the
landscape. It irritated a person who stopped there.
(C) Wild berries and golden squash (gourd) were the things that were offered for sale
there.
(D) One should keep one's money and move ahead.
(E) () polished (ii) traffic (iii) artless.
3. 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. (Pages 100-101)
Word-Notes : Hurt--harm, hHA| Scenery (here) landscape, NI Expand-(here)
develop, dilate, faR GTII

Paraphrase. The poet doesn't comnplain about the landscape. It has been spoiled by the
artless paint done on the building. He is worried about the sorrows of these people. They have
 A
ROADSIDE STAND 51

remained unsaid. The roadside stand is quite far away from the city. Those who are running it
expectsome city money to comein their hands. They hope that the city people passing them
through
will stop to prosperous. It will give
the place promised buy things. Money earned will make them
the life as by the noving-pictures. But unfortunately, the party in power is indifferent
tothese ruural
people and their demands.
Questions
A) What is not the complaint of the poet ?
(B)What is the real worry of the poet ?
(C) Why do the people who are running the roadside stand ask for some city money ?
(D)What is the party in power doing for the rural poor ?
|AE)Find words from the stanza which mean :
(i) (does) harm (ii) believing (iii) stretch
Answers
has hurt the
(A) The complaint of the poet is not that the artless painting of the building
landscape. people which have not
(B) The real worry of the poet is about those sorrows of these
found expression yet.
money. It will keep their
(C) The people who are running the roadside stand ask for city
business going. fulfilled the promises made to
(D) The party in power has not cared for them. It has not
them.
(E) ()hurt (ii) trusting (iiü)expand
S 4. It is in the news that all these pitiful kin
Are tobe bought out and mercifully gathered instore,
Tolive in villages, next to the theatre and
the
themselves anymore,
Where they won't have to think for
prey,
While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of
Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits
of their wits,
That are calculated to soothe them out
all day,
And by teaching them how to sleep they sleep way. (Page 101)(Imp.)
Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient Mercifullybhaving mercy,
Word-Notes : Pitiful-merciful, gIKin--relatives, HiI
good-doersgreedy persons who pretend
<gyinGatheredassembled, $he BT TIGreedy Beneficent-generous, RIYG6TIBeasts
to dogood, i 31eL0 S 3zE1 HÀ.aT EI ht TI
like lions etc., TaH I Swarm-assemble in large
O prey-violent meat eating animals gatt I Benefits-profits,
humbers, H1 He HSUI Enforcing -doing by force,Y4G TIG I Soothe-to make
E 4,
TIR, TIq|Caleulated-planned before, YE0 # q I Ancient
fools, -old, gHI
silent, iÍa h | Out of their wits-to make

Paraphrase. There is a news that thesethe pitiable persons are to be bought out with all
to live in villages. It is said that now onwards they
their They will be made
belongings.
ed not think of themselves any more. Greedy
people pretending to be 'good-doers' will tak
 52
UPPLEMENIXT
care ofthem. Those people who pretend to be kindare actually like flesh eating wild animals.
swarm over their lives to exploit them. They will force them t
Such cunning people will
will mint money befooling the innocent rural people. They will
with their money. They their old games to destrov thet
them work but themselves will sleep all the day. They willuse
sleep at night.
Quostions themselves anymore ?
(A)Why won't these poor people have to think for
(ü) beneficent beasts of prey.
(B) Explain (i) greedy good-doerspeople
(C) Howwill the innocent rural be soothed outof their wits' ?
(D) Whoare destroying whose sleep at night and how ?
(E)Find wordslphrases from the stanza which mean:
) generous (ii) meat-eating big animals (iüi) old
Answers
(A)Now they are in the grip of selfish and cunning people. They will control their lives
Hence, they won't have to think for themselves.
(B) (i) Greedy people pretending to be doing good things.
(ii) People who are cruel like the flesh-eating wild animals pretending to be generous.
(C) The cunning and greedy people of the city willbefool them for their own advantage.
(D) The greedy good-doers' and beneficent beasts of prey' are using their old tricks to
destroy their peace and sleep.
