The Road Not Taken

Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as 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,

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.

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 traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

1. diverge
extend in a different direction
By comparison, chimpanzees and humans diverged approximately six million years
ago.Scientific American (Sep 28, 2012)
2. undergrowth
the brush beneath taller trees in a wood or forest
 In jungle environments dead animals are quickly dispersed by scavengers, or decay
rapidly and become usurped by the thick forest undergrowth.BBC (Dec 6, 2012)
3. claim
assert or affirm strongly
He said he was racing but claimed he was only doing 70 mph.
4. equally
in a balanced or impartial way
Yet that equally large part of South America controlled by Spain's neighbour, Portugal,
experienced a very different post-colonial fate.
5. doubt
the state of being unsure of something
Neither test was considered thorough enough to resolve all the doubts.
6. difference
a significant change
But there are still major differences when it comes to recreating brain like functionality
in computing.Forbes (Oct 18, 2013)
7. hence
from that fact or reason or as a result
Hence humans are responsible for global warming and the impact is so large that it
swamps other explanations.Forbes (Oct 2, 2013)
8. tread
crush as if by stepping on

Detailed Analysis
Stanza One
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
‘A Road Not Taken’ opens with strong imagery, because of
the diction used to depict two physical roads separating
from each other in “a yellow wood.” It is observably a
forest that is showcasing the colors of autumn.
Line two is hasty to display the theme of regret, by
revealing that the individual is “sorry” before he even
decides which road to take. We basically find ourselves
observing a very important moment, where he has to make
a decision that is evidently difficult for him.

Lines three through five, express that the individual is

trying to see as far as he can down each road, to help him
decide which one he should choose to take.

Let’s thoroughly analyze the lines and their meaning below.

Lines 1–2

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both
The first two lines of this stanza introduce the dilemma that
every human faces, not once, but multiple times in his or
her life; the dilemma of choice. We as people go through
many circumstances and experiences in our lives, and one
of them is choosing between two (or more) paths.

This is experienced literally: in the roads we take and the

routes we walk daily, and figuratively: when we come to
points in our lives where we must make decisions for our
next steps, based on the opportunities presented to us.
And like the character in ‘The Road Not Taken,’ oftentimes,
we are disappointed that we cannot hold on to, and
experience the consequences of every opportunity that is
presented to us. In order to gain some things in life, we
must let others go.
Lines 3–5

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
By having the character in the poem examine the roads
ahead of him, Frost is emphasizing that we all try our best
to guess what lays ahead for us in every opportunity that
we are presented in an attempt to find some control and
later comfort over our final decisions. We like to take our
time in order to make informed decisions so we can justify
our choices when the regret of missing out on the other
“roads” starts to haunt us.

Stanza Two
Then took the other, as 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,
In this second stanza, lines six through eight: the individual
in ‘The Road Not Taken’ finally makes a decision and
chooses a road that he thinks and believes is better,
because it looked like not many people had walked on it
before.

However, in lines nine and ten, he is quick to add that the

other road looked equally used in comparison to the one he
chose, so it really was not as less traveled as he was telling
himself.

Lines 6–7

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,
These lines are important because they clarify the common
misunderstanding that one road was less traveled than the
other since the character clearly states that both roads
were “really about the same.” The diction in this stanza
portrays the uncertainty of the character as he tries to
justify to himself that his decision is the right one for him;
and much like anyone else, he is trying to realistically
weigh the outcomes of both roads.

Lines 8–10

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
The important idea to note in these lines is that the
character claimed the road he chose was better because it
“wanted wear” meaning that it was tempting him. He felt
that the road he chose “wanted” to be walked on by him.
This underlines the nature of people in general, that we will
always choose the path which seems attractive and is of
interest to us, even if both paths have the equal potential
of getting us to wherever it is we are headed.
That said the word “want” has historically been used to
represent a lack of something. For example “the house was
in want of repair” so perhaps the suggestion here is that
the path is overgrown because it is less travelled.

Either way no matter where we end up, and how informed,

tempting, and satisfying our choices are, we will always
wonder about the “what ifs” and the “could have
beens” of the other opportunities that we left behind.

Stanza Three
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.
In the third stanza, Robert Frost(Bio | Poems) mentions in lines
eleven and twelve that at the moment that this individual
was making his decision, both paths were nearly identical.
No one had stepped through to disturb the leaves on both
roads.

Line thirteen is an important point in ‘The Road Not

Taken’ as this is when the individual finalizes his decision
of leaving the other road, for perhaps another time.

Lines fourteen and fifteen give us a glimpse of his doubts.

He honestly confesses to himself that it’s highly unlikely he
will come back to travel this other road because he knows
as he moves forward he will continue to find other paths
taking him further and further away from this point, where
he is standing at the moment.

Lines 11–12

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.
The lines show us that this character is truly being honest
with himself, as he makes the crucial decision of which
road to take. His honesty is a reality check as well as a
means of making a final decision. He notices that both
choices lay equally in front of him and none of these
choices have been “trodden black”.

Sometimes in life, when we reach a fork, we are able to

make quick decisions based on what we learned from other
people’s experiences. These experiences then leave marks
in the choices that we have, these marks then form
our bias towards or against that path. When we encounter
choices in our lives where we find that the leaves are not
“trodden black” by what we learned from the people
around us, it becomes harder to decide between them, just
like the situation of the character in ‘The Road Not Taken’.

Lines 13–15

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
After making his decision, he exclaims that he will leave
the first choice for another day. Then he honestly tells
himself that if he lets this road go now, there is no coming
back. There are many defining decisions in our life that
shape our future and sometimes when we select an option
in these moments, they change the course of our life and
there’s no turning back. That is where the regret of not
exploring our other options disturbs us.

Stanza Four
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 traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
In this last stanza, lines sixteen and seventeen, the
individual predicts that one day far into the future, he
knows will tell the story of this decision that he is now
making.

Lines eighteen and nineteen expose that he intends to lie

and claim he took the less-traveled road. In reality, both
were equally traveled.

Finally, the last line expresses that the individual is also

planning to claim that his choice to take this less traveled
road made all the difference, in where he will be standing
at the time.
Lines 16–17

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:
These lines of the last stanza highlight the nature of our
regrets. When it comes to tough decisions in our lives, we
always know that no matter what we finally choose,
eventually, we will regret not being able to try the
possibility that was left uncharted by us.

In this stanza, the character is already imagining the regret

he will feel and decides that he will not be honest when he
retells the story of his decision, as it will not validate his
selection of the road if he showcases his regret by stating
that an equal opportunity could have landed him elsewhere
in life.

Lines 18–20

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
He decides he will tell people he chose the road that was
“less traveled by” to come across as a person who took
a chance and succeeded in life. In reality, the character is
trying to convince himself that when he shares his life
experiences and distorts the truth, it will seem that taking
this road “made all the difference”.

This teaches readers that they never know where life will
take them, so preplanning what the end of the road looks
like for themselves, and building regret is silly especially if
they haven’t even started the journey in the first
place. Life is about the paths you do choose to walk
through, not about “the road not taken.”

Question 2.
Complete the web chart showing choices and decisions you may have to make in the next
few years and the factors that affect these choices:

Share your choices and decisions with your partner.

Answer:

Question 1:

Where does the traveller find himself ? What problem does he face ?
Answer:

He finds himself at a place where the road diverged in two different directions. He couldn’t
decide which way to go by.
Hide Answer
Question 2:

Discuss what these phrases mean to you :

i. a yellow wood
ii. it was grassy and wanted wear
iii. the passing there
iv. in leaves no step had trodden black
v. how way leads on to way

Answer:

i. ‘A yellow wood’ : It means a forest where the foliage had turned yellow because of the
autumn season.
ii. ‘It was grassy and wanted wear’ : It means that the road was overgrown with grass and
had not been used.
iii. ‘The passing there’ : It means the people passing that way.
iv. ‘In leaves no step had trodden black’ : No one had yet gone by those two roads that
morning. So the leaves lying on them had not been trodden black.
v. ‘How way leads on to way’ : Every way leads on to some other way and so there is very
little possibility of one’s coming back to the same way.

