THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

 THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken" is a lovely and thoughtful poem instructing us on life's decisions. The poet stands in a forest at the intersection of two roads that lead in separate directions. He can't travel both, but he has to pick one. After some thought, he decides to take the less-travelled road even though they both appear to be nearly identical.

The poem shows how the choices we make can shape our future.  We frequently can't go back and alter our decisions once we've made them.  The poet claims that when he looks back on his life, he will see that choosing the less-travelled path significantly changed it.

This poem helps students understand that every decision matters, and sometimes, taking a different path can lead to something special.   It conveys a straightforward message about life, decisions, and independent thought.

1. Who wrote the poem “The Road Not Taken”?
a) William Blake
b) Robert Frost
c) John Milton
d) William Wordsworth
Answer: b) Robert Frost

2. What is the setting of the poem?
a) A busy town
b) A yellow wood
c) A desert
d) A snowy mountain
Answer: b) A yellow wood

3. How many roads did the poet see in the forest?
a) One
b) Two
c) Three
d) Four
Answer: b) Two

4. Why did the poet feel sorry?
a) He was lost. 
b) He had to choose only one road. 
c) He was tired. 
d) It was getting dark
Answer: b) He had to choose only one road

5. What do the roads symbolise in the poem?
a) Real roads in a forest
b) Choices in life
c) Roads to success
d) Paths in a garden
Answer: b) Choices in life

6. What season is described in the poem?
a) Winter
b) Spring
c) Summer
d) Autumn
Answer: d) Autumn

7. What colour were the woods?
a) Green
b) Yellow
c) Brown
d) White
Answer: b) Yellow

8. What does “undergrowth” mean in the poem?
a) Tall trees
b) Small plants and bushes
c) Fallen leaves
d) Shadows
Answer: b) Small plants and bushes

9. What did the poet wish to do with the road he did not take?
a) Forget it. 
b) Come back and travel it later. 
c) Destroy it. 
d) Tell someone else to take it
Answer: b) Come back and travel to it later

10. Was the poet sure he could come back to take the other road?
a) Yes
b) No
Answer: b) No

11. Which road did the poet choose?
a) The one covered in leaves
b) The one most people travelled on
c) The less travelled road
d) The one that went uphill
Answer: c) The less-travelled road

12. How did both roads look that morning?
a) Dirty and dusty
b) Foggy and wet
c) Fresh with leaves, not stepped on
d) Blocked by trees
Answer: c) Fresh with leaves, not stepped on

13. What is the tone of the poem?
a) Angry
b) Confused and thoughtful
c) Joyful
d) Carefree
Answer: b) Confused and thoughtful

14. What will the poet say “with a sigh” in the future?
a) He made a wrong choice. 
b) He followed the crowd. 
c) He took the road less travelled by. 
d) He took the easy path
Answer: c) He took the road less travelled by

15. What difference did the poet feel his choice made?
a) No difference at all
b) A small difference
c) A huge difference in his life
d) It made him regret
Answer: c) A huge difference in his life

16. What literary device is used in the poem to compare roads to life choices?
a) Simile
b) Personification
c) Metaphor
d) Irony
Answer: c) Metaphor

17. What do the leaves on both roads show?
a) The roads are dangerous. 
b) Both roads were not walked on that day. 
c) One road was old. 
d) One road was blocked
Answer: b) Both roads were not walked on that day

18. What does the phrase “way leads on to way” mean?
a) Roads are confusing. 
b) One choice leads to another. 
c) Roads are the same. 
d) The poet forgot the way
Answer: b) One choice leads to another

19. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
a) ABAB
b) AABB
c) ABAAB
d) ABCD
Answer: c) ABAAB

20. What does the poem encourage us to do?
a) Take safe choices
b) Follow others
c) Think before making decisions
d) Avoid difficult paths
Answer: c) Think before making decisions

21. What does “diverged” mean in the poem?
a) Disappeared
b) Became dark
c) Split in different directions
d) Joined together
Answer: c) Split in different directions

22. How does the poet feel about his choice?
a) Angry
b) Proud but thoughtful
c) Uninterested
d) Regretful
Answer: b) Proud but thoughtful

23. What is the theme of the poem?
a) Friendship
b) Nature
c) Life and decisions
d) War and peace
Answer: c) Life and decisions

24. What does the poet hope to do someday?
a) Return to the forest, 
b) Take the first road, 
c) Forget the second road, 
d) Meet someone
Answer: b) Take the first road

