Jammu and Kashmir Board Class 9 English Tulip Book Poem 4 The Road Not Taken Question Answers
The Road Not Taken Question Answers: Looking for important questions and answers of JKBOSE Class 9 English Tulip Book Poem 4 The Road Not Taken? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practicing JKBOSE Class 9 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the board exam. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring The Road Not Taken Question answers now. The questions listed below are based on the latest JKBOSE exam pattern. All the exercises and Questions Answers given at the back of the lesson have also been covered.
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Jammu and Kashmir Board Class 9 English Tulip Book Poem The Road Not Taken Textbook Questions
Understanding the Poem
1. Where does the traveller find himself? What problem does he face?
Ans. The traveller finds himself in a yellow wood where two roads diverge. He cannot travel both and must choose one, knowing his choice will shape his future.
2. What is the difference between the two roads as described by the poet in stanzas two and three?
Ans. Initially, one road seemed grassy and less worn, “wanting wear.” However, upon closer observation, both roads were actually worn about the same, showing little real difference between them.
3. Which road does the poet choose? Does he regret his decision?
Ans. The poet chooses the road that seemed grassy and wanted wear, claiming it had “perhaps the better claim.” The poem doesn’t clearly indicate regret; his future feelings remain ambiguous and open to interpretation.
4. Find the rhyme scheme of the poem.
Ans. The poem The Road Not Taken follows a regular rhyme scheme of ABAAB in each stanza. The first, third, and fourth lines rhyme with one another, while the second and fifth lines share a different rhyme. This consistent pattern gives the poem a smooth, musical flow and helps maintain its reflective and thoughtful tone throughout.
5. Explain the meaning of the following phrases:
a) a yellow wood.
Ans. A forest in autumn with yellow leaves; symbolizes a stage in life where decisions must be made.
b) bent in the undergrowth.
Ans. The road curves into thick bushes, so its destination is not visible.
c) trodden black.
Ans. The road worn dark by footsteps, meaning it has been used by others before.
Learning about the literary device
Metaphor is the application of a word or phrase to somebody or something that is not meant literally but to make a comparison. For example when we say that somebody is a snake we don’t mean that, we only mean to describe his deceiving character by comparing him to a snake. If we compare the freshness of something to a dew drop, we don’t mean that the thing by itself is dew, but he is as fresh as a dew. ‘The mind is an ocean’ suggests the vastness of a mind.
1. Which word does Frost use as metaphor for the choices we make in life?
Ans. In “The Road Not Taken”, Robert Frost uses “roads” as a metaphor for life’s choices. The diverging roads show different opportunities. Choosing one road symbolizes making decisions that shape the future, as every choice leads to consequences and lasting impact.
Discussion
1. What do you want to be in life? List three choices in order of preference.
Ans.
First choice: Teacher – to educate and help students grow.
Second choice: Doctor – to help people stay healthy and save lives.
Third choice: Writer – to share knowledge and stories with others.
2. Have a discussion in the class on the topic “Career options available to the students of J&K”.
Ans. Students in J&K have many career options, such as:
Government jobs – like IAS, IPS, or teaching posts.
Medical field – doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
Engineering and IT – software engineer, civil engineer, or IT specialist.
Entrepreneurship – starting small businesses or local ventures.
Creative fields – writer, artist, musician, or designer.
Agriculture and tourism – working in farming, horticulture, or tourism-related jobs.
Jammu and Kashmir Board Class 9 English Tulip Book Lesson No Men Are Foreign Extra Question and Answers
Extract-Based Questions
A.
“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.”
Q1. What will the narrator say “with a sigh”?
A) The narrator will tell people about his decision to take the road and how it proved to be wrong.
B) The narrator will tell the people about the fork he had come to in the woods and the choice he had to make, which made all the difference to his life.
C) The narrator will tell you that choosing the path that he did make no difference to his life.
D) He will tell you that he took the things that most people liked to take.
Ans. B) The narrator will tell the people about the fork he had come to in the woods and the choice he had to make, which made all the difference to his life.
Q2. What is the tone of the poet in the stanza?
A) A reflective tone
B) A tone of sadness
C) A tone of regret
D) A tone of cheerfulness
Ans. A) A reflective tone
Q3. How does the speaker describe the road chosen?
Ans. The speaker took the road less traveled by, emphasizing the uniqueness and individuality of the chosen path.
Q4. What is the significance of the phrase “that has made all the difference”?
Ans. The phrase suggests that the choice of the less-traveled road has had a profound and transformative impact on the speaker’s life.
Q5. In what way does the final line contribute to the overall theme of the poem?
Ans. The final line reinforces the theme by emphasizing the enduring consequences of choices and the significance of the less-traveled path in shaping the speaker’s life.
B.
“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. What does the phrase “equally lay” convey about the condition of the two roads?
Ans. It suggests that both roads were equally untraveled and undisturbed that morning.
2. Why does the speaker keep the first road for another day?
Ans. The speaker postpones the decision, intending to explore the first road on a future occasion.