Hide Answer
Question 3:

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 ?

Answer:

i. In stanzas two and three, both the roads have been shown to be equally fair.
ii. In the last two lines, one road has been said to be less travelled by.

Hide Answer
Question 4:

What do you think the last two lines of the poem mean ? Looking back, does the poet regret his
choice or accept it ?
Answer:

The last two lines show the importance of making a choice in one’s life. The poet had taken the
road that was rather unused so far. And that has made for him all the difference. I think the poet
regrets his choice of taking the road that was less travelled by.

Hide Answer
Question 5:
Have you ever had to make a difficult choice (or do you think you will have difficult choices to
make) ?
How will you make the choice (for what reasons) ?
Answer:

It is always difficult to make a choice when the different alternatives appear equally good. In such
a situation I will not make any hurry in making the choice. I will consider every aspect. And
when once the choice has been made, I will stick to it. I will have no regrets later.

Hide Answer
Question 6:

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

It is no good to think about what might have been. It is no use to think about what is gone and
can’t be recalled. I always accept the reality and try to make the most of it.

Hide Answer
Question 7:

Where was the poet standing ? Why was he puzzled ?

Answer:

The poet was in a forest. He was at a place where the road diverged in two different directions.
He could not decide which way to go by. So he was puzzled.

Hide Answer
Question 8:

Which of the two roads did the poet choose and why ?
Answer:

One of the roads showed some signs of wear. The other one was less travelled by. It was the
second road that the poet chose. He chose it because he didn’t want to go by the trodden path.

Hide Answer
Question 9:

Why did the poet keep the first road for another day ? What was the doubt in his mind about it ?
Answer:

The poet was travelling alone. He couldn’t go by both the roads at the same time. Therefore, he
kept the first road for another day. But he doubted if he would ever come back. He knew that one
road always leads to another. Thus there was no possibility of coming back.
Hide Answer
Question 10:

Give in brief the central idea of the poem, ‘The Road Not Taken’.
Answer:

The poet brings out the importance of making a right choice. The correct choice can
make one’s future. The wrong one can mar it. A choice once made can hardly be
reversed later. Once the poet had to choose between two roads. He chose the one that
was less travelled by. And that, he says, has made all the difference.

1. Where does the traveler find himself? What problem does he face?
Ans: The traveler finds himself standing at the fork of the road in a yellow
wood. He needs to decide which road to choose, and he stands at the fork
analyzing his dilemma.

2. Discuss what these phrases mean to you:

(i) A yellow wood
Ans: Yellowwood symbolizes the autumn season in the forest. Autumn
represents the shedding of the old and the dead leaves on the tree withers
away. It also refers to the old age in human life where he loses all his physical
abilities, preparing to ascend to the next stage.

(ii) It was grassy and wanted wear

Ans: It conveys that the road was full of undisturbed vegetation because it
was a less traveled one. The poet personifies the road by saying ‘wanted
wear.’ It could imply the road wanted to be explored or traveled by visitors,
which it was not.

(iii) The passing there

Ans: The phrase is used to address the other path that is frequently traveled
by the visitors. He addressed the road as secondary as he was keener to
explore the road with outgrown vegetation.

(iv) Leaves no step had trodden black

Ans: The poet uses the phrase to describe the untouched state of the path.
After walking over the leaves their edges turn black which was not the case
here. He went on a walk early in the morning, and one had walked on either of
the roads, and leaves from the trees lay fresh on them.
(v) How way leads on to way
Ans: The phrase tells us about the poet's desire to try both the roads and see
the destination. But he soon realizes how one way will lead to another until
one is extremely far from where they started. All the decisions in life pave the
way for a new one and help us create our life journey, unique for everyone.

3. Is there any difference between the two roads as the poet describes
them
(i) In stanzas two and three?
Ans: In stanza two, the poet explained the physical difference in the roads.
One road was frequently traveled by and had a clear path with less vegetation
while the other path was covered with vegetation, was not stepped on, and
was used often.

In stanza three, the poet concludes that in the morning since no one had
stepped on either of the roads and they were covered with fallen autumn
leaves both roads were untravelled.

(ii) In the last two lines of the poem?

Ans: For the poet, in the last line, the difference arose from the fact that he
chose the road that was less traveled, and it would embark him on a different
journey, different from the one he would have if he chose the first road. It was
not the difference in the physical appearance but the destination that it would
end at.

4. What do you think the last two lines of the poem mean? (Looking
back, does the poet regret his choice or accept it?)
Ans: The last two lines of the poem show the poet's acceptance of reality and
his being accountable for his decision. The poet made a daring choice and
took the path that was challenging. He took an unexplored path in his life
since wanted to do something different. Years ahead in his life, he is not
disappointed by his decision.

For a common person, the phrase reflects the everyday dilemma one must
face when presented with choices. No matter how far they take him in life, one
should not regret not taking the other path and wondering if life could have
been better than what it is.

II. Thinking About the Poem

1. Have you ever had to make a difficult choice (or do you think you will
have difficult choices to make)? How will you make the choice (for what
reasons)?
Ans: No, till now I have never been presented with such a situation. There are
various minor instances in our life too that present us with a choice and
decisions are to be made. In such instances, we should be guided by our
hearts and make the best possible decision.

In my case after completing my general education, I will have to decide upon

the profession I wish to continue. I will have multiple options before me. I will
try to choose a path that gives me satisfaction and mental peace. Like the
poet in the poem, I would love to choose a challenging and unexplored path in
my life.

2. After you have made a choice do you always think about what might
have been or do you accept the reality?
Ans: I always believe in taking time and thinking about all the possible
consequences before planning. Some decisions can change our life forever
and hence we should go with what our heart desires. We should not try our
best to not do things and take actions to satisfy others. We should give
preference to our desires and wishes and work hard for them. Therefore; I
believe in sticking to my decisions and being accountable for them.

Mastering Chapter 1 Class 9 English The Road not Taken -

MCQs, Questions and Answers
Here are 5 questions from the poem of Class 9 The Road Not Taken that were
asked in the CBSE board examination in the last 10 years. It is imperative that
you go through them for better preparation.

Read the Extract Given Below and Answer the Questions that
Follow
Q1. 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. At which point had the poet reached?
B. Why was the traveller feeling sorry?
C. Give the opposite to ‘met at a point’ from the passage? (SA-1,2014-15)

Q2: 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 it if I should ever come back.
A. Which road does the poet choose?
B. Why was the poet doubtful about the first road?
C. Find a word from the extract that means ‘crushed’. (Board Term 1,2012,
ELI-013)

Q3. 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. How did the poet make his choice about the roads?
B. What had made a lot of difference in the poet’s life?
C. What does the term “road” stand for? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-018)

Q4. 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. What made the poet choose such a road?
 B. What does the poet mean by “just as fair”?
C. Find the phrase from the extract that means “had not been used”.
(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-019)

Q5. 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. Write the name of the poem and the poet.
B. Why did the poet take the road which was less travelled by?
C. Why was the poet in dilemma? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-021)

3 Important Literary Devices in the Poem for Class 9 English

Chapter 1 : The Road not Taken
Literary devices help to enhance the meaning of a poetic piece and
understand the poet’s string of thoughts better. The poem from English
Chapter 1 Class 9 in the book Beehive portrays literary devices in a unique
and new founding way. Here are three important literary devices used by
Robert Frost in the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’.

Simile: A simile is a figure of speech that enables direct comparison between

two like objects or items. In the second stanza of the poem, a simile can be
identified in the phrase ‘as just as fair’. It enumerates how Frost compares the
road less taken to the easy way that humans tend to choose in life.

Metaphor: The poetic device metaphor is quite similar to a simile, but unlike a
simile, it strikes an indirect comparison between two things. In ‘The Road Not
Taken’, the road acts as a metaphor for the journey of life. On the other hand,
yellow woods, implying forests full of yellow leaves, are a metaphor for the
decisions we make during the tough times of our lives.

