UP Board Solutions Class 12 English Chapter 9 Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

About The Poet

Robert Lee Frost is one of the most distinguished American poets of 20th century. He studied classics for a brief period at Harvard, and worked at odd jobs. ‘as a teacher, a cobbler and a farmer. During his stay in England, he began publishing poems, and won national fame in America. His theme and technique continually developed from the early pastorals to the later profoundly philosophical treatment of man’s problems.

About The Poem

This is a poem about a man who is on his long journey. But he is tempted by the beauty of nature and wants to stop for some time. But soon he is reminded that he has to go on a long way. So he should check his desire of enjoying beauty and peace of nature. This poem was favourite of Jawaharlal Nehru probably because it reminded him of the tremendous tasks to perform in the service of the country.

Central Idea [2010, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18]

In this poem the poet refers to the man who is on a long journey but wants to enjoy nature by giving up his journey in the middle. But soon he is prompted within that he has to go on a very long way before sleeping. After that he can take rest and sleep. In fact the journey refers to the journey of life in which everybody has many responsibilities to perform before sleeping an eternal sleep. This is the reason that Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru also loved and liked this stanza.

(इस कविता में कवि उस व्यक्ति का सन्दर्भ देता है जो लम्बी यात्रा पर है, किन्तु अपनी यात्रा को बीच में ही छोड़कर प्रकृति का आनन्द लेना चाहता है। किन्तु शीघ्र ही उसे अन्तरात्मा से चेतना मिलती है कि उसे सोने से पहले बहुत लम्बा रास्ता तय करना है। उसके बाद ही वह आराम कर सकता है और सो सकती है। वास्तव में यात्रा का सम्बन्ध हमारी जीवन की यात्रा से है जिसमें प्रत्येक व्यक्ति को अनन्त निद्रा में सोने से पूर्व अनेक कर्तव्य निभाने होते हैं। यही कारण है कि पण्डित नेहरू भी कविता के इस पद्यांश को बहुत प्यार करते थे एवं पसन्द करते थे।)

Explanations (With Meanings & Hindi Translation)

(1)
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow. [2009]

[Word-meanings: woods = जंगल forest; to watch = देखना to see; fill up with snow = बर्फ से ढका हुआ covered with snow.] (मैं मानता हूँ कि मुझे ज्ञात है कि यह बाग किसका है। यद्यपि उसका मकान गाँव में है। फिर भी यदि मैं यहाँ ठहर जाऊँ तब वह मुझे नहीं देख सकेगा क्योंकि वह देखेगा कि उसका बाग बर्फ से ढका हुआ है।)

Reference: This stanza has been taken from the poem ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’ composed by Robert Frost who was known as one of the greatest of modern American poets.

[ N.B. : The above reference will be used for all the explanations of this poem. ]

Context: This is a poem about a man who, on his way home, is lured by the sight of snow and woods. He is tempted to break his journey. But he is reminded of his daily household duties.

Explanation: In this stanza the poet says that a traveller is attracted by the beauty of a garden which is covered with snow. He wants to break his journey and stay here for some time. He knows well who is the owner of this garden. He lives in a village at a little distance from here. He is sure that the owner will not be able to see him due to snow and darkness. Thus his stay in the garden will be quite safe.

(व्याख्या—इस पद्यांश में कवि कहता है कि एक यात्री बाग की सुन्दरता से आकर्षित हो जाता है जो बर्फ से ढका हुआ है। वह अपनी यात्रा को तोड़ना चाहता है और यहाँ कुछ समय के लिए ठहरना चाहता है। वह भली प्रकार जानता है कि इस

🎯 Exam Tip: Always write the name of the poem and the poet in single quotes and ensure correct spelling to make a great impression on the examiner.

Question (2)
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year. [2009]
Answer:
Word-meanings: queer = विचित्र strange; farmhouse = खलिहान के पास का घर, अस्तबल a house near the farm, stable; frozen = बर्फ से ढकी हुई covered with snow.
(यदि मैं यहाँ ठहर जाऊँ तब मेरा घोड़ा पास में बिना किसी मकान या अस्तबल के यहाँ ठहरना विचित्र समझेगा अर्थात् उसे परेशानी होगी। यह स्थान बाग के बीच में है, झील का पानी जम गया है तथा यह पूरे वर्ष की सबसे अँधेरी शाम है।)

Context: This is a poem about a man who, on his way home, is lured by the sight of the snow and woods. He is tempted to break his journey. But he is reminded of his daily household duties.

Explanation: In this stanza the poet says that the traveller wants to pass his night in the beautiful garden. But at the same time he thinks about his horse who will feel uneasiness here. It will be a strange and unusual thing for him because there is no covered place or stable nearby. A horse feels comfortable only in a stable. Moreover it is the darkest evening of the year. The garden’s covered with snow and the lake water is also frozen. So the horse will neither get anything for eating nor for drinking. N.B.: The animal does not appear to share the feelings of the man for the loveliness of woods. This contrast highlights the difference between human appreciation of nature and an animal's survival instincts.