(E) () beneficent (iü) beasts of prey (iii) ancient
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 toinguire 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 theway to where it was
bound;
And another to ask could they sell it a
They couldn't (this crossly); they had gallon of gas
none, didn't it see? (Page10)
Word-Notes : Hardly withdifficulty, fyhi I
(here) immature, 314YGA| Beartolerate, HEH a IChildiS
Lurkslies hidden, Longing-strong desire, yT FsIIn
t yst I vain--without any use
aK AIGI Inquire -to get Squeal-cries, ri Selfish cars-selfish car ownerS,
information, yal
Yardopen space, AAI Boundleading IHI, sIs h{I Plow up- turn over,
to, l
 A
ROADSIDESTAND 53

Paraphrase. The people who are running the roadside stand are vainly waiting tor
prospective customers. It is quite childish t0 entertain such a longing. They keep their
their sad. They go
windows open to wait for their likely customers. When no one turns up they feel
waiting throughout the day praying for the sound of brakes, the sound of a stopping car.
on
Thousands offselfish car-owners pass through the stand. No one enquires what prices a farmer
his produce. One person stops but only to use the yard for backing the car and turning
getsof
around. Another man comes and asks the way to where it is bound. Still another person who
stops there will ask for a gallon of gas which is not sold there.
Questions
(4) What is childish longing'?
B) Why does sadness lurk near the open windows there ?
(C) Why do the people at the roadside stand wait for the squeal of brakes ?
(D) Why do people generally stop there ?
E)Find words from the stanza which mean :
() lies hidden (ii)cries (iii) to get information
Answers
never turn up is a childish longing.
(A) Waiting for the prospective customers that will sadness near the open windows.
(B) When no customer turns up, there prevails a lurking
whenever they hear the squeal of brakes.
(C) They know that some car is going to stop
turn around the car. Others stop there
(D) People generally stop there to use the yard to gas which is not sold there.
toask the way. Some may ask for a gallon of
(E) () lurking (ii) squeal (iii) inquiry
there,
5(a). The Sadness that lurks near the open window
That waits all day in almost open prayer
car,
For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping
Of allthe thousand selfish cars that pass, (CBSE 2012)
prices are.
Just one to inguire what a farmer's
Questions
Which open window is referred to ? Why does sadness lurk there ?
)
for ?
(ü) What does the farmer praygranted ? Howdo you know ?
(zui) Is thefarmer's prayer ever
Answers who run the roadside stand vainly wait for their prospective customers
(i) The people
When no one turns up, they feel sad.
keeping their windows open. customers.
(u) He prays for his prospective granted. Very few persons stop there and they too
(ii)The farmers prayer is seldom
don't buy anything.
6. No, in country money, the country scale of gain,
been found,
The requisite lift of spirit has never complain,
Or so the voice of the country seems towould be
relief it
1can't help owning the great of their pain.
To put these people at one stroke out the sane,
back into
And then next day as I come
me
Iwonder how I should like you to come to
And offer to put me gently out of my pain.
(Page 101)(V. Imnp.)
 54 SUPPLEMENTX|
Word-Notes : Scale-level, H |Gain-(here) progress, profits, faareI Requisite
(here) desired, 3TfaT, aNyal Country-rural side, ardi Seems-appears, yita sat
Can't helpt HOGIIOwning--(here) accepting, tdist A |Relief-comfort, t1Atone
stroke-with one blow, y# ar ISane--sensible, balanced, 4-gfedi

Paraphrase. The life of the people in thecountryside is quite miserable for want of
money. Money which can increase the level of their living is not found here. Due to ack of
money the spirit of the people always remains depressed. So, the rural people seem tocomplain
of this drawback. The poet will feel a great relief if all the pains of these rural people are
removed with one stroke. Their miserable life is worse than death. Next day, he will expect a
person coming with an offer to take himself out of his pain.
Questions
(A)Why has the requisite lift of spirit never been found ?
(B) What does the voice of the country people seem to say ?
(C) How will the poet feel a great relief ?
(D) What will the poet like the next day ?
(E) Find words from the stanza which mean:
(i)desired (ii) accepting (iii) comfort
Answers
(A) The rural people remain depressed because of their poverty.
(B) The voice of the country people seems to complain of injustice against them. There is
lack of money in their lives.
(C) The poet will feel a great relief if the rural people are liberated of all pains with one
stroke.
(D) The next day the poet will expect another person coming to him offering to put him
out of his pain.
(E) ()requisite (ii) owning (ii) relief
V. TEXTBOOK EXERCISES
(Page 102)
THINKIT OUT
S 1. The city folk who drove through the countryside hardly paid any heed to the roadside
stand or to the people who ran it. If at all they did, it was to complain. Which lines brùng
this out ? What was their conplaint about ? (Imp.)