Imagery: The richness and essence of every poem is enhanced by the use of
imagery. A poem with imagery tends to provoke the senses of the readers and
they can visualize the scenes in the poem while reading it. In this poem,
Robert Frost triggers the sense of sight through vivid images of leaves, yellow
woods, and the road. Readers can perceive these things while reciting the
poem.
Short answer type questions

Question 1.
What was the poet’s dilemma?
Answer:
The poet was standing before the two roads. He had to decide which one would lead
him to success. It was not easy for him to decide. So he stood there and
introspected. Out the two options, he had to choose the one. Of course, it was not an
easy choice.

Question 2.
What was the poet’s opinion about both the roads?
Answer:
The poet opined that both the roads were same. They were equally travelled and
there was no difference between them. So he got confused. It was difficult to decide
which road would be more convenient and comfortable. He wanted to choose the
one that would take him to his intended destination.

Question 3.
What do the roads represent?
Answer:
The roads represent the problem of decision-making. Human beings suffer because of their
choices and decisions. They find themselves in such situations at every step in their lives. Out
of the available options, they have to choose the one that may take them to their destination.
The choice decides the outcome in life.

Question 4.
Did the poet take his decision haphazardly?
Answer:
No, he speculated and brooded over the situation. He took this decision after a lot of
contemplation. He did not take this decision haphazardly. No doubt, he was a bit confused.
After all, it was not quite easy to make the right choice. But he exercised his option after
much contemplation.

Question 5.
Why did the poet choose that road?
Answer:
The poet chose that road because it was less travelled. He wanted to do those activities which
had not been done by anyone earlier. The poet didn’t seem to be interested in choosing a
much trodden path of life. Avoiding the popular rat-race, he opted for the option that broke
fresh grounds.
Question 6.
What is the message of the poem?
Answer:
The message of the poem is to make people aware of their analytical skills. The poet wishes
to say that choices should be made carefully and thoughtfully. One should behave responsibly
because life does not offer multiple chances every now and then.

Question 7.
Did the poet make the right choice?
Answer:
It is not easy to say whether the poet made the right choice or not. He, himself couldn’t reach
to any such conclusion. It is possible that he may repent for making such a choice. He
avoided the popular and off-beaten path of life. He dared to choose the path which was less
frequented used by the people. This bold decision might bring all the difference in his life.

Question 8.
Why did the poet take the ‘other’ road? Why did the ‘other’ road have a better claim than the
first road?
Answer:
The poet had to choose one of the two roads. He left the one which was a popular choice. He
decided to take the ‘other’ road which was less frequented and travelled by the people. The
‘other’ road had a better claim as it was grassy. It invited the people to walk on it.

Question 9.
Describe the conditions of both the roads that lay open before the poet on that morning.
Answer:
In the yellow autumnal wood, two roads diverged into two directions. Both of them were
covered with the fallen leaves. In the morning, both of them were still untouched. The steps
of travellers have not blackened them. One was frequently used by the travellers. The other
one was not a popular choice. It seemed to invite people to walk on it.

Question 10.
Was the poet certain to come back on the road he had left for another day?
Answer:
Life and its ways are complex and confusing. One roads leads to another. In this web, one has
to make a choice. The poet left the one road and hope that he would use it on another day.
But he was quite doubtful. It often happens that the road that is left once, is left forever.
Rarely do we come on to that road again.

Question 11.
How does the outcome of our life depends on the choice we make to reach our destinations?
Answer:
Life is full of complexities. It provides us with different choices and options. The choice is
never easy. Our success or failure depends on the choice that we make. Mostly people choose
the most popular or frequented paths of life. But some bold and adventurous people take risks
and choose the less frequented paths and ways of life.

Long answer type questions

Question 1.
In the poem “The Road Not Taken,” what do the woods symbolize?
Answer:
In this poem, the poet comes to a fork in the road where it is diversified into paths, and he
must decide which path to follow. Both paths run in different directions through a “yellow
wood.” The poet finds himself standing in the middle and in dilemma of choosing the right
path. The woods in this poem symbolize the difficulty of seeing into the future. The poet
must make a choice based on limited information, since much of what he might like to see is
not clear. The poet will have to rely on faith and intuition as he makes his choice, as we often
must do in life. ‘Woods’ in the poem stand for the complexities of human life. Life is like a
maze. The ‘forks’ stand for the ‘alternatives’ or ‘options’ life provides to reach the
destination. What you reap later on in life, depends on the ‘options’ or the ‘ways’ you choose
during the course of life.

Question 2.
According to the poem, how does the poet feel about his or her decision in the end?
Answer:
The speaker of this poem is Robert Frost himself. He is thinking about a career decision he
made many years ago. He had to make a choice between seeking a secure profession which
would enable him to live in comfort or to devote him to poetry and live a simple life close to
nature. Same like the poet, many of us don’t know whether to trust our instincts and go ahead
with the pursuit of our dreams. Frost chose to devote his life to his poetry. The poet does not
appear to regret the choice he made, but he sounds wistful in the last as if he wishes he knew
what his alternate life would have been like if he had taken the other road.

Question 3.
What is the theme or the message of the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’?
Answer:
Robert Frost’s ‘The Road Not taken’ deals with the complexities of life. Life and its ways
never woven in a straight line. Life provides many options. The web of life consists of many
paths and sub-ways. Naturally, these complexities of life confuse a person. Out of many
options and alternatives, he has to make a choice. Only a judicious choice make us reach our
destination. Most of people choose the least risky and off-tradden ways of life. They don’t
want to take any risk. Only a few persons like the poet dare to chose a different path of like.
They are bold enough to face risks and challenges in life. One has to make a choice. His
success or failure in life depends on his choice. The poet chose a different path. Popular fame
and fortune are sacrificed in favour of art, literature and poetry. Nobody knows what he
would have gained had he followed the least risky and safe path of life.

Question 4.
How does one way lead on to another? Is it easier to come back to the path we have left for
another day?
Answer:
Every man has his own aim or the destination of life. Life provides many options and
alternatives. The zig-zag way of life is always expanding. One way leads on to another. All
these additions make the web of life quite complex. These pluralities of options confuse
every man. He can’t follow all the ways or paths simultaneously. Amid this confusion, comes
the problem of the right choice. The choice of the right or the wrong option makes all the
difference in one’s life. One should make a judicious choice. Success or failure in life
depends on the choice you make. If the choice is made, it is rather difficult to retrace our
steps. Sometimes we leave one option or alternative with the hope of coming back to it on
another day. It is quite possible that we may never come back to our original position again.
Hence, we must make the right choice to get the desired result and success in life.

Value based questions

Question 1.
How does bad decision affect one’s life?
Answer:
Life provides many ways, options and alternative. Pluralities of options confuse us. The
outcome of life depends on the ways or path of life that we choose. We should always make
the right or judicious choice. A wrong choice makes all the difference in life. It leads to
unpleasant results and disastrous consequences. Bad decision affects one’s life badly.
Actually our success depends on the decision which we take at present. If our decision is
wrong, we have to repent for it because it ruins the countless happy moments of life. Our
failure creates disappointment and we forget the essence of life. In a sense, it can be said that
one bad decision spoils our life.

Question 2.
Describe the significance of good decisions. In what manner do they support life?
Answer:
The web of life is quite complex. Life provides many options. We can’t exercise all these
options or alternatives. The choice has to be made. The choice we make will make all the
difference in life. One road leads to another and it becomes difficult to come back to the
original position. Only by following the right path of the life we can expect the desired
results. Good decisions have a great deal of significance. They bring success, wealth and
happiness in our life. A successful person has several friends and they support him/her in
every possible manner. Besides, the common people take a very important lesson with regard
to how decisions should be taken in life. Therefore, good decisions work as the source of
inspiration for those who try to achieve success in life.

Extract Based Questions (3 marks each)

Read the extract given below and answers the question that follow.