25. What does the poet doubt?
a) His strength
b) His memory
c) If he’ll ever come back
d) If the road is safe
Answer: c) If he’ll ever come back

26. Which road made all the difference in the poet’s life?
a) The first road
b) The second road
c) Both roads
d) None
Answer: b) The second road (the less travelled one)

27. What is the meaning of “trodden”?
a) Painted
b) Covered
c) Walked on
d) Broken
Answer: c) Walked on

28. Why is the poet’s choice considered brave?
a) He chose the longer road. 
b) He followed the crowd. 
c) He chose the road less travelled. 
d) He waited for help
Answer: c) He chose the road less travelled

29. How many stanzas are there in the poem?
a) Three
b) Four
c) Five
d) Six
Answer: b) Four

30. What message does the poem give us?
a) Follow your heart while choosing, 
b) Always take the safe road, 
c) Avoid making decisions
d) Let others decide for you
Answer: a) Follow your heart while choosing

·  Who wrote the poem “The Road Not Taken”?
Answer: Robert Frost.

·  What does the poet see in the forest?
Answer: Two roads diverging in a yellow wood.

·  Why was the poet sorry?
Answer: Because he could not travel both roads.

·  Why did the poet choose the second road?
Answer: Because it seemed less travelled.

·  What does the “yellow wood” represent?
Answer: A forest in autumn.

·  What is the main theme of the poem?
Answer: Making choices in life.

·  What does the road symbolise in the poem?
Answer: Life choices or decisions.

·  Did the roads look very different from each other?
Answer: No, they looked almost the same.

·  What does the poet mean by “way leads on to way”?
Answer: One choice leads to another, making it hard to go back.

·  What does the poet say he will tell with a sigh in the future?
Answer: That taking the road less travelled made a difference.

·  Is the poet happy with his choice?
Answer: He seems thoughtful, not fully sure.

·  What is the tone of the poem?
Answer: Reflective and thoughtful.

·  What season is described in the poem?
Answer: Autumn.

·  What does “diverged” mean?
Answer: Split or separated.

·  Was the poet able to take both roads?
Answer: No, he had to choose only one.

·  Will the poet ever come back to try the other road?
Answer: Probably not.

·  Why couldn’t the poet travel both roads?
Answer: Because he had to move forward and make a choice.

·  What did the poet hope while taking the chosen road?
Answer: That he might return and try the other road someday.

·  What is the message of the poem?
Answer: Choices shape our future, and we must live with them.

·  What kind of road did the poet choose?
Answer: The one less travelled.

·  How does the poet describe the second road?
Answer: Grassy and wanted wear.

·  Why do people often regret their choices?
Answer: Because they wonder what could have happened otherwise.

·  What does the poet mean by “I doubted if I should ever come back”?
Answer: He thinks he will never get the chance to choose the other road again.

·  Does the poem give a clear answer about the better road?
Answer: No, both roads were almost the same.

·  How is the road a metaphor?
Answer: It stands for life’s decisions.

·  Why is the poem called “The Road Not Taken”?
Answer: Because the poet thinks about the road he didn’t choose.

·  Does the poem encourage taking risks?
Answer: It suggests that unique choices can shape our lives.

·  How does the poet feel while choosing?
Answer: Confused and thoughtful.

·  What does “that has made all the difference” mean?
Answer: His choice affected his life greatly.

·  What can students learn from this poem?
Answer: Think carefully before making decisions, as they impact your life.

Q: What dilemma does the speaker face in the poem?

Answer: The speaker must choose between two roads, symbolising life choices, and cannot take both.

·       Q: What do the two roads symbolise?

Answer: The roads symbolise choices or decisions one must make in life.

Q: Why did the poet choose the road "less travelled by"?

Answer: He chose the road less travelled by because it seemed less worn and possibly more adventurous or unconventional.

Q: What does the phrase "bent in the undergrowth" suggest?

Answer: It suggests that the path curved and was obscured by bushes, implying uncertainty about what lies ahead.

Q: What does the line “And sorry I could not travel both” mean?

Answer: It means the speaker regrets he can't experience both life choices or paths at once.

Q: How does the poet feel about his decision in the end?

Answer: The poet is reflective and acknowledges that his choice made a significant difference in his life.

Q: Explain the significance of the title “The Road Not Taken.”

Answer: It highlights the path the speaker didn't choose, reflecting on lost opportunities and the impact of decisions.

Q: What does the word “sigh” in the last stanza indicate?

