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  • A Roadside Stand Summary and Questions

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    Mendes Abe
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    The occupants of a little old house have extended a shed alongside the road hoping to entice passing traffic to stop and purchase items. However, the traffic ignores the shack, to the disappointment of the deprived owners who long for money. When cars do stop, it is only to ask about prices or use the property, like asking for gas, highlighting the alienation between rural and urban life. The poet sympathizes with the sadness of the shed owners and their childlike desire for money to improve their lives, which remains unfulfilled.

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    The occupants of a little old house have extended a shed alongside the road hoping to entice passing traffic to stop and purchase items. However, the traffic ignores the shack, to the disappointment of the deprived owners who long for money. When cars do stop, it is only to ask about prices or use the property, like asking for gas, highlighting the alienation between rural and urban life. The poet sympathizes with the sadness of the shed owners and their childlike desire for money to improve their lives, which remains unfulfilled.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    480 views3 pages

    A Roadside Stand Summary and Questions

    Uploaded by

    Mendes Abe
    The occupants of a little old house have extended a shed alongside the road hoping to entice passing traffic to stop and purchase items. However, the traffic ignores the shack, to the disappointment of the deprived owners who long for money. When cars do stop, it is only to ask about prices or use the property, like asking for gas, highlighting the alienation between rural and urban life. The poet sympathizes with the sadness of the shed owners and their childlike desire for money to improve their lives, which remains unfulfilled.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
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    of 3

    A Roadside Stand Summary

    There has been an extension of the shed in front by the occupants of the little old house.
    Furthermore, this extension is around the edge of the road where the passage of traffic takes
    place. It seems like the shack-owners want to implore the passers-by to purchase something
    from the shack. These deprived people have a huge desire for the currency.

    Unfortunately, the traffic goes past ignoring the shack. If by chance the traffic does stop, it
    would come with a feeling of disappointment. They are very disturbed to see the poor
    unattractive signboards. There is an offer of wild berries shack for sale in a wooden quart (a
    quarter of a gallon). This place offers a peaceful natural stay for those who can afford it. The
    poet becomes angry at this attitude of the ‘polished traffic’ and asks them to move ahead.

    The poet shows more concern for the sadness of the shed-owners than he does for the
    landscape blemish. He believes that these people have a longing to handle some city money.
    This money can reduce their suffering as one can see in movies. The political party that
    enjoys power is the one that deprives them of a happy life.

    The poet makes mention of the news which points out the relocation of the poor villagers to
    the vicinity of shops and theatres. There were big promises to ensure good care for them.
    However, the government authorities became negligent of these promises. Furthermore, the
    poet is angry at this behavior and calls them “greedy good-doers”. He calls them “beasts of
    prey” who indulge in the exploitation of the poor villagers.

    The villagers pay a heavy price as they had to lose their land. The civic authorities are
    successful in fooling these naïve villagers. They promise them a better life and a good sleep.
    However, these civic authorities are the ones who sleep peacefully while making the lives of
    villagers miserable. Work during the day and sleep at night was the norm in ancient times.
    However, there has been a reversal of this norm as the villagers are not able to sleep at
    night.

    The poet expresses his distress while explaining the endless wait of shed owners for buyers.
    There is an ambiance of sadness all over the place. Sometimes a car stops but that is to
    enquire about the farmer’s price. Furthermore, others who stop just want to make use of the
    backyard. One of the cars stops for a gallon of gas. Moreover, this demonstrates the sense of
    alienation between urban and rural life.
    The poet regrets that money is not abundant in the country-side. Furthermore, money can
    raise spirits while a lack of it dampens it. The villagers have a tendency to express their
    grievance about a life which has a lack of money. Moreover, the poet becomes very
    emotional and contemplates their pain. He certainly wants to change their lives in one go
    but understands that this will be a futile act.

    Conclusion of A Roadside Stand Summary

    A Roadside Stand summary shows us the great contrast between the comfortable life of city
    dwellers and the harshness faced by the impoverished rural people.

    QUESTIONS

     Why do the people who run the roadside stand wait for the squeal of brakes so
    eagerly?

     Explain: “ soothe them out of them wits ” with reference to the poem The Roadside
    Stand’.

     Why does Robert Frost sympathise with the rural poor?

     What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand?

     What is the ‘childish longing’ of the folk who had put up the roadside stand? Why is
    it ‘in vain’?

     What news in the poem ‘A Roadside Stand’ is making its round in the village?

     What does Frost himself feel about the roadside stand?

    REFERENCE TO 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.
    1. Where was the new shed put up? What was its purpose?
    2. Why does the poet use the word ‘pathetic’?
    3. Explain: ‘too pathetically pled’
    4. Who are referred to as ‘the 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,

    1. What does the poet mean by ‘with a mind ahead?


    2. What are N and S signs?
    3. Why have these sings turned wrong?

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