Question 1:
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follows :
Two roads diverged in yellow wood.
And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveller, long I stood And locked down once as
far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;

1. At which point had the poet reached ?

2. Why was the traveller feeling sorry ?
3. Give the opposite to ‘met at a point’ from the passage ? (SA-1,2014-15)

Answer:
 1. The poet is standing at a point where two roads diverged in the yellow wood.
2. The poet is feeling sorry because he could not travel both the roads.
3. ‘Diverged’.

Question 2:
And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden back Oh, I kept the first for
another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted it if I should ever come back

1. Which road does the poet choose ?

2. Why was the poet doubtful about the first road ?
3. Find a word from the extract that means ‘crushed’. (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-013)

Answer:

1. The poet took the second road.

2. The poet chose the second road over the first thinking that he would come to it some
other day. Yet, he was very doubtful that he would ever be able to come back to it
someday.
3. Trodden.

Question 3:
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.

1. Why did the poet take the other road ?

2. What did the poet discover while travelling on the other road ?
3. What do the given lines suggest about the speaker ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-017)

Answer:

1. The poet took the other road because he thought that it was more challenging to travel
on it as only a few had used (trodden on) it.
2. The poet discovered, while travelling on the other road, that the second was almost
equally used as the first one.
3. The given lines suggest that the speaker loved challenges and difficulties.

Question 4:
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.

1. How did the poet make his choice about the roads ?
2. What had made a lot of difference in the poet’s life ?
 3. What does the term “road” stand for ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-018)

Answer:

1. The poet took the road which was less travelled as it was grassy and less worn.
2. The poet regretted his decision as he thought that he would have been successful if he
would have taken the other road and so his life would have been different.
3. The term “road” stands for opportunities and choices.

Question 5:
Then took the other, just as fair,”
And having perhaps the better chance,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same.

1. What made the poet choose such a road ?

2. What does the poet mean by “just as fair” ?
3. Find the phrase from the extract that mean “had not been used”.(Board Term 1,2012,
ELI-019)

Answer:

1. The poet chose such a road because grass has grown there and none had travelled so far
on it.
2. “Just as fair” means that the other road was as beautiful as the one seen earlier.
3. Wanted wear

Question 6:
I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence;
Two roads diverged in a wood, and 11 took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.

1. Write the name of the poem and the poet.

2. Why did the poet take the road which was less travelled by ?
3. Why was the poet in dilemma ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-021)

Answer:

1. The Road Not Taken – Robert Frost

2. The poet took the road which was less travelled by because he wanted to be different
from others in his life.
3. The poet was in a dilemma while choosing one of the two roads.

Question 7:
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood And sorry I could not travel both An be one traveller,
long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth.

1. Where did the roads diverge ?

 2. Where did the one road lead to ?
3. What does “yellow wood” stand for ?

Answer:

1. The roads diverged in the yellow wood.

2. The one road led to dense growth of plants and animals.
3. “Yellow wood” stands for the autumn season.

Question 8:
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.

1. Who has composed these lines ?

2. What does “both” refer to ?
3. Trace a word from the extract which means “suspected”.

Answer:

1. These lines were composed by Robert Frost.

2. “Both” refers to two roads which lead to different directions.
3. Doubted.

Question 9:
And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden back.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

1. What does “both” refer to in the stanza ?

2. Explain “in leaves no step had trodden back”.
3. Write the rhyming scheme of the extract. (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-025)

Answer:

1. “Both” in the above stanza refers to two roads which diverged in different directions.
2. “In leaves no step had trodden back” means that both the roads were covered with
yellow leaves and nobody had walked on them.
3. abaab

Question 10:
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.

1. What problem does the poet faces ?

 2. Where is the poet standing ?
3. Find a word from the extract that means “separated”. (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-026)

Answer:

1. The poet wasn’t able to decide which road or path he should tread upon.
2. The poet is standing at a point where two roads diverge in a yellow wood.
3. Diverged.

Question 11:
‘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’

1. Why is the poet feeling sorry ?

2. What is the mood of the poet ?
3. Find the word from the extract which means the same as “branched out”.(Board Term
1,2012, ELI-060) (1×3=3)

Answer:

1. The poet is feeling sorry because he could not travel both the roads.
2. The mood of the poet is regretful and thoughtful.
3. Diverge.

Short Answer Type Questions

(About 30-40 words each)

Question 1:
Why will the choice between two roads that seem very much alike make such a big difference
many years later in the life of the poet ?
Answer:
A choice between two roads that seem very much alike will make such a big difference many
years later in the poet’s life’since this particular decision, this path opened up many different
opportunities for him in future. The decision that he now makes will influence him and his
life and his rest of the decisions since the two roads are same they still have varied options in
them.

Question 2:
Does the speaker feel that he has made the wrong choice in taking the road “less travelled
by”? If not, why does he “sigh”? What does he regret ?
Answer:
No, the speaker does not feel that he has made a wrong decision by taking the road less
travelled. The poet wanted to explore both the roads. He tells himself that he will explore one
and then come back and explore the other, but he knows that he will probably be unable to do
so.

Question 3:
And that has made all the difference. What is your opinion of the difference- was it for the
better or the worse? Substantiate your answer.
Answer:
The poem does not clearly state whether the choice made by the poet made him happy or sad.
However, if examined the way of the world, we find that the individuals who have achieved
recognition and fame have always eschewed the beaten track. Hence, we can reason that the
poet-poet-traveller was made happy by choosing the less travelled path, not the beaten track.
The concluding line of the poem “And that has made all the difference” connotes the poet’s
joy.

Question 4:
After reading the poem can you detail the tone entire poem.
Answer:
The overall tone of the poem is one of regret. He believes that at some time far in the future,
he will still be thinking of his two possible paths “with a sigh”. He does not anticipate being
any less conflicted then or any more satisfied with his choice. He realizes that his choice will
have made “all the difference” in his life, but he is presently uncertain about what the
difference will turn out to be.

Question 5:
Was the poet doubtful or clear that he would return to take the other path which he could not
do earlier ?
Answer:
Throughout the poem and the poet’s journey he faces an archetypal dilemma. He doubts if he
would ever be able to come back to take that other road which might have given him some
other more lucrative options in life. The poet believes and we all know that one road leads to
another so going back to the original path is not easy.

Long Answer Type Questions (4 marks each)

(About 80-100 words each)

Question 1:
Does the poem, ‘The Road Not Taken’, symbolizes or reveals a meaning or aspect of
freedom or responsibility ?
Answer:
The poem reveals the complex nature of a seemingly simple decision. The narrator is
conflicted as he thinks about which road to take. Even after some deliberation and the fact
that usage “Had worn them really about the same,” he cannot help wondering, but then
doubting “if I should ever come back”. He is even trying to convince himself that he has
made the best choice as, when he looks back “Somewhere ages and ages hence”, he is sure
that he will be able to say that he made the best choice and that it “has made all the
difference”.
This poem highlights the fact that freedom (of choice in this instance) brings with it its own
set of responsibilities. Hie poem also, perhaps, indicates the futility of over-thinking some
situations. If, even trivial decisions require so much thought, how can anyone ever make life-
changing decisions. Apparently for the narrator, this is life-changing. At least the choice is
his to make.
Question 2:
What do the two roads symbolize in the passage 1? What is the significance of choosing a
road?
Answer:
The two roads that the poet-traveller faces in his walk or journey are symbolic of the choices
that we have to encounter in our life. The journey or a simple walk itself is a metaphor for the
great journey of life. In the poem the poet, after prolonged thought, decides to take the road
less travelled, accepting its challenges and uncertainties. The decision is final and irreversible
and it has its own consequences, may be positive or negative. In real life also we confront
such critical situations where we face life-altering options. The decision we make is crucial.
We should contemplate over the choices before and then decide our priorities. Once we make
the decision and proceed accordingly, we can never reverse it. The life takes its own course,
and it does not give a second chance to alter our decision and change our course of life.
Hence, decide wisely.