3. What does the speaker mean by “knowing how way leads on to way”?
Ans. The speaker recognizes that one decision leads to another, and the complexity of life’s journey makes it challenging to revisit past choices.
4. How does the speaker express doubt about returning to the first road?
Ans. The speaker doubts ever coming back, indicating an awareness of the forward motion of time and the permanent nature of choices.
5. What does the act of keeping the first road symbolize in the context of decision-making?
Ans. It symbolizes hesitation and the recognition that decisions have enduring consequences.
C.
“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;”
1. Why does the speaker express sorrow about not being able to travel both roads?
Ans. The speaker feels sorry because choosing one road means missing out on the experiences offered by the other.
2. What is the mood of the poet in these lines?
A) Happy
B) Serious and pensive
C) Indifferent
D) Angry
Ans. B) Serious and pensive
3. How does the speaker describe the act of looking down one road?
Ans. The speaker carefully observes one road as far as possible, indicating a thoughtful and contemplative approach to decision-making.
4. What is the significance of the “yellow wood” in this extract?
Ans. The “yellow wood” symbolizes a transitional or autumnal phase in life, suggesting a time of change and decision-making.
5. Why does the speaker stand for a long time before making a decision?
Ans. The extended contemplation underscores the gravity of the decision, reflecting the internal struggle faced by the speaker.
D.
“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,”
1. What does the phrase “grassy and wanted wear” imply about the second road?
Ans. It suggests that the second road is less traveled, inviting the speaker to choose a less conventional path.
2. How does the speaker qualify the claim that the second road had the better claim?
Ans. The speaker qualifies it with the acknowledgment that, in reality, both roads were worn about the same.
3. What does the word “fair” convey about the speaker’s perception of the second road?
Ans. The use of “fair” indicates that the second road is just as appealing or aesthetically pleasing as the first.
4. The rhyme scheme of the given lines is :
A) abaab
B) aabb
C) abab
D) abba
Ans. A) abaab
5. How does the speaker reconcile the similarity between the two roads in this extract?
Ans. The speaker acknowledges the similarity but chooses the second road, emphasizing its grassy nature and the potential for a less trodden path.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. The speaker in the poem is faced with a choice between:
A. Two paths in a forest
B. Two different jobs
C. Two different schools
D. Two different cities
Ans. A. Two paths in a forest
2. The speaker describes the two paths as:
A. Unequal in appearance
B. Equally worn
C. One well-traveled, the other untouched
D. One leading to a dead end
Ans. C. One well-traveled, the other untouched
3. The speaker chooses the path that is:
A. The more traveled path
B. The less traveled path
C. The path with the best view
D. The path that leads to a destination
Ans. B. The less-traveled path
4. The speaker’s decision is influenced by:
A. The advice of a friend
B. A coin toss
C. A gut feeling
D. A map
Ans. C. A gut feeling
5. The poem suggests that:
A. Choices can have a significant impact on our lives
B. It’s always best to take the well-traveled path
C. Regret is a useless emotion
D. Life is predetermined
Ans. A. Choices can have a significant impact on our lives
6. The “yellow wood” symbolizes:
A. A new beginning
B. A dangerous situation
C. A place of confusion
D. A sense of peace
Ans. C. A place of confusion
7. The phrase “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood” is an example of:
A. Metaphor
B. Simile
C. Personification
D. Hyperbole
Ans. A. Metaphor
8. Identify the poetic device. ”Because it was grassy and wanted wear”
A. Metaphor
B. Simile
C. Alliteration
D. Hyperbole
Ans. C. Alliteration
9. Identify the poetic device- “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. Repetition
B. Simile
C. Alliteration
D. Hyperbole
Ans. A. Repetition
10. Who is the poet of this poem?
A. Robert Browning
B. Robert Frost
C. Robert Downing
D. Robert Lowell
Ans. B. Robert Frost
11. The tone of the speaker in the first stanza is that of
A. Excitement
B. Anger
C. Hesitation and thoughtfulness
D. Sorrow
Ans. D. Sorrow
12. Why would the poet like to come back?
A. He would like to come back to tell his friends about his experiences.
B. He would like to correct his mistake in choosing the wrong road.
C. He would like to come back to take a rest.
D. He would like to travel by the first road and, so would like to come back.
Ans. D. He would like to travel by the first road and, so would like to come back.
13. The second road presented a better claim than the first because :
A) It has been used by many travelers.
B) It was still grassy and had not been used by many travelers.
C) It was more beautiful than the first one.
D) It had less bends in it.
Ans. B) It was still grassy and had not been used by many travelers.
14. Why does the poet feel sorry?
A) The two roads had diverged.
B) He could not travel on both the roads.
C) He felt lonely.
D) He had to stand there for too long.
Ans. B) He could not travel on both the roads.
