GSEB Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 5 A Roadside Stand Solutions

Think It Out

Question 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 bring this out? What was their complaint about?
Answer: The lines that show this are: 'The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead, Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts At having the landscape marred by the artless paint Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong'. The city dwellers' complaint was that these stalls with their poorly made signboards spoiled the natural beauty of the area.
In simple words: The poem tells us that city drivers barely noticed the stand, and if they did, they complained that the artless signs ruined the view.

Exam Tip: When asked to identify specific lines, always quote them accurately. Then, clearly explain the meaning of those lines in your own words.

Question 2. What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand?
Answer: The country people made a sad request for a few buyers to stop and purchase some of their products. Since city people drove by this road, the rural folk set up the roadside stand to get their notice and offer their items.
In simple words: The rural people simply asked for city drivers to stop and buy their goods, hoping to attract their attention as they passed.

Exam Tip: Focus on the direct request or desire expressed by the characters in the poem for this type of question.

Question 3. The government and other social service agencies appear to help the poor rural people but actually do them no good. Pick out the words and phrases that the poet uses to show their double standards.
Answer: The poet criticizes the two-faced nature of the government and other social service groups who promise to improve the lives of poor farmers and show them a bright future. However, when it's time to keep their promises, they either forget or fulfill them for their own gain. The poet refers to them as 'greedy good-doers' and 'beneficent beasts of prey,' who 'swarm over their lives.' The poet says these selfish people make smart, planned moves, making innocent, unaware farmers their victims. These humble and simple farmers lose their peace of mind because of these clever individuals. The poet states, '... 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'.
In simple words: The poet uses phrases like 'greedy good-doers' and 'beneficent beasts of prey' to highlight how government agencies pretend to help but actually exploit the rural poor. They make plans that confuse the farmers and take away their peace.

Exam Tip: When analyzing poetic devices or specific phrases, quote them correctly and then explain their implications in the context of the poem's themes.

Question 4. What is the 'childish longing' that the poet refers to? Why is it 'vain'?
Answer: The poet believes that the people running the roadside stand have a childish desire. They always hope for buyers and wait for future clients. They keep their windows open to draw attention. They become sad when no one stops. They constantly expect to hear the screech of brakes, the sound of a car stopping. Yet, all their efforts are useless.
In simple words: The 'childish longing' is the farmers' constant, hopeful wait for customers, which the poet calls 'vain' because their efforts to attract buyers always fail.

Exam Tip: Connect the 'longing' directly to the specific actions and feelings of the roadside stand owners, and then explain why it is ultimately fruitless based on the poem's context.

Question 5. Which lines tell us about the insufferable pain that the poet feels at the thought of the plight of the rural poor?
Answer: Filled with deep sympathy, the poet finds it hard to tolerate the difficult situation of the modest and innocent country people. The lines below show his intense suffering: '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'.
In simple words: The lines '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' show the poet's deep pain for the rural poor.

Exam Tip: Always quote the exact lines from the poem when asked to identify them. Briefly explain how these lines convey the poet's feelings.

GSEB Class 12 English A Roadside Stand Additional Important Questions And Answers

Answer The Following Questions In Three To Four Sentences Each:

Question 1. Explain: 'While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey.
Answer: Robert Frost uses the literary device of alliteration with 'greedy good-doers' to criticize individuals who pretend to be helpful but are actually exploiting others. The so-called social welfare programs they introduce are actually misleading and aim to confuse and trick the poor, making them live without thinking.
In simple words: Robert Frost uses the phrase 'greedy good-doers' to show that people who seem good are really just exploiting the poor with fake welfare plans that make them lose their minds.

Exam Tip: When explaining poetic phrases, identify any literary devices (like alliteration) and then elaborate on the deeper meaning and critique conveyed by the poet.

Question 2. Explain: 'Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way'.
Answer: The village and rural people, who are slowly attracted by the city's money-focused habits and greed, lose sleep dreaming of fancy lifestyles. 'Destroy their sleep at night the ancient way' describes how exploitative powers conspire to make people work all day without time for rest or relaxation. Even at night, their sleep is ruined by the tempting offers they are gradually drawn into.
In simple words: This phrase means that the rural people are losing their natural, peaceful sleep due to the city's temptations and the exploitative forces that make them work excessively and dream of better lives.