Question 3:
What is the theme of the poem “The Road Not Taken’ ?
Answer:
The poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ offers a profound perception into the process of decision
making. The traveller at the crossroads of the diverging roads is symbolic of an individual at
a decisive moment in his life’s journey. His decision or choice of future action is of utmost
significance since the decision decides his destiny .The poet, Robert Frost, through this poem
asserts the importance of the right decision at the right time. In life we have to make our
choices; sometimes we have to make these choices without the full understanding of the state
of affairs. Even then, we should arrive at decision only after carefully considering all the
available options. We may regret our choice or we may be excited about our choice, but the
choice at the crucial moment will determine and change the path of our life. Hence, the poem
stresses the need for deep and critical analysis of the situation before we arrive at a life-
transforming decision.

Question 4:
Discuss the anticipation or remorse in The Road Not Taken’.
Answer:
There is a fair amount of irony to be found here in the poem but this is also a poem infused
with the anticipation of remorse. Its title is not ‘The Road Less Travelled’ but “The Road Not
Taken”. Even as he makes a choice (a choice he is forced to make if he does not want to
stand forever in the woods, one for which he has no real guide or definitive basis for
decision-making), the speaker knows that he will second-guess himself somewhere down the
line— or at the very least he will wonder at what is irrevocably lost: the impossible,
unknowable Other Path. But the nature of the decision is such that there is no Right Path—
just the chosen path and the other path. The Road Less Travelled is a fiction the speaker will
later invent, an attempt to polarize his past and give himself, retroactively, more agency than
he really had. What are sighed for ages and ages hence are not so much the wrong decisions
as the moments of decision themselves— moments that, one atop the other, mark the passing
of a life. This is the more primal strain of remorse.

Question 5:
What appeals to you in the poem ?
Answer:
The poem, “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost is extremely appealing as it, in simple
words and style, presents the importance of making judicious decision at critical moments in
our life. In life we have to choose our options; sometimes we have to make these choices
without a full awareness of the circumstances. Even then, we should come to a decision only
after vigilantly considering all the offered alternatives. We may regret our choice or we may
be thrilled of our choice, but the choice at the vital moment will determine and transform the
path of our life. Hence, the poem emphasizes the necessity for deep and serious reasoning of
the circumstances before we arrive at a life-transforming decision.

MCQs of The Road Not Taken

1.What does the ‘yellow wood’ symbolise in the poem The Road Not Taken?

A) Summer season

B) The morning sun

C) A phase of life with choices

D) A literal forest with yellow leaves

Answer: C) A phase of life with choices

Reason: The ‘yellow wood’ is a metaphor for a point in life where one must make a choice,
reflecting the theme of decisions and their impacts.

2. What does the road ‘less travelled by’ imply in the poem The Road Not Taken?

A) A path filled with obstacles

B) A less popular or unconventional choice

C) A newly constructed road

D) A dangerous path

Answer: B) A less popular or unconventional choice

Reason: The road ‘less travelled by’ symbolises the choices that are not commonly made by
others, highlighting individuality.

3. Why does the traveller in the poem feel regret in the poem The Road Not Taken?

A) He chose the wrong path

B) He cannot travel both paths

C) He got lost in the woods

D) He dislikes the scenery

Answer: B) He cannot travel both paths

Reason: The traveller’s regret stems from the impossibility of exploring every path and the
choices one must forgo.

4. What does ‘wanted wear’ suggest about the road in the poem The Road Not Taken?

A) It requires maintenance

B) It is less used

C) It is a difficult path to travel

D) It is worn out

Answer: B) It is longing to be chosen

Reason: ‘Wanted wear’ metaphorically suggests that the road is less travelled and yearns for
use, indicating a less popular choice.

5. What does ‘I shall be telling this with a sigh’ imply about the speaker’s future feelings?

A) Satisfaction

B) Indifference

C) Not Clear

D) Excitement

Answer: C) Not Clear

Reason: The sigh indicates a sense of nostalgia but it cannot be said that the poet was happy
or sad.

Also Read:

The Road Not Taken Extract Based MCQ Questions

The Road Not Taken NCERT Solutions

Figure of Speech in The Road Not Taken

Hard Words : The Road Not Taken

The Road Not Taken Summary in English

The Road Not Taken-Theme, Title & Literary Devices

6. How does the poet use the phrase ‘how way leads on to way’ to describe life’s journey?

A) Life is straightforward and easy

B) One choice inevitably leads to more choices

C) Life is circular and repetitive

D) Choices in life are limited

Answer: B) One choice inevitably leads to more choices

Reason: The phrase suggests the complexity of life, where one decision leads to another,
creating a web of paths and choices.

7. What emotion does the ‘sigh’ convey in the poem?

A) Joy

B) Anger

C) Contentment

D) A mix of contentment and regret

Answer: D) A mix of contentment and regret

Reason: The ‘sigh’ suggests a complex emotion that includes both satisfaction for the path
taken and a wistful regret for the path not chosen.

8. What does the repetition of the word ‘I’ in the last stanza emphasise in the poem ‘The
Road Not Taken’?

A) The importance of companionship

B) The significance of personal choice

C) Confusion of the traveller

D) The beauty of the woods

Answer: B) The significance of personal choice

Reason: The emphasis on ‘I’ highlights the individual’s responsibility in making choices and
the personal nature of those decisions.

9. Why does the traveller doubt if he should ever come back in the poem ‘The Road Not
Taken’?

A) The road is too long

B) He does not like the road

C) Choices lead to new paths and experiences

D) He plans to settle in the new place

Answer: C) Choices lead to new paths and experiences

Reason: The doubt stems from the understanding that each choice leads to new directions,
making it unlikely to return to the initial point of decision.

10. What does ‘equally lay’ in leaves no step had trodden black tell about the roads?

A) Both are equally dark

B) Both are equally untraveled

C) Both are equally dangerous

D) Both lead to the same destination

Answer: B) Both are equally untravelled

Reason: The phrase suggests that neither path shows signs of frequent travel, implying an
equal level of unfamiliarity and potential.

11. What metaphorical significance does the ‘road’ have in the poem ‘The Road Not
Taken’??

A) Life’s journey

B) A literal road in a forest

C) Historical pathways

D) Academic career

Answer: A) Life’s journey

Reason: The ‘road’ symbolises the journey of life, with its choices and divergent paths,
reflecting the decisions we must make.

12. What does the traveller’s long standing at the fork tell about decision-making in the
poem ‘The Road Not Taken’?

A) It’s often done quickly

B) It requires careful consideration

C) It’s insignificant

D) It’s always easy

Answer: B) It requires careful consideration

Reason: Thinking hard before deciding shows that making choices is important and can be
tricky. It tells us we need to take our time to think things through.

Also Read:
The Road Not Taken-Value Based Questions

The Road Not Taken- Paraphrase

The Road Not Taken Author

The Road Not Taken Extract Questions

The Road Not Taken Short Question Answer

Road not Taken Extract Based MCQ Questions

13. What overall message does the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’?convey about choices in
life?

A) They are irrelevant

B) They define our journey

C) They are always clear

D) They should be avoided

Answer: B) They define our journey

Reason: The poem underscores the impact of choices on our life’s path, suggesting that the
decisions we make shape our experiences and identity.

14. What can we guess about the traveller because he thinks a lot at the fork in the road?

A) He makes quick decisions

B) He can’t easily decide

C) He likes nature

D) He likes trying new things

Answer: B) He can’t easily decide

Justification- The traveller thinks for a long time, which shows he has a hard time making
choices.

15. What can be assumed about the poem’s setting based on the description of the woods?
Ref. The Road Not Taken

A) It is set in winter

B) It is a tropical forest

C) It is during autumn

D) It is early morning in spring

Answer: D) It is early morning in spring

Reason: The mention of ‘a yellow wood’ and leaves suggests it’s not winter, and the
freshness of the scene hints at morning in a spring setting.