IS . What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand ? (Lmp.)
3. The government and other social service agencies appear to help the poor rural peopie
but actually do them no good. Pick out the words and phrases that the poet uses to shou
their double standards.
4What is the 'childish longing' that the poet refers to? Why is it'vain' ?
S B.Which lines tell us about the insufferable pain that the poet feels at the thought of tne
plight of the rural poor ? Cmp.)
Answers
1. The city folk whodrove through the countryside hardly paid any heed to the
stand. If at all they did, it was only to complain. The following lines bring thisroadside
out.
(i)'At having the landscape marred with the artless paint.'
i)Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong.
Their complaint was that the artless and clumsy paint painted on the building had
spoiled the whole landscape. They were also irritated that even signs like N andS
were turned wrong.
2. The men who had put up the roadside stand pleaded pathetically for some customers.
They wanted toearn money from them. They wished the city folk would stop there to
buysomething from them, It was the intention with which the roadside stand was set
up.
3. The government and the party in power were quite indifferent to the welfare of the
poor rural people. Nor were other social service agencies doing any good to them. The
words and phrases used to show their double standards are :
That are calculated to soothe
"While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey,
them out of their wits,"
The poet thinks that the people who are running the roadside stand suffer from a
childish longing. They are always waiting for their prospective customers. They keep
their windows open to attract them. But when no one turns up they become sad. They
are always waiting to hear the squeal of brakes or the sound of a stopping car. But
everything goes in vain.
removed at one
5 The poet feels that all the pains of the poor rural people must be
stroke. The following two lines express these feelings :
"Ican't help owning the great relief it would be
their pain."
To put these people at one stroke out of
TALK ABOUT IT
Discuss in small groups : villages
development of the
The economicwell-being ofa country depends on a balanced
and the cities.
Answers
Ram : India lives in its villages.
cities.
Mohan: But all developments are taking place inbackward as they were in the times of
Sita : Villages of Bihar, U.P. and Orissa are as
the Mughals. and famines,
Geeta : No clean water, no safety from diseases, floods
Ram :IT. revolution and the dazzling malls tella
different story.
don't make India.
Mohan: But only Bangalore and Hyderabad
Sita : The benefits of progresS must go to
the village poor also.
on a balanced development.
Geeta : The economic well-being of a country depends
cities must be abrideged.
Ram : The difference between the villages and the
be set up to provide jobs
Mohan : More and more rural and cottage industries should
for the poor rural people. clean drinking water and other
Sita : Primary health centres, arrangements for
schemes must be given the top priorities.
 VI. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. Why does Robert Frost sympathise with the ruralpoor ? (CBSE 2009)
Ans,Robert Frost has deep sympathy for the rural poor. They are ignored and neglected
by the ruling party. The rich and crafty businessmen are out to exploit them. They don't have
money and poiver. It is natural that the poet feels concerned about them.
Q.2. What was the plea of the folk whohad put up the roadside stand ?
(CBSE 2008, 2012)
Ans. The folk who had put up the roadside stand pled for some money or ready cash.
Many city people passed through the place. The folk expected them to stop there and do som
shopping. The money so earned would help them in their survival for existence.
R 0.3.What did the roadsidestand plead too pathetically ? Did it get it ?
Ump.)
Ans. The people who were running the roadside stand expected some of the traffic to
stop there. They looked forward to their prospective customers for earning some money. But
very few obliged them. Hence, they didn't get the money which they had expected to earn from
their customers.
ÁA Describe the value of 'money' and 'cash' for the flower of cities'.
Ans.Money makes the world go. The men who were running theofroadside stand hoped
money and the cash
to get some of the money or the cash that flowed in cities. The flow
supports all the developments in the city. It supports the best things of cities from sinking and
being destroyed.
o 6. Why didn't the polished traffic' stop at the roadside stand ?
Ans. The 'polished traffic consisted of urban and sophisticated people with refined tastes.
The roadside stand couldn't cater to their tastes and demands. The unpleasant place had no
attraction for the 'polished traffic. Neither had they any interest in the commodities that
catered only to the rustic tastes and demands. Hence, they never bothered to stop at the
roadside stand.
6,/How did the travellers on the highways react to the roadside stand ?
