English XI Ch 21 The Road Not Taken SQ & Notes FSc FA ICS ICom KPK FBISE

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Q.1) Why is the poem titled ‘The Road Not Taken,’ why not ‘The Road Taken’ since it was the road taken that made all the difference?
Answer: The poem is titled as ‘The Road Not Taken’ not ‘The Road Taken’ because Robert Frost has chosen the road that is not much trodden by others. Due to the selection of the road that is not much trodden, Robert makes much difference in his life and this in turn helps him in making a unique and different person as compared to others.

Q.2) What difference is the poet talking about? Can you make an informed guess?
Answer: Robert Frost says that once a difficult moment came in his life when he was to take a decision and opt for one choice among the two available to him. He didn’t know very well about the choices that which would be better for him. Then he decided to take risk and selected one choice, that was quite unique or the less travelled one. The poet here is talking about adopting the unconventional way that really made a difference in his life and helped him in achieving his goals.

Q.3) At some critical moment of life each person has to make decisions. The poet faces making a decision at the turning point of life and he does, and this decision make all the difference. Why does the poet succeed in making right decision?
Answer: Yes, it is a bare fact that at some critical moment of life every person has to make decisions. The decision that is made by the person makes all the difference. Making a decision basically depends upon the person’s foresight and courageous nature to take risks and accept challenges in his life. The poet selected the path that is less trodden by others, meaning that he decided to take risk in his life due to his wisdom, foresight, and anticipation that he gets success in his life by selecting a unique and different path to tread on.

Q.4) The imagery ‘ages and ages hence’ puts value on some essential traits of character that brings difference in people life. What in your views are these traits? Explain.
Answer: By using the imagery, ‘ages and ages’ means that the poet is considering himself as an old man in the future where he would be telling stories to others about his past life. He would tell them that once he was forced to make a choice between two ways. He took risk and made a unique decision by selecting the path that was the less travelled one. It was the decision that made all the difference in his life. He would give advice to others to make right decision at the right time and sometimes it is good to take risks in your life.

Q.5) What in your views is the dominant theme of the poem ‘The Road Not Taken?’
Answer: The dominant theme of the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ is that life is not as simple as we usually perceive. It has a web of complexities. Life provides many options and choices to us. Most of the times, we really find it difficult to choose the right option and we get confuse. If we are successful in selecting the right choice, only then we can reach our destination. Sometimes, taking risks matter a lot. Most of the people choose the least risky and off-trodden ways of life. They don’t want to take any risk. But only a few people dare to take risks in their life just like the poet and they become successful in life.

Q.6) Describe the imagery of the poem ‘The Road Not Taken.’ Is it abstract or concrete? Illustrate it with examples from the poem.
Answer: The poet has skillfully employed the technique of imagery in his poem ‘The Road Not Taken.’ The imagery being used in this poem is concrete and it is the sense of sight that is the most prominent imagery. Robert Frost has used the following words or phrases that help the readers visualize the condition of the roads and the whole scenario such as two roads diverged, yellow wood, grassy and wanted wear, leaves, long I stood, etc.

Writing

A. How do you like the poem ‘The Road Not Taken?’ Write appreciation of the poem in your own words.

Answer:

I like this poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ written by Robert Frost. The reason behind my liking is that it teaches and guides the readers towards making the right decision at the critical situations that might happen in everyone’s life. The poem has social and philosophical theme. The literary devices and figurative language that is used by Frost is very impressive. Furthermore, the imagery that is employed by the poet is also very beautiful that helps the readers in visualizing the real scenario. 

B. Write the explanation of the following lines with reference to the context:
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.

Answer:
Reference:
This stanza has been taken from the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ written by Robert Frost.
Context:
In this poem, Robert Frost says that the quality of making decisions in our life holds a vital place because sometimes the right decisions made at the right time makes all the difference and helps man achieving his goals of life. He himself selected the path that is less travelled by others and that made all the difference in his life.  
Explanation:
Here, Robert Frost imagines himself an elderly man in the future where he would be telling others stories of his past life. He would tell them that once he was forced to make a choice between two roads diverging in thick forest. He decided to take risk and made a unique decision and selected that path which was less trodden. It was the decision that made all the difference in his life. He would like to give advice to others to make right decision at the right time and sometimes it is good to take risks in your life as well.