17. What can be assumed about the traveller’s future actions based on the poem The Road
Not Taken?

A) He will return to explore the other path

B) He will stay on his chosen path without looking back

C) He will regret his decision forever

D) He will often wonder about the path not taken

Answer: D) He will often wonder about the path not taken

Reason: The reflective nature of the poem suggests a tendency to ponder past decisions,
implying he might often think about the alternate path.

18. Based on the traveller’s choice, what can be assumed about his approach to life? Ref. The
Road Not Taken

A) He prefers a well-planned and predictable life

B) He values tradition and following others

C) He embraces risk and the unknown

D) He avoids making any significant decisions

Answer: C) He embraces risk and the unknown

Reason: Choosing the less travelled path suggests a willingness to explore and face the
uncertainties of less conventional choices.
19. What assumption can be made about the impact of this decision on the traveller’s life?
Ref. The Road Not Taken

A) It will lead to immediate success

B) It has little to no impact

C) It fundamentally shapes his identity

D) It leads to financial wealth

Answer: C) It fundamentally shapes his identity

Reason: The poem’s emphasis on the road taken ‘making all the difference’ suggests that
such choices are pivotal in defining one’s self and life trajectory.

20. How do you think the traveller feels when he’s making his choice? Ref. The Road Not
Taken

A) Very happy

B) Sad about something

C) Doesn’t care much

D) Thinking deeply

Answer: D) Thinking deeply

Reason: The traveller takes his time and the poem sounds like he’s really thinking things
over, showing he’s in a deep-thinking mood, not really happy or sad.

21. What assumption can be made about the poem’s message regarding life’s journey? Ref.
The Road Not Taken

A) It’s about the destination, not the journey

B) Every choice is right in its own way

C) The path less travelled always leads to success

D) Life’s journey is defined by the choices we make

Answer: D) Life’s journey is defined by the choices we make

Reason: The poem’s focus on a pivotal decision point and its long-term impact implies that
the essence of life’s journey is shaped by our choices.

22. What does the traveller’s choosing a path show about making our own decisions
individually? Ref. The Road Not Taken

A) Not needed

B) Makes choosing harder

C) Very important

D) Not as important as fitting in

Answer: C) Very important

Reason: It shows how important it is to make your own choices.

23. What value is reflected in the traveller’s decision? Ref. The Road Not Taken

A) Impulsiveness

B) Regret

C) Self-awareness

D) Discontent

Answer: C) Self-awareness

Reason: Indicates thoughtful consideration of decisions.

24. How is courage emphasised in the poem The Road Not Taken?

A) Popular path

B) Quick decision

C) Riskier path

D) Desire to turn back

Answer: C) Riskier path

Reason: Illustrates facing uncertainties.

25. What’s an important thing for growing, as per the poem The Road Not Taken?

A) Doing what everyone else does

B) Waiting too long before deciding

C) Thinking about things

D) Being too comfortable

Answer: C) Thinking about things

Reason: It suggests that thinking about our choices helps us learn and grow.

26. How does the poem The Road Not Taken illustrate embracing uncertainty?

A) Through Safer path

B) Through Reluctance

C) Through Less travelled path

D) Through Predictability
Answer: C) Through Less travelled path

Reason: Shows value in uncertain ventures.

27. What does the sigh suggest about acceptance? Ref. The Road Not Taken.

A) Complete satisfaction

B) Lack of acceptance

C) Acceptance of decisions

D) Desire to change complaints

Answer: C) Desire to change complaints

Reason: Indicates coming to terms with choices.

28. What does choosing the road ‘less travelled by’ suggest about personal growth? Ref. The
Road Not Taken.

A) It’s unnecessary

B) It’s risky but rewarding

C) It’s to be avoided

D) It’s easy
Answer: B) It’s risky but rewarding

Reason: Implies that growth often comes from taking risks and exploring less conventional
paths.

29. How does the traveller’s thinking at the fork reflect on decision-making in life? Ref. The
Road Not Taken.

A) Decisions are trivial

B) Quick decisions are best

C) Every decision requires deep thought

D) Avoid making decisions

Answer: C) Every decision requires deep thought

Reason: Highlights the importance of careful consideration in life’s choices.

30. What does the road represent in the broader context of human experience?

A) A predetermined path

B) Life’s journey filled with choices

C) A meaningless wander

D) A path free of obstacles

Answer: B) Life’s journey filled with choices

Reason: Symbolises the various paths life can take based on our decisions.

31. How does the poem challenge the idea of a ‘right’ choice?

A) By showing clear benefits of one path

B) Through regret of the chosen path

C) By depicting both paths as equally viable

D) By highlighting societal approval

Answer: C) By depicting both paths as equally viable

Reason: Questions the concept of a universally correct choice by showing the equality of
paths.

32. How does the poem reflect on the impact of choices on one’s identity?

A) Choices have no real impact

B) Choices are dictated by fate

C) Choices define what we become

D) Identity is fixed, unaffected by choices

Answer: C) Choices define who we become

Reason: Suggests that the paths we choose significantly shape our personal narrative and
identity.

33. What might the undergrowth signify about untaken opportunities?

A) They are always undesirable

B) They hold unseen potential

C) They should be feared

D) They are always better than chosen paths

Answer: B) They hold unseen potential

Reason: Implies that unexplored paths or choices might offer unexpected benefits.

34. What does the traveller’s reflection ‘ages and ages hence’ suggest about the lasting
impact of decisions?

A) Decisions are quickly forgotten

B) Decisions echo throughout our lives

C) Only immediate consequences matter

D) Decisions have no real impact

Answer: B) Decisions echo throughout our lives

Reason: Indicates that the choices we make resonate long into the future, shaping our life
story.