(CBSE 2009 F)
Ans. Generally 'the polished trafiC of the travellers on the highway didn't stop at tne
roadside stand. They passed with a mind to goahead. If at all, some stopped there they were
not impressed with the place, They complained of the clumsy paint of the building. They were
irrítated at the sight of signs 'N' and 'S' turned wrong.
AAOADSIDESTAND
57
Q. 7. Name some of the things
Ans. The roadside that the roadside stand
stand offered some of the ordinary offered for sale.
includedwild berries. They were sold in wooden quarts, the things of daily usefor sale. They
with silvery hard lumps
gourds were also offered for sale at quarter of a gallon. Crook-necked
the roadside
Q. 8. Which things irritated those stand.
stand ? passers-by who stopped at the roadside
(A.I. CBSE 2008)
Ans. Many thingS irritated the passers-by who
painted buildings marred the landscape. Even the stoppedon the roadside stand. The badly
at
writings the signboard had some defects.
Potters N' and'S were not properly written. Finally, the place didn't provide many things
for shopping
Q.9. Why do the people who are running the roadside stand 'ask for some city
money' ? (Imp.)
Ans. The countryside is not cash-rich. The people who run the roadside stand wish that
the cash-rich city people may patronise and oblige them. With that money they can also bring
some changes and prosperity in their lives. Only some city-money can change their lives.
9. 10. What is the news running around ?
Ans. It is in the news that all these pitiful kin' are to be bought out. They will be settled.
in villages. Their places will be taken overby the rich and cunning people. They won't haveto
think for themselves any more'. The greedy and cruel exploiters will 'swarm over their lives'.
Q. 11. Who will soothe the rural poor out of their wits and how ?
will
Ans. The greedy people posing as 'good-doers' will swarm over their lives. They
more cruel than the
plan to extract maximnum profits from them. There are people who are
befooling the innocent
beasts of prey. Their only aim is to mint money. They earn profits by sleep at night.
rural people. They will themselves 'sleep all day' destroying others'
refers to ? Why is it vain ?
12.What is the childish longing that the poet (CBSE Sample Paper 2) (Imnp.)
The people who are running the roadside stand are always pathetically soliciting
Ans. keepingthe windows open and waiting for such
the customers. It is a futile exercise. In spite of it is nothing more than a vain childish longing
up. Hence,
a long time, very few customers turn
on their part. for
does the squeal of brakes and the sound of a stopping car mean
Q 13. What
are running the roadside stand ?
Che people who
running the roadside stand are always waiting for the city folk
Ans. The people whoare something. So the squealing brakes and the
sound of a
them to buy
slop there. Thev want them. They raise the hope of some city-folk coming and
signs for
stopping car are auspicious
stopping there. cars' some stop there but not for buying
something.
thousand selfish
Q 14, Of all the all ?
(Imp.)
there at
Why do they stopthousand selfish cars' only some of them stop there. Some stop only
it is
Ans. Out of all the
turn around the car. The other stops to ask the way to where
to use the to back and gallon of gas. So they stop here only to serve
yard can sell a
bound. The third one asks if they
themselyes?
Q. 15. What will be a
great relief to the poet? How can the problems
of the
(Imp.)
rural poor be solved ?
 58 SUPPLEMENT--XI

Ans. The poet is much worried at the plight of the rural poor. It will be a great relief to
him if they are put out of their pains at one stroke. Their miserable living is no way better
than death. The poet wants an immediate end tothe sufferings of the rural poor.
VII, EXERCISEFOR PRACTICE
Short Answer Type Questions
1. Where and how was the roadside stand built ?
2. What was the intention of the people who ran the roadside stand when they set up the stand ?
3. Why didn't the polished traffic stop at the roadside stand ?
4. What thìngs irritated those who stopped there?
5. What were the common things sold at the roadside stand ?
6. What was the complaint of the poet ?
7. What was the attitude of the party in power towards the rural poor ?
8, What was in the news ?
9. How will 'greedy good doers' and beneficent beasts of prey' exploit the rural poor ?
10. How will cunning and greedy people soothe the rustics out of their wits ?
11. What is the vain »childish longing ?
12. Why do the people who are running the roadside stand wait for the squeal of brakes so eagerly ?
13, Out of 'all the thousand selfish cars' some stopped there. Why did they stop there ?
14. What would give a great relief to the poet ?
15. The hurt to the scenery wouldn't be my complaint' says the poet. What was his real complaint?