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Vocabulary

Find the meaning of the following internet related words in a dictionary, identify their part of speech and then fill in the blanks. Check their pronunciation in the dictionary with the help of the pronunciation key.

spam	messages	board	username
virus	fraudulent	antispam	filter

Words	Part of Speech	Pronunciation
spam	noun	/spam/
messages	noun	/ˈmɛsɪdʒ/
board	noun	/bɔːd/
username	noun	/ˈjuːzəneɪm/
virus	noun	/ˈvʌɪrəs/
fraudulent	adjective	/ˈfrɔːdjʊl(ə)nt/
antispam	noun	—-
filter	noun	/ˈfɪltə/

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Grammar

A. Use appropriate punctuation marks in the following sentences.

Statement	Answer
1. We had a great time in Malaysia the kids really enjoyed it	1. We had a great time in Malaysia. The kids really enjoyed it.
2. Some people work best in the mornings others do better in the evenings	2. Some people work best in the mornings; others do better in the evenings.
3. What are you doing next weekend	3. What are you doing next weekend?
4. Mother had to go into hospital she had heart problems	4. Mother had to go into hospital. She had heart problems.
5. Did you understand why I was upset	5. Did you understand why I was upset?
6. It is a fine idea let us hope that it is going to work	6. It is a fine idea. Let us hope that it is going to work.
7. We will be arriving on Monday morning at least Ii think so	7. We will be arriving on Monday morning, at least I think so.
8. A textbook can be wall between teacher and class	8. A textbook can be wall between teacher and class.
9. The girls father sat in a corner	9. The girl’s father sat in a corner.
10. In the words of Murphys Law Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.	10. In the words of Murphy’s Law, anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

B. Put semicolons, colons, dashes, quotation marks, italics (use an underline), and parentheses where ever they are needed in the following sentences.

Statement	Answer
1. The men in question Abrar, Nizam, and Iftikhar deserve awards.	1. The men in question Abrar, Nizam, and Iftikhar deserve awards.
2. Several countries participated in the airlift Italy, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.	2. Several countries participated in the airlift Italy, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.
3. There’s no room for error, said the engineer so we have to double check every calculation.	3. “There’s no room for error,” said the engineer so we have to double check every calculation.
4. Judge Carswell later to be nominated for the Supreme Court had ruled against civil rights.	4. Judge Carswell later to be nominated for the Supreme Court had ruled against civil rights.
5. In last week’s New Yorker, one of my favorite magazines, I enjoyed reading Leland’s article How Not to Go Camping.	5. In last week’s New Yorker, one of my favorite magazines, I enjoyed reading Leland’s article: “How Not to Go Camping.”
6. Yes, Aayan said, I’ll be home by ten.	6. Yes, Aayan said, “I’ll be home by ten.”
7. There was only one thing to do study till dawn.	7. There was only one thing to do study till dawn.
8. Montaigne wrote the following A wise man nerve loses anything, if he has himself.	8. Montaigne wrote the following, “A wise man nerve loses anything, if he has himself.”
9. The following are the primary colors red, blue, and yellow.	9. The following are the primary colors: red, blue, and yellow.
10. Arriving on the 8 10 plane were Humera, my old roommate her husband and Mustafa, their son.	10. Arriving on the 8-10 plane were Humera, my old roommate her husband and Mustafa, their son.
11. When the teacher commented that her spelling was poor, Rehan replied all the members of the family are poor spellers. Why not me?	11. When the teacher commented that her spelling was poor, Rehan replied, “all the members of the family are poor spellers. Why not me?”
12. He used the phrase you now so often that I finally said No,I don’t know.	12. He used the phrase: “you now so often that I finally said No, I don’t know.”
13. The automobile dealer handled three makes of cars Toyota, Suzuki, and Honda.	13. The automobile dealer handled three makes of cars: Toyota, Suzuki, and Honda.
14. Though Abbas said he would arrive on the 9 19 flight, he came instead on the 10 36 flight.	14. Though Abbas said, “he would arrive on the 9-19 flight, he came instead on the 10-36 flight.
15. Whoever thought said Ayesha that Ilyas would be elected class president?	15. Whoever thought said Ayesha that Ilyas would be elected class president?
16. In baseball, a show boat is a man who shows off.	16. In baseball, a show boat is a man who shows off.
17. The minister quoted Isaiah 5 21 in last Sunday’s sermon.	17. The minister quoted: Isaiah 5-21 in last Sunday’s sermon.
18. There was a very interesting article entitled The New Rage for Folk Singing in last Sunday’s New York Times newspaper.	18. There was a very interesting article entitled: “The New Rage for Folk Singing” in last Sunday’s New York Times newspaper.
19. Whoever is elected secretary of the club Maheen, or Nadia, or Aisha must be prepared to do a great deal of work, said Jumila, the previous secretary.	19. “Whoever is elected secretary of the club Maheen, or Nadia, or Aisha must be prepared to do a great deal of work,” said Jumila, the previous secretary.
20. Darwin’s On the Origin of Species 1859 caused a great controversy when it appeared.	20. Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species, 1859” caused a great controversy when it appeared.