1. Question: What dilemma does the traveller face in the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’?

Answer: The traveller faces the dilemma of choosing between two paths
that diverge in a yellow wood, unsure which one to take.
2. Question: How does the traveller decide which path to take? Ref.
‘The Road Not Taken’.
Answer: The traveller decides to go down the path that doesn’t look like
many people have walked on it. It might be a bit harder to walk on. This
choice shows the traveller wants to try something not many others do,
something a bit special and different.
3. Question: What does the yellow wood symbolise in the poem ‘The
Road Not Taken’ ?
Answer:The yellow wood is like a tough time we go through. We need to
figure out how to get through these hard times. It’s like life giving us
different paths to choose from.
4. Question: Why does the traveller doubt he will ever come back to
the fork in the road? Ref. ‘The Road Not Taken’.
Answer: The traveller understands that picking one choice leads to more
choices. Once he starts walking down one path, he probably won’t come
back to that spot where he had to decide which way to go.
5. Question: What is the significance of the roads being “equally lay”
in leaves? Ref. ‘The Road Not Taken’.
Answer: This means both paths are not used much and look the same. It’s
hard to pick one when they both look alike. It’s like having two ice creams
you like and not knowing which one to choose because they both seem
good.
6. Question: How does the traveller feel about his decision at the end
of the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’?
Answer: The traveller reflects on his decision with a sigh, suggesting a
sense of acceptance and perhaps some regret. Still we can say that he has
left the end open means neither happy nor sad. The readers may adopt the
meaning of this poem as per their own life experiences.
Also Read:
 The Road Not Taken Extract Based MCQ Questions
 The Road Not Taken NCERT Solutions
  Figure of Speech in The Road Not Taken
 Hard Words : The Road Not Taken
 The Road Not Taken MCQ
7. Question: What does “I took the one less travelled by” tell about
the traveller’s personality? Ref. “The Road Not Taken”
Answer: This shows that the traveller likes being unique and brave. He
picks roads others don’t often choose. He’s okay with exploring new things,
even if he’s not sure what will happen. It’s like he enjoys adventures and
discovering things on his own.
8. Question: How does the phrase “way leads on to way” contribute to
the theme of the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’?
Answer: This idea tells us that life is all about making choices. When we
make one decision, it often leads us to the next set of choices. Every
choice we make takes us to a new path.
9. Question: What does the sigh in the final stanza suggest about the
nature of choices? Ref. ‘The Road Not Taken’
Answer: The sigh could show a mix of feelings like looking back fondly,
wishing things were different, and thinking deeply. It shows that thinking
about choices we made before can bring up a lot of different emotions.
10. Question: How does the setting of a yellow wood enhance the
themes of the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’?
Answer: The yellow wood in the poem is like a crossroads in life, showing
how choices can lead to big changes. It’s about deciding which way to go.
Also Read:
 The Road Not Taken-Value Based Questions
 The Road Not Taken- Paraphrase
 The Road Not Taken Author
 The Road Not Taken Extract Questions
 The Road Not Taken Long Question Answer
11. Question: Why does the traveller express doubt about keeping the
first road for another day? Ref. ‘The Road Not Taken’
Answer: The traveller understands life is full of surprises. Picking one path
means he might not see what the other one holds. It’s like choosing one
snack and missing out on another.
12. Question: What role does the undergrowth play in the traveller’s
decision? Ref. ‘The Road Not Taken’
Answer: The poet talks about the undergrowth to show that the traveller
really tried to see as far as he could down each path before making his
choice. This detail helps us understand that the traveller was thoughtful and
careful in his decision-making.
13. Question: What might the phrase “And that has made all the
difference” show about life’s journey?
Answer: It shows that the choices we make, however small or big, shape
our journey and the person we become. It also highlights the impact of our
decisions.
14. Question: How does Frost talk about big ideas using a journey in
the poem? Ref. ‘The Road Not Taken’
Answer: Frost talks about big ideas like choosing, being different, and how
our choices change our lives by telling a story of a journey where the road
splits in two in the woods.
15. Question: What did the traveller hope to see on the less used
path? Ref. ‘The Road Not Taken’
Answer: The traveller might have wanted to go on a journey, to learn new
things about himself, or do something that makes him different from others.
He wanted to be his own person by choosing a path not many people take .
Also Read:
 The Road Not Taken Summary in English
 The Road Not Taken-Theme, Title & Literary Devices
 Road not Taken Extract Based MCQ Questions
16. Question: If the traveller had chosen the other path, how might his
journey have differed? Ref. ‘The Road Not Taken’
Answer: Picking the other path could have been an easier journey, maybe
with less trouble. But it also might have meant not finding out as much
about himself or not being as special.
17. Question: Why might the traveller feel a sense of regret or
contemplation years later? Ref. ‘The Road Not Taken’
Answer: The traveller might wonder about the experiences and
opportunities he missed by not taking the other path, reflecting on how
different choices could have led to a different life.
18. Question: What might be the meaning of the traveller’s sigh at the
end when thinking about his choice? Ref. ‘The Road Not Taken’
Answer: The sigh might mean he’s comfortable with his choice but also
thinking about “what if.” It shows he knows every choice has its own set of
what-ifs, even the good ones.
19. Question: What might the two roads symbolise in the context of
life’s broader decisions? Ref. ‘The Road Not Taken’
Answer: The two roads could symbolise life’s major decisions, such as
career paths, relationships, or moral dilemmas, where each choice leads to
distinct experiences and consequences.
20. Question: How does the traveller’s decision reflect on the human
condition and our approach to decision-making? Ref. ‘The Road Not
Taken’
Answer: The traveller picking a path shows how people like to be unique
and find meaning in what they choose. It also shows how we often think
about the choices we didn’t make.
21. Question: What might the undergrowth represent in terms of the
challenges we face in life? Ref. ‘The Road Not Taken’
Answer: The undergrowth could represent the unforeseen challenges and
complexities that arise as we journey through life, emphasising the
unpredictable nature of our paths.
22. Question: How could the traveller’s reflection “ages and ages
hence” influence our understanding of time and memory in relation to
choices?
Answer: The thought shows that the choices we make impacts over time.
They affect our memories and how we think about what’s happened before,
showing how big choices really leave a mark on our lives.
23. Question: What does “And that has made all the difference” tell us
about trying new or different things in life?
Answer: It means that trying something new or taking a chance can
change your life in big ways. It shows that picking a different path can bring
good things you didn’t expect.
24. Question: What can we learn about courage and fear from the
traveller’s decision to take the less travelled road? Ref. ‘The Road Not
Taken’
Answer: The traveller’s decision shows that being brave often means
trying new things and leaving what we know behind. This brave step, even
when we’re scared of what’s coming, shows us how we can grow and find
new things by facing and getting past our fears.
25. Question: How does the traveller’s decision-making process in the
poem reflect the complexities of real-life choices?
Answer: The traveller’s way of making choices is like the tricky parts of
real life. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell choices apart, and they can seem very
much alike. This shows how we often have to think hard and struggle inside
ourselves to make a choice, knowing that what we decide can really
change things for us.
26. Question: How can the poem’s setting in a “yellow wood” serve as
a metaphor for the stages of life at which we make significant
choices?
Answer: The “yellow wood” is like the changing parts of life, shown by the
yellow colour of fall that means change and choices. It’s about those times
when we have big choices to make in a difficult time, just like standing
where two roads split. It shows the mix of something pretty and things
fading away, like chances that won’t last forever.
27. Question: How does the poem make us think differently about
winning and losing when we pick our way in life?
Answer: The poem makes us see that winning isn’t about picking the most
popular way. It’s more about what we learn and how the path fits what we
want and believe in. It says that “winning” is really up to us and what
matters to us.
Note- Following are the old types of questions that were asked in
CBSE before 2023- 24. They are still useful. Go through and gain
insight of the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’
1. What is wood? What did the narrator see in the wood? Were the
paths similar?
Answer- Wood means a forest. He saw two paths diverging and
disappearing in the undergrowth. No, one had more grass and seemed less
used than the other.
2. What did the narrator hope that he would do one day? Was he sure
of doing so?
Answer- The narrator hoped to come back and try the other path someday.
No, he did not think he would do so because he knew that one path led to
another and it would be difficult for him to come back.
3. Does one road seem to be more appealing than the other? Use
examples from the poem to support your answer.
Answer- At first the narrator comes to a fork in the road and is not able to
decide which path to take. One of the roads looks more frequented by
people while the second road appears to be less travelled on. Though he is
tempted to walk on both, he decides to take the second path with the
intention of walking on the first one sometime in future.
4. What does the poet mean when he says, ‘worn them really about
the same’?
Answer- The poet means to relay to the readers that both the roads that
diverged in a yellow wood seemed similar and both of them looked as if
they had not been used for a while.
5. What is the main problem or the dilemma of the poet?
Answer- Robert Frost’s ‘The Road Not Taken’ revolves around the
dilemma of making the right choice in life. He suffers from an illusion that
he can use the option he has left for the other day. Whatever ‘road’ or way
of life he chooses, it makes all the difference in his life. Sometimes after a
long time, he will have to repent for choosing the path that was less
travelled by. It didn’t turn out to be quite a rewarding choice or option.