(इस पद्यांश में कवि कहता है कि यात्री अपनी रात सुन्दर बाग में बिताना चाहता है। किन्तु उसी समय अपने घोड़े के विषय में सोचता है जो वहाँ परेशानी का अनुभव करेगा। यह उसके लिए अद्भुत और असाधारण बात होगी, क्योंकि वहाँ कोई ढका हुआ स्थान नहीं है और न पास में कोई अस्तबल। इसके अतिरिक्त यह पूरे वर्ष की सबसे अँधेरी रात है। बाग बर्फ से ढका हुआ है और झील का पानी भी जम गया है। इसलिए घोड़े को न तो कुछ खाने को मिलेगा और न पीने को। नोट–ऐसा प्रतीत होता है कि घोड़ा बाग की सुन्दरता के विषय में मनुष्य की भावनाओं में हिस्सा बँटाना नहीं चाहता।)
In simple words: The poet's horse thinks it is very strange to stop in the middle of the dark, frozen woods where there is no farmhouse or shelter nearby.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining this stanza, always highlight the contrast between the poet's desire to enjoy nature and the horse's practical need for shelter.

Question (3)
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake. [2018]
Answer:
Word-meanings: harness = लगाम; shake = झटका; sweep = वेग से चलने की आवाज swift gliding motion; easywind = धीमी हवा gentle wind; downy flake = छोटे-छोटे बर्फ के टुकड़े soft snow pieces.
(घोड़ा अपनी लगाम में लगी हुई घण्टियों को झटके से हिलाता है जिसका अर्थ है कि वह अपने मालिक से पूछता है कि क्या वहाँ ठहरकर वह भूल तो नहीं कर रहा है। घण्टियों की आवाज के अतिरिक्त वहाँ धीमी-धीमी हवा के चलने की आवाज या पेड़ों पर गिरने वाले बर्फ के छोटे-छोटे टुकड़ों की ही आवाज सुनाई पड़ती है।)

Context: The traveller is tempted to stay in the garden because he is attracted by the beauty of the snow-covered garden. But at the same time he thinks that his horse will think it a strange thing and he will feel uneasiness here.

Explanation: In this stanza the poet says that inspite of his own desire to stay in the lovely woods the traveller is quite aware of discomfort and uneasiness of the horse. When the traveller was thinking about it, his horse... The gentle sound of the wind emphasizes the profound silence of the forest.
In simple words: The horse shakes its bells to ask if stopping there is a mistake, while the only other sounds are the soft wind and falling snow.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the auditory imagery of the harness bells and the sweeping wind to describe the absolute silence and peace of the snowy woods.

Question 4. Explain the following stanza with reference to the context:
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep." [2009, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18]

Answer:
Word-meanings:
• Promises to keep: कार्य पूरे करना (to carry out tasks or responsibilities)
• Milestogo: लम्बी दूरी तय करना (to go a long distance)
• Sleep: सोने जाना या अनन्त निद्रा (immortal sleep)

Context:
The traveller is tempted to stay in the garden because he is attracted by the beauty of the snow-covered garden. But at the same time he thinks that his horse will think it strange and he will feel uneasiness here.

Explanation:
In this concluding stanza the traveller says that no doubt the garden is very beautiful and attractive. There is darkness and silence all-around. He wants to stay there. But at the same time he is reminded of the common duties which he has to fulfil before death, i.e. eternal death. This beautiful imagery serves as a metaphor for the journey of life and its responsibilities.

N.B.: This stanza was favourite of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru because it reminded him of a lot of tasks which he had to perform in the service of the country.

(बाग सुन्दर है, अँधेरा और घना है किन्तु मुझे अपने वायदे पूरे करने हैं अर्थात् अपने कार्य पूरे करने हैं। सोने से पहले मुझे लम्बी दूरी तय करनी है अर्थात् मृत्यु से पूर्व मुझे बहुत से कार्य पूरे करने हैं।)

(इस अन्तिम पद्यांश में यात्री कहता है कि इसमें कोई सन्देह नहीं कि बाग बहुत सुन्दर और आकर्षक है। चारों ओर अँधेरा और खामोशी है। वह वहाँ ठहरना चाहती है। किन्तु उसी समय उसे उन सामान्य कर्तव्यों की याद आ जाती है जो उसे मृत्यु अर्थात् शाश्वत मृत्यु से पूर्व पूरे करने हैं। विशेष : यह पद्यांश पं० जवाहरलाल नेहरू को इसलिए अत्यधिक पसन्द था क्योंकि यह उन्हें उन असंख्य कार्यों की याद दिलाता था जो उन्हें देश की सेवा के लिए पूरे करने थे। उन्होंने इन पंक्तियों को अपने कार्यालय की मेज पर रखा हुआ था।)
In simple words: Even though the snowy woods are beautiful and inviting, the poet cannot stay there because he has many duties and responsibilities to complete in his life before he dies.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining this stanza, highlight the symbolic meaning of 'sleep' as death and 'promises' as life's duties, as these are key themes examiners look for.