Exam Tip: Explain both the literal and figurative meaning of the phrase, linking it to the broader themes of exploitation and the impact of city life on rural communities.

Question 3. What is 'child's longing', according to the poet?
Answer: Robert Frost feels troubled by the 'childish longing' of the farmer who simply waits for one traveler out of many uncaring ones to stop and buy something. In a moment of deep despair when thinking about the country folk's situation, he wishes he could end their suffering once and for all. But then he realizes that if someone else felt the same way about him during his own pain, he would feel very hurt.
In simple words: The poet defines 'childish longing' as the farmer's earnest, almost naive, desire for a single car to stop and buy his goods, coupled with the poet's own wish to end their suffering.

Exam Tip: Clearly state the two parts of the answer: what the longing is for the farmer, and how the poet connects his own feelings to it.

Figures Of Speech

Choose The Figures Of Speech In The Following Lines:

Question 1. 'The little old house was out with a little new shed'.
(a) Alliteration
(b) Repetition
(c) Metaphor
(d) Personification
Answer: (b) Repetition
In simple words: The phrase uses the word 'little' twice in quick succession, which is a form of repetition.

Exam Tip: Identify repeated words or phrases within a line to spot repetition. Alliteration focuses on repeated initial consonant sounds.

Question 2. 'A roadside stand that too pathetically pled'
(a) Alliteration
(b) Repetition
(c) Metaphor
(d) Personification
Answer: (a) Alliteration
In simple words: The words 'pathetically' and 'pled' both begin with the 'p' sound, which is an example of alliteration.

Exam Tip: Look for the repetition of initial consonant sounds in consecutive or nearby words to identify alliteration.

Question 3. 'Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong'.
(a) Antithesis
(b) Oxymoron
(c) Repetition
(d) Anastrophe
Answer: (c) Repetition
In simple words: The phrase 'turned wrong' is repeated twice in the line, indicating the figure of speech is repetition.

Exam Tip: Notice when entire phrases or significant words are echoed within a single line or clause, as this typically points to repetition.

Question 4. 'While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts, prey'
(a) Repetition
(b) Inversion
(c) Alliteration
(d) Personification
Answer: (c) Alliteration
In simple words: The words 'greedy good-doers' and 'beneficent beasts' both contain repeated initial consonant sounds, making it alliteration.

Exam Tip: Multiple instances of repeated initial consonant sounds in a line strongly suggest alliteration, especially when the words are close together.

Reading Comprehension (Textual)

Read The Following Stanzas And Answer The Questions Given Below Them:

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...

Question 1.
(1) Why is it unfair to say that these people are begging for a 'dole of bread'?
(2) What is the flower of the cities? How?
Answer:
1. One might assume that the poor people at the roadside stand are beggars. However, they are not. Unlike beggars who ask for things without shame and sometimes unreasonably, the people running the roadside stand have products to sell, information to share, and a good reason for their request.
2. Wealth and development are like the flower of cities. Just as a flower is the best part of a plant, growth becomes the main beauty of a city. The city men-rich enough to ignore suffering-drive by in their cars. As they pass the roadside stand, they become angry and speed away, cursing the poor group.
In simple words: It's unfair to call them beggars because they offer goods and have a legitimate reason for needing money. The 'flower of cities' is its prosperity, which city dwellers ignore in their rush, often getting annoyed by the roadside stand.

Exam Tip: When answering passage-based questions, use details directly from the text to support your explanation, especially for defining metaphors like 'flower of cities'.

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...

Question 2.
1. What qualities of the offered articte& make them unfit for sale?
2. What does. 'beauty rest In a beautiful mountain scene meat?
Answer:
1. The items available for purchase at the roadside stand are wild, so they lack the refined appearance of similar products found in cities. Furthermore, these items are not packaged properly and are much more expensive than those sold in urban areas.
2. 'Beauty resting in a beautiful mountain scene' most likely refers to a scenic painting created by the inhabitants of the roadside stand, intended for sale to wealthy visitors.
In simple words: The products are wild, look unpolished, are not well-packaged, and are pricier than city goods, making them hard to sell. 'Beauty resting in a beautiful mountain scene' probably describes a painting made by the locals to sell to rich people.

Exam Tip: Be specific about the characteristics of the products and the meaning of poetic phrases, using evidence from the passage for your interpretation.

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 feel in hand To try if It will not make our being expand...