Answer: It suggests a mix of emotions—possibly regret, nostalgia, or acceptance—about the choice made.

Q: How does nature reflect the theme of the poem?

Answer: Nature serves as a metaphor for life’s journey and the choices we must make.

Q: What is the tone of the poem?

Answer: The tone is contemplative and reflective.

Q: Why does the poet say both roads were "really about the same"?

Answer: Although one seemed less travelled, both were equally worn, showing how difficult it is to predict outcomes.

Q: What poetic device is used in “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood”?

Answer: Imagery and symbolism are used to set the scene and symbolise life choices.

Q: What does the phrase “I doubted if I should ever come back” convey?

Answer: It expresses the idea that choices are often final and one may not have the chance to revisit them.

Q: What impact did the choice have on the poet’s life?

Answer: He says the choice "has made all the difference," suggesting it significantly shaped his life.

Q: What do the words “leaves no step had trodden black” indicate?

Answer: They show that the road was fresh and not walked on recently, adding to its mystery.

Q: How does the poet use contrast in the poem?

Answer: He contrasts the two paths to show the difficulty of decision-making and the uncertainty of outcomes.

Q: Why is the setting described as a “yellow wood”?

Answer: It indicates autumn, symbolising change, transition, and maturity.

Q: What universal theme does the poem deal with?

Answer: It deals with the universal theme of decision-making and its consequences in life.

Q: How is the poem relevant to teenagers?

Answer: Teenagers often face crucial decisions, and the poem reflects the lasting impact those choices can have.

Q: What mood does the poet create through the poem?

Answer: A thoughtful and introspective mood is created as the poet reflects on life’s choices.

Q. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveller, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

(a) Why did the poet feel sorry?

(b) What does ‘yellow wood’ stand for?

(c) Pick out a word from the extract that means the same as ‘deviated’.

Ans: (a) There were two roads. The poet felt sorry as he could not travel on both roads.

(b) It was the season of autumn. The leaves had turned yellow. The wood looked yellowish due to the yellow leaves.

(c) diverged

 

Q. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Then took the other, just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear ;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same.

(a) Which road did the poet take?

(b) Why did he take the second road?

(c) Pick out the word from the stanza that means the same as ‘decent’.

Ans: (a) The poet took the road that was less travelled.

(b) He took the second road as it was less travelled. He wanted to do something different from others.

(c) fair

 

Q. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow:

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

(a) What does ‘both’ stand for in the first line?

(b) What does the poet think about the first road?

(c) Which word in the stanza stands for ‘set foot’?

Ans: (a) ‘Both’ in the first line stands for the two roads which diverged in a yellow wood.

(b) The poet thinks that he will travel the first road some other day.

(c) trodden

 

Q. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow:

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence ;

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I –

I took the one less travelled by,

And that has made all the difference.

(a) What does the poet tell with a sigh?

(b) Pick out the phrase from the stanza that conveys ‘future time’.

(c) What do the last two lines convey?

Ans: (a) The poet tells with a sigh that he came across two roads in the wood and he chose the one which was chosen by only a few travellers.

(b) Ages and ages.

(c) In the last two lines, the poet conveys that his decision to choose the road influenced his life. If he had taken the first road, his life would have been different.

 

Q. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveller, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

(a) Roads symbolise ....................................

(i) life

(ii) choices

(iii) conclusions

(iv) variety

(b) He stood there for a long time because ....................................

(i) he was pondering over his decision

(ii) he was confused

(iii) he wanted to travel both the roads somehow

(iv) he was waiting for someone

(c) Fill in the blank.

The two roads diverged in a ....................................

(d) Why did the poet feel sorry?

(e) The rhyme scheme in the extract is ....................................

(i) abaab

(ii) aabbc

(iii) free verse

(iv) ababc

Ans: (a) (ii) choices

(b) (i) he was pondering over his decision

(c) yellow wood

(b) The poet felt sorry because once the decision is taken, can’t be changed.

(e) (i) abaab

 

Q. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Then took the other, just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear ;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same.

(a) The other road had a better claim because ....................................

(i) it was more grassy

(ii) it wanted wear

(iii) it seemed more adventurous

(iv) all of these

(b) Which road did the poet finally choose?

(i) the first one

(ii) the second one

(iii) none

(iv) he went back home

(c) Fill in the blank.

The words ‘the other’ refer to one of the two roads which the poet found in a .........................

(d) Why did the poet choose the other road?

(e) Name the figure of speech used in ‘wanted wear’.