15. Which poetic device has been used in the poem to express the dilemma of making a choice?
A) The metaphor of diverging roads
B) A simile of diverging roads
C) A hyperbole of diverging roads
D) An alliteration of diverging roads
Ans. A) The metaphor of diverging roads
True or False
State whether the following statements are true or false:
1. The Road Not Taken is penned by Robert Arthur.
2. The poet came back to the fork and walked over the second path.
3. The poem is set in a yellow wood.
4. The traveler was happy he could travel both roads.
5. Both roads were equally worn that morning.
6. One road was grassy and wanted wear.
7. The traveler was sure he would come back to try the first road.
8. The traveler took the road more traveled by.
9. The poem is about making choices in life.
10. The traveler’s choice made all the difference in his life.
Answer
1. False. (Robert Frost).
2. False
3. True
4. False ( he was sorry he could not travel both)
5. True
6. True
7. False ( he doubted if he should ever come back )
8. False ( he took the one less traveled by )
9. True
10. true
Fill in the Blanks
1. Two roads diverged in a ___________ wood.
2. The traveler was ________ he could not travel both roads.
3. Robert Frost was born in ____________, California.
4. Fost won the Pulitzer prize in poetry _________ times.
5. The traveler looked down one road as far as he could to where it bent in the _______.
6. One road was ________ and wanted wear.
7. Both roads in the morning equally lay in _________.
8. Knowing how the way leads on to _______________, the traveler doubted if he should ever come back.
9. The traveler shall be telling this with a _______ somewhere ages and ages hence.
10. The traveler took the road __________ travelled by, and that has made all the difference.
Answers
1. Yellow
2. Sorry
3. San Francisco
4. Four
5. Undergrowth
6. Grassy
7. Leaves
8. Way
9.Sigh
10. less
Extra Questions
Q1. Describe the visual characteristics of the road the speaker ultimately chooses and the reasoning behind that choice.
Ans. The chosen road is described as grassy and less worn, with the speaker justifying the decision based on its seemingly better claim and the desire for exploration.
Q2. What observation does the speaker make about the condition of both roads, and how does it contribute to the decision-making process?
Ans. The speaker notes that both roads were equally worn that morning, covered in leaves with no discernible footprints, complicating the decision-making process.
Q3. What role does the repetition of the word “And” at the beginning of several lines play in the poem’s rhythm and structure?
Ans. The repetition of “And” contributes to the poem’s rhythmic flow, connecting the sequential events and reinforcing the speaker’s contemplative and deliberate stance.
Q4. 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?
Ans. The poet took the less traveled, grassy, and ‘wanted wear’ road instead of the first. He abandoned the first road for another day. But he had genuine reservations. He was aware that one path leads to another and that he would not be able to return to the road he was leaving.
Q5. Where does the traveler find himself? What problem does he face?
Ans. The traveler finds himself in the yellow woods at the intersection of two roads.
His problem is that he can’t decide which road to take to continue his journey.
Q6. In the context of the poem, what does the phrase “And that has made all the difference” imply about the significance of choosing the road less traveled?
Ans. The phrase suggests that the speaker attributes a transformative and defining impact to the choice of the less traveled road, indicating the profound consequences of choosing an unconventional path.
Q7. What is the main problem or the dilemma of the poet?
Ans. ‘The Road Not Taken,’ by Robert Frost, is about the dilemma of making the right decision in life. He is under the impression that he can use the option he set aside for the next day. Whatever ‘road’ or way of life he chooses, it will make or break his life. Sometimes, after a long time, he will have to repent for taking the less traveled path. It did not turn out to be a particularly rewarding option or choice.
Q8. What does the poet mean when he says, ‘worn them really about the same’?
Ans. The poet intends to convey to the readers that both roads that diverged in a yellow wood appeared similar and both appeared to have not been used in a long time.
Q9. What is wood? What did the narrator see in the wood? Were the paths similar?
Ans. A forest is represented by wood. In the undergrowth, he noticed two paths diverging and disappearing. No, one had more grass and appeared to be less used.
Q10. Bring out the contrast and similarities between the two roads mentioned in the poem.
Ans. In “The Road Not Taken,” Robert Frost masterfully juxtaposes and explores both the contrast and similarities between the two diverging roads, weaving a nuanced narrative about choices and their consequences. Physically, one road is described as “grassy and wanted wear,” while the other had been worn “really about the same.” This physical contrast, however, is subtly challenged by the speaker’s subjective investment in one road, emphasizing the role of individual perception in decision-making.Despite the apparent differences, both roads converge in the undergrowth, symbolizing a shared destination despite distinct beginnings. This convergence underscores the interconnectedness of life’s journeys and the idea that diverse paths may lead to common experiences or outcomes. Additionally, the wear and tear on both roads imply that, in the broader context, life’s journeys involve comparable challenges, irrespective of the chosen path.
The poem skillfully explores the notion that choices are not always starkly distinct but influenced by personal interpretation and subjective meaning. Frost encourages readers to contemplate the intricacies of decision-making, acknowledging both the uniqueness and shared aspects of individual journeys. Through this exploration of contrast and similarity, the poet crafts a rich meditation on the complexities inherent in navigating life’s diverging paths.