Question 3.
(1) What do the poor people of the roadside stand feel when the rich city men decline from buying anything?
(2) What is city money? How is city money expected to help the poor people?
Answer:
1. When the wealthy city men refuse to purchase items from the roadside stand, the poor operators of the stand feel sad and angry. They ask the city men to keep their money and leave the roadside stand without further haggling or comments.
2. Unlike the small amount of money owned by the poor villager, city money is quite large. The poor villager expects city money not only to ease his dire poverty but also to give him a significant financial improvement in life.
In simple words: The roadside stand owners feel disappointed and angry when rich city folks don't buy anything. 'City money' is a large amount of wealth from the city that the poor hope will not only reduce their poverty but also greatly improve their financial situation.

Exam Tip: Clearly distinguish between the emotional reaction of the poor people and the conceptual meaning and desired impact of 'city money' as explained in the passage.

And give us the life of the moving pictures promise That the party In power is said to be keeping from us. 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.

Question 4.
(1) What are moving pictures? What kind of life Is promised by the •moving pictures'?
(2) How are the rich politicians responsible for the misery of the poor people?
(3) What is the good news for the poor people?
(4) Who are the pitiful kin? Why are they called so?
Answer:
1. The 'moving pictures' refer to movies that the poor people have watched, which are full of promises for them. In these films, they saw characters who went from poverty to wealth.
2. The wealthy and dishonest politicians keep the funds allocated by the government for the poor people in their own harmful hands and use them selfishly, thus robbing the poor people of their rights, happiness, and everything they deserve.
3. The media continues to announce that the government is planning various schemes for the well-being of the poor population.
4. The 'pitiful kin' are the poor country folk. They are called this because they wait for the wealthy city travelers in their cars to purchase their produce and paintings, allowing them to earn money for their food. They relied on the sympathy of these rich travelers.
In simple words: 'Moving pictures' are movies promising a life of prosperity, showing people escaping poverty. Rich politicians are to blame for the poor's suffering because they misuse government funds meant for them. The good news is that the media advertises government schemes for the poor. The 'pitiful kin' are the poor country people, relying on the rich city travelers' pity to buy their goods and earn a living.

Exam Tip: Address each sub-question distinctly, extracting information from the passage directly and interpreting the poet's message about societal responsibility.

While greedy good-doers. beneficent beasts of prey. Swarm over their lives, enforcing benefits That arc 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. 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.

Question 5.
(1) Who are the greedy good-doers? What is the irony in the greedy good-doers'?
(2) What sort of calculation is made to 'soothe the wits of the poor?' Does this calculation work? How?
(3) How do the influential rich destroy the sleep of the poor? How Is this done in the ancient Urnes?
(4) What Is the childish longing? Why Is It In vain?
Answer:
1. The 'business class' and the political parties and their leaders are the greedy good-doers mentioned here. The irony is that a greedy person cannot truly be a good-doer. These individuals aim to profit from the poor by appearing helpful to them.
2. The business-focused city people attract the poor with their well-planned marketing offers and pledges. These promises are designed in such a way that the poor cannot escape the rich's traps. The businessperson's plans are effective because a smarter mind is behind all these commitments.
3. The powerful rich people give the poor many promises and then exploit them to gain profit. This ruins the peace of mind and rest of the poor. This way of the rich and powerful is as old as human civilizations.
4. The poor people's uncertain and hopeless expectation for city money is the childish longing. It is useless because the wealthy city people do not have the kindness to assist them. Alternatively, children wish for things beyond their reach but never get them. The poor people's hope that the rich will give them money is their naive desire. It is futile because the hard-hearted rich people never give them anything.
In simple words: The 'greedy good-doers' are the business class and politicians who pretend to help the poor but actually exploit them for profit, which is ironic. They make calculated promises designed to trap the poor and keep them from escaping poverty, which works due to their cunning. This exploitation of the poor's sleep and peace for profit is an ancient method. The 'childish longing' is the poor's naive hope for city money, which is 'in vain' because the rich lack the generosity to help.

Exam Tip: Break down complex questions into sub-parts, addressing each one with specific details from the poem and explaining the underlying social commentary.