6. How does the poet resolve the dilemma? Which road does he
choose and why?
Answer- The two roads represent two ways of life. They stand for two
directions, two attitudes and even two careers in life. The dilemma is of
making the right and the rewarding choice. Two roads diverge in different
directions. They look equally beautiful and fair. The poet leaves the first
road for another day. He opts for the road that was less travelled by and
‘wanted wear’. He opts for an option that is not very conventional, popular
and risk-free.
7. ‘The Road Not Taken’ is a metaphor of life. Justify this statement.
Justify the title.
Answer- In ‘The Road Not Taken’, Frost uses the fork in the road as a
metaphor for the choices we make in life. Thus, the two roads are, in fact,
two alternative ways of life. They represent two directions and two options
open to the poet. He has made a choice. He has opted for the road which
is ‘less travelled by’. He leaves the first ‘for another day’. It becomes
impossible to come back on the road one has left. One’s choice makes ‘all
the difference’ in one’s life. Hence, the title is appropriate and logical.
8. Why has the poet’s choice ‘made all the difference’ in his life?
Robert Frost uses the fork in the road as a metaphor for the choices we
make in life. The two roads represent two alternative ways, two options and
two directions of life. One has to face the dilemma. He opts for an
unconventional and risky path of life. He chooses to be a poet. This choice
has made all the difference in his life. Perhaps he would realise late in life
that he chose an alternative which was less rewarding than the one he had
left.
9. Why did the poet leave the first road? Did he ever get a chance to
walk on the road he had left for ‘another day?
Answer- The poet left the first road and chose the other one which was
less travelled, grassy and ‘wanted wear’. He left the first road for another
day. But he had a genuine doubt. He knew that one path leads to another
and then he would not get a chance to go back.
10. Did the poet repent for making his choice? Give an example from
the poem to prove your point.
Answer- The poet had the freedom to make a choice. The two roads were,
in fact, two alternatives in life that lay before him. The poet left the
conventional and less risky way of life. He opted for the road that was less
travelled by and ‘wanted wear’. He left the first road for another day. The
choice he made brought all the difference in his life. He seemed to be
unhappy about making his choice. ‘1 shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence: ‘ But he couldn’t do anything now. His
choice had altered the course of his life.
11. ‘I doubted if I should ever come back’. Why does the poet doubt
he should ever come back?
Answer- The poet doubts whether he should ever come back to tray-: the
other road because he knows that one road leads to another. As a reckless
and curious traveller, he was sure to continue to move on in the journey of
life. Thus there were no chances of his retracing his steps. Normally one
sticks to the decision once taken.
12. What does the divergence in the road signify in real life?
Answer- The divergence in the road signifies that many times in real life
we have difficult choices to make. We take a long time thinking about which
of the two would be a better option and only time can tell whether we were
right in making the choice we made. The forking of one road into two is
symbolic of the confusion or dilemma we face in life while confronting a
problem and making a decision.
13. Why did the poet stand long on the forked road to make the
decision?
Answer- The poet took long to make a decision because he could not
foresee which choice would prove to be beneficial for hint As he looked at
the roads he couldn’t see beyond a particular point. One road was well-
trodden and the other showed no signs of anyone treading on it. Thus the
poet stood there for a long time undecided which one to experiment with.
14. What impact did the choice of the ‘other road’ make on the poet’s
life?
Answer- While making a choice of the roads, the poet took time deciding
which one to take. The poet’s choice shaped his life in a different manner.
He had a shade of regret about his choke. He knew that his life wouldn’t
have been as it was presented if he had taken the other road.
15. Why do you think the poet sighs in the last stanza of the poem?
Answer- The last stanza reveals that the poet would be telling his story
with a sense of regret as the alternative chosen by him did not yield a
satisfactory result. He is not very excited while telling the story of his life as
he feels that had he taken the other road things might have taken a better
shape. Hence, the poet sighs with a sense of dissatisfaction in the last
stanza of the poem.
16. The poet says, “I took the one less travelled by, And that has
made all the difference.” What is ‘the difference that the poet
mentions?
Answer- The poet says his choice of that particular road has shaped his
life in a specific manner with which he is not very happy. Had he chosen
the other road, his ambitions and aspirations in life might have been fulfilled
and he would not have looked back with a sense of regret. Probably, he
would have called himself a successful man.
17. What does the poet mean by ‘yellow wood’?
Answer- ‘Yellowwood’ refers to the jungle with decomposing leaves shed
from the trees. It stands for the world where people have been living since
long.
18. Explain: ‘leaves no step had trodden black’.
Answer- No traveller had trodden on either of the two roads. It was evident
from the fact that the fallen and sodden leaves lay uncrushed there. No feet
had trampled them.
19. Which road does Robert Frost choose and why?
Answer- Robert Frost chooses the second road which was less travelled
by the travellers. He chose the second road because it was more inviting
and wanted to wear’.
20. “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood.” What do the two roads
indicate here? What was the poet’s dilemma?
Answer- The two roads indicate the choices or decisions one has to make
in one’s life. The poet has presented the dilemma that one goes through
while taking a decision regarding one’s future. The poet, too, is faced with
the dilemma of which road to choose for the course of his travel.
21. What is the theme of the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’?
Answer- In ‘The Road Not Taken’, Robert Frost makes a fascinating use of
two roads as a metaphor for life. The two roads serve as a metaphor for the
choices one makes in life. ‘Thus, the roads are, in fact, two alternative ways
of life. The choice one makes has a far-reaching consequence. Elie poet
leaves the first road for the road less travelled by and accepts challenges
and dares to walk on the untrodden path which has made all the difference
in his life.
22. Why did the poet leave the first road?
Answer- The poet left the first road thinking that he would use it on some
other day. He found the second road more inviting. The second road was
less travelled by and it also wanted wear.
23. Justify the tide ‘The Road Not Taken’.
Answer- The tide ‘The Road Not Taken’ is quite appropriate. It clearly
brings out the theme of the poem. The title hints at the dilemmas of life—
the choices that one makes in life. Whatever ‘road’ or the way of life one
chooses, it makes all the difference. It is the ability to do things differently
that makes one stand out in the crowd. Many times, the man yearns for
what he has denied himself in life, rather than what he has chosen. Hence,
the poet has given his poem the title ‘The Road Not Taken’.
24. Bring out the symbolism in the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’.
Answer- The poem The Road Not Taken’ concerns a choice made
between two roads by the poet. The poet decides to explore one road and
then come back and explore the other but this might not be possible. The
choice of roads in the poem symbolises the choices that one has to make
in life. All the choices appear to be equally attractive. They are confining
too as one cannot foretell the eventual result of one’s choice. Through the
years, however, we come to find out that the choices we make and the
paths we choose, will make all the difference in our lives.
25. The poet kept the other road for another day. Was he able to travel
back on that road? Explain.
Answer- The poet left the first road thinking that he would use it on some
other day. However, he was not able to travel back on that road. He could
never come back as the road he took led to other roads. He went so far
from the first road that he doubted if he would ever come back to walk on it.
26. In the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’, why did the poet feel like
travelling both the roads?
Answer- Both the roads lay in front of the poet almost in the same
condition. He chose the second road and felt sorry about not choosing the
first one. The poet wanted to experience both situations. He was also not
sure of the outcome of his choice. So, the poet wanted to travel by both
roads.
27. Write a brief note on the theme of Robert Frost’s poem ‘The Road
Not Taken’.
Answer- In the poem, ‘The Road not Taken’, the roads symbolise
‘Choices’ that one has to make in life. Whenever one has to take an
important decision in life, one finds oneself coming across a fork in the
road, one is travelling upon. No one has to choose the only way to walk
upon. Here, one choice leads to another but it remains difficult to go back
reiterate.
28. What moral lesson do you get from the poem ‘The Road not
Taken’?
Answer- According to the poet, one should not adopt the shortcuts in life.
We should choose the daring and experimental path that involves turmoil
and tension. These practices ennoble a man for his life. In order to seek the
truth, we should not follow the easy, convenient and trodden path. The poet
has chosen the other road which is less trodden by the people.
29. What problem did the poet feel while standing on the intersection
of the two roads?
Answer- While standing on the crossing, the poet saw two roads diverged
in a yellow forest. For the poet both the roads looked fascinating. One was
widely trodden and the other was untrodden. At last, he chose the second
road and hoped to travel the first on some other day.
30. Explain “Way leads on to way.”
Answer- Here we can find two meanings. In the first, we find that the poet
is undecided to follow the road. Once a choice is made, there is no
retreating back even if the choice is wrong. Same is true for our life. We
must make a definite choice where there is no turning. Situations do
change and may require adjustments but we must not return.
31. Why did the poet keep the first road for another day?
Answer- The poet kept the first road for another day in the hope that he
would travel it in future. But all know that our future is uncertain. No one
can predict it. One can never hope to return to the original starting point to
resume the path.
32. Does the poet believe that he would ever return to the first road?
Answer- No, the poet does not believe that he would ever be able to return
to the first road. He is fully aware that one road leads on to another and
that still to another. Hence it will not be possible for him to come back to the
point where both the roads bifurcate.