(i) Pun

(ii) Metaphor

(iii) Simile

(iv) Alliteration

Ans: (a) (iv) all of these

(b) (ii) the second one

(c) Forest

(d) The poet chose the other road because it seemed to be more grassy and less travelled by.

(e) (iv) Alliteration

 

Q. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

(a) “Oh, I kept the first for another day!” means ....................................

(i) life led him from one way to another

(ii) he wanted to return and travel the other road

(iii) he was curious about the path not chosen

(iv) he was overcome by greed

(b) The expression ‘lay in leaves’ refers to ....................................

(i) surrounded by leaves (ii) covered by leaves

(iii) falling of leaves (iv) rustling of leaves

(c) Fill in the blank.

The last four lines of the given extract show ....................................

(d) For whom are ‘both’ used in the extract?

(e) Identify the figure of speech in the line ‘how way leads on to way.’

(i) simile

(ii) alliteration

(iii) personification

(iv) repetition

Ans: (a) (ii) he wanted to return and travel the other road

(b) (ii) covered by leaves

(c) doubt

(d) ‘Both’ refers to two roads which the poet found in a forest.

(e) (iv) repetition

 

Q. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence ;

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I –

I took the one less travelled by,

And that has made all the difference.

(a) What is life all about?

(i) Life is all about the journey and not the destination.

(ii) Life is meaningless.

(iii) Life is transitory.

(iv) None of these.

(b) Find out a word from the extract similar in meaning to ‘deviated’.

(i) travelled

(ii) diverged

(iii) hence

(iv) sigh

(c) Fill in the blank.

When the speaker says that he will be telling this with a sigh, he means that he will be telling the future generations about his ................................... and the consequences thereof.

(d) What does the speaker’s choice about those who make an independent decision, suggest?

(e) Which of the following best describes the speaker’s attitude about the future among those who choose the uncommon choice?

(i) independent

(ii) dependent

(iii) defendant

(iv) defiant

Ans: (a) (i) Life is all about the journey and not the destination

(b) (ii) diverged

(c) decision

(d) The speaker’s decision suggests that he is in favour of those who make their own decisions and have to bear the consequences of their decision, as that is what makes a difference to their future lives.

(e) (i) independent

 

Q. Where did the two roads diverge? What was the difficulty?

Ans: The two roads diverged into a dark wood. There was a difficulty with the right choice. There were two roads leading to one destination. The author was not able to decide which road he should take to reach his destination.

 

Q. Do you think the poet was sure of coming back to that road someday? Why/Why not?

Ans: The poet was not sure of his coming back to that road someday. He says, “I doubted if I should ever come back.” Once we make a choice and start our journey, it is not easy to change the choice and begin afresh.

 

Q. Do you think the poet is happy with his choice? Why/Why not?

Ans: No, the poet is not happy with his choice. He thought that his life could be different or perhaps better if he had taken the first road. However, just to be different, he decided to take the risk.

 

Q. ‘Two roads diverged in a yellow wood’. Explain the phrases ‘yellow wood’ and ‘two roads’.

Ans: ‘Yellow Wood’ implies that it was autumn. The wood was looking yellowish because of the yellow leaves of the trees. ‘Two roads’ implies that the poet has to choose one destination.

 

Q. ‘And both that morning equally lay’. Explain.

Ans: The poet means to say that when he came there, two similar-looking roads lay before him. Both led to his destination. He had to make a choice between the two.

 

Q. Where does the traveller find himself? What problem does he face?

Ans: The traveller finds himself at a spot in the wood where the road forks into two. He faces the problem of choice. He has to decide which road he should take.

 

Q. Explain ‘A yellow wood’.

Ans: A yellow wood implies that the ground all around the wood was covered with fallen leaves. The leaves on the trees had also turned yellow as it was autumn. So the poet calls it a yellow wood.

 

Q. Discuss “leaves no step had trodden black”.

Ans: Leaves no step had trodden black: When leaves are crushed under feet, they turn black. The poet finds fresh leaves on the road. These were not turned black as nobody had crushed them. It implies that the road was not taken by many travellers.

 

Q. Discuss “how way leads on the way”.

Ans: How way leads on the way: It implies that once we choose a path, it leads us to our destination. As one moves, one road leads to another, and life goes on. It is difficult to come back to the point of the beginning.

 

Q. Is there any difference between the two roads as the poet describes them (i) in stanzas two and three; (ii) in the last two lines of the poem?