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

Question 6.
(1) how do the poor people react to the squeal of brake In front of the roadside stand?
(2) What do you understand by learner's prices? Who want to know that? Possibly why?
(3) How do the city men plow np grass in the yard of the roadside stand?
(4) Why are the poor people angry with the city men when they ask for gas?
Answer:
1. When they hear the screech of brakes, the sound of a car stopping, the poor people at the stand feel their spirits lifted, hoping for a customer to buy their goods.
2. 'Farmer's prices' refer to the wages for which the farmer could be employed to work in the city. These prices might also refer to the cost of the berries, squash, and paintings displayed at the roadside stand for sale.
3. The uncaring and selfish city men drive their cars into the yard of the roadside stand to reverse and turn around, leaving a big cloud of plowed-up grass.
4. The roadside stand sells wild berries, squash, and paintings, which city men never buy. Instead, city men need a gallon of gas, which the roadside stand does not sell. This helplessness makes the poor people upset.
In simple words: Hearing brakes, the poor get hopeful that a customer has arrived. 'Farmer's prices' could mean either their labor wages or the cost of their goods like berries and squash. City men drive selfishly into the yard, tearing up grass. The poor get angry because city men ask for gas, which they don't sell, instead of buying their actual produce.

Exam Tip: For passage-based questions, infer character emotions and motivations from their actions and words within the given text. Define terms like 'farmer's prices' based on contextual clues.

They couldn't (this crossly), they had none, didn't it see? 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.

Question 7.
(1) Why do the people at the roadside stand talk 'crossly' with the rich people?
(2) How does money become the 'requisite lift of spirit' for the countrymen?
(3) Why can't the poet help 'own' the relief of helping the poor out of their poverty 'at one stroke'?
(4) What does the poet want his readers do for him?
Answer:
1. The poor people sometimes become angry with the rich people. The rich refuse to buy the wild berries at the stand at the price asked by the owners. They engage in bargaining and criticize the berries and squash. But the poor, knowing how uncaring the rich people are, grow upset at their unwillingness to help them by sharing a small amount of their money.
2. Money is the most crucial need for people in the modern world. If someone has money readily available, they feel confident, and a sense of upliftment fills their spirit.
3. The poet desires to see that the poor people receive some help and support from the rich, but he understands that this will not occur. When he fails to see this, he permits himself to imagine that these poor people have been helped by some supernatural powers to lessen their troubles.
4. The poet is deeply troubled that the poor people are not assisted by the government and the wealthy. He eventually wishes for some divine help for the poor to remove their poverty. But soon, he realizes how naive his dreams are, seeing that the poor's situation has not improved. At this point, the poet wants his readers to promise to help the poor.
In simple words: The roadside stand people speak 'crossly' because rich folks bargain and refuse to buy, making them angry. Money gives countrymen 'requisite lift of spirit' by providing confidence and security. The poet cannot personally end their poverty 'at one stroke' but dreams of supernatural help, realizing it's futile. He finally asks readers to promise to help the poor.

Exam Tip: In complex questions, ensure you address each part comprehensively. For questions about the poet's feelings or intentions, explain both the problem and the proposed (or desired) solution, if present.

A Roadside Stand Summary In English

A Roadside Stand Introduction:

Robert Lee Frost (March 26, 1874 – January 29, 1963) was an American poet. He was well-known for his realistic writings about rural life and his use of everyday American speech. His poems were often set in rural New England during the early twentieth century, and he used these settings to explore complex social and philosophical ideas. Frost has often been quoted by other people. He was honored frequently throughout his life, receiving four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry. He wrote many popular and frequently cited poems, including 'After Apple-Picking', 'The Road Not Taken', 'Home Burial', and 'Mending Wall'.

A Roadside Stand Summary:

The poem 'A Roadside Stand' by Robert Frost begins with vivid images of a poor farmer's home and the roadside stand he has built. The city traffic that passes by completely ignores the farmer's difficult situation. The farmer hopes to earn some extra money to enjoy the attractions of the city. Robert Frost uses personification in describing the brand-new rustic shed; the roadside shed or stand represents the pleas and desires of the farmer for that extra money from the snobbish, well-bred passersby in their sleek cars. He sells wild berries and squash. The farmer also wishes for money to keep his life stable and prevent it from falling apart. The farmer has observed and experienced the snobbish and selfish attitudes of the city folk, who neither appreciate the beautiful scenery nor the produce he sells. Robert Frost then goes on to show the common occurrence of rural folk being tempted by mindless movies into a life of glamour and superficiality.