Ans: In stanzas two and three, the poet finds a difference between the two roads. One of them is less travelled, as it was evident from the leaves on the path. Another was frequently travelled. In the last two lines, too, the poet finds the difference between the two roads. He chooses one of the roads which was less travelled. He wonders how different his life might have been if he had taken another road.

 

Q. Write the theme of the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’.

Ans: The poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert Frost is based on the theme that one has to make a choice of a path to reach one’s destination. There are so many options before us, but we are faced with the problem of the right choice.

 

Q. And both that morning equally lay’. Explain.

Ans: The poet means to say that when he came there, two similar-looking roads lay before him. Both led to his destination. He had to make a choice between the two.

 

Q. Which of the two roads did the poet choose and why?

Ans: The poet had to choose one road out of the two similar-looking roads. He chose the second road, which had not been taken yet. He wanted to do something different, so he chose the less-travelled road.

 

Q. ‘And looked down one as far as I could.’ Where was the poet standing? Why did he feel sorry? Why did he look down?

Ans: The poet was in the forest. He had to choose one of the two roads that diverged in a small forest. He felt sorry because he could not take both roads. He looked at one road as far as he could see up to the point where the road was bent.

 

Q. ‘Because it was grassy and wanted wear.’ Why was the road ‘grassy and wanted wear’? Why did the poet choose it?

Ans: The road was grassy and wanted wear because it was not taken by many people. It was new for the poet. He chose this road because he wanted to do something that he had not done before. He made a choice which was more challenging.

 

Q. “I doubted if I should ever come back.” Why did the poet doubt?

Ans: The poet had to make a choice between two roads; he could take only one road at a time. He chose the second one and decided to take the first one on some other day. But he doubted whether he would be able to come back and take the first one because one road leads to another.

 

Q. “Oh ! I kept the first for another day !” What did the poet decide about the first road?

Ans: The poet decided to take the road which was less trodden. He thought that the first road would be taken up some other day. So he kept the first for another day.

 

Q. “And that had made all the difference.” What made all the difference in the poet’s life?

Ans: The poet had to make a choice between two roads. He took the one that was less travelled by. In other words, he chose a more difficult path in life. His choice of the less-travelled path made all the difference in his life.

 

Q. What do the two roads stand for?

Ans: The two roads in the poem stand for two opportunities. They also signify the crisis of choice. One has to make a choice of a path to reach one’s destination. Out of many options, we have to choose the right one.

 

Q. After you have made a choice, do you always think about what might have been, or do you accept the reality?

Ans: It’s human nature to think what might have been if we had selected some other path. But it’s also a fact that once we choose a path and cover some distance, there is no going back. One should think before making a choice. One should weigh all the pros and cons of the choice. But once we make a choice, we should be determined to move on. Regretting the choice does not help. Acceptance of reality motivates. I will definitely accept the reality.

 

Q. What is the importance of making choices? How does Robert Frost resolve the dilemma faced by him?

Ans: Making choices has great importance. The right choices bring success, wealth and happiness in our lives. Besides, good decisions work as a source of inspiration. Choice and decision are like steps that carry us forward.

Robert Frost was in a dilemma to decide which of the two roads would lead him to success. Virtually, he resolved the dilemma by choosing the road that had not had many travellers.

 

Q. Why was the poet in a dilemma while making a decision?

Ans: The poet was in a dilemma while making a decision because he had no idea what any of them had in store for him. He was going through a difficult time in his life, to remain in the USA, where he was not given recognition or to migrate to England. Only the future could tell. It was like taking a leap in the dark. Who could tell its result? It was difficult to say how he would be received in England, as his experience of his birthplace, the USA, was bitter.

 

Q. What is the moral presented by the poet in the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’?

Ans: This is an inspirational poem and quite tricky, according to Robert Frost himself. The poem presents an antithesis. The traveller comes to an end where two roads are making a fork and the traveller wishes to take both, which is impossible. One of the roads is described as grassy and ‘wanting wear’, then he says that both roads look the same. This represents the eternal dilemma of man. He finds the grass greener on the other side. This poem is a call for the reader to forge his or her way in life and not follow the path that others have taken. This poem encourages self-reliance and reinforces the power of independent thinking and sticking to one’s decisions. The poet does not moralise about choice; he simply says that choice is inevitable, and you will never know till you have lived the ‘difference’. So there is nothing right or wrong about a choice; it is all relative. Whatever direction one takes, one must pack it with determination and zest, for one can never turn the clock back, or relive that moment.