The Road Not Taken – Class IX

The Road Not Taken

I. Answer these questions.

1. Where does the traveler find himself? What problem does he face?
(বাটৰুৱাজনে নিজকে ক’ত বিচাৰি পাইছিল? তেওঁ কি অসুবিধাৰ সন্মূখীন হৈছিল?)
The traveler finds himself at a point where two roads diverge in a yellow wood. He faces the problem of choosing one path, uncertain which to take, knowing he may not return.
(বাটৰুৱাজনে নিজকে এখন হালধীয়া অৰণ্যত পাইছিল য’ত দুটা পথ পৃথক হৈ গৈছিল। তেওঁ অসুবিধাৰ সন্মূখীন হৈছিল কাৰণ তেওঁ এটা পথ বাছি ল’ব লাগিছিল আৰু নিশ্চিত নাছিল কোনটো ল’লে ভাল হ’ব, জানিছিল যে তেওঁ ঘূৰি নাহিব পাৰে।)

2. Discuss what these phrases mean to you.
(এই ফ্ৰেজবোৰৰ জৰিয়তে কি বুজি পোৱা আলোচনা কৰা)

(i) a yellow wood (এখন হালধীয়া অৰণ্য)
To me, “a yellow wood” suggests a forest in autumn, with leaves turning yellow, symbolizing change or a pivotal moment in life where decisions shape the future.
(মোৰ মতে, “এখন হালধীয়া অৰণ্য” এ শৰৎকালৰ এখন বনক বুজায়, য’ত পাতবোৰ হালধীয়া হৈ পৰিছে, জীৱনৰ পৰিৱৰ্তন বা গুৰুত্বপূৰ্ণ মুহূৰ্তক প্ৰতীকিত কৰে য’ত সিদ্ধান্তই ভৱিষ্যত গঢ়ে।)

(ii) it was grassy and wanted wear
(ই ঘাঁহনি আছিল আৰু পৰিধানৰ অভাৱত আছিল)
This means the road was covered in grass, less traveled, and seemed to invite use. It reflects opportunities in life that are unexplored and waiting to be taken.
(ইয়াৰ অৰ্থ পথটো ঘাঁহেৰে ঢকা আছিল, কম মানুহে গৈছিল, আৰু ব্যৱহাৰৰ বাবে আমন্ত্ৰণ জনাইছিল। ই জীৱনৰ অপৰীক্ষিত সুযোগবোৰক প্ৰতিফলিত কৰে যিবোৰ লোৱাৰ অপেক্ষাত আছে।)

(iii) the passing there
(তাত দি যোৱা)
“The passing there” refers to the act of traveling along the chosen path. It signifies the journey and experiences one undergoes after making a decision.
(“তাত দি যোৱা”ই বাছি লোৱা পথেৰে যাত্ৰা কৰাৰ কাৰ্যক বুজায়। ই সিদ্ধান্ত লোৱাৰ পিছত হোৱা যাত্ৰা আৰু অভিজ্ঞতাক চিহ্নিত কৰে।)

(iv) leaves no step had trodden black
(পাতবোৰত কোনো পদক্ষেপে ক’লা কৰি থোৱা নাছিল)
This suggests the leaves were fresh, untrampled, indicating the road was unused. It symbolizes a fresh start or an unconventional choice not darkened by others’ steps.
(ইয়াৰ অৰ্থ পাতবোৰ সতেজ আছিল, কোনোৱে পদচিহ্ন থোৱা নাছিল, পথটো ব্যৱহাৰ নোহোৱা বুজাইছিল। ই নতুন আৰম্ভণি বা অপৰম্পৰাগত পছন্দক প্ৰতীকিত কৰে।)

(v) how way leads on to way
(পথে কেনেকৈ পথলৈ লৈ যায়)
This means one choice leads to more paths and decisions, showing how life unfolds through interconnected choices, guiding us forward continuously.
(ইয়াৰ অৰ্থ এটা পছন্দই আৰু পথ আৰু সিদ্ধান্তৰ দিশে লৈ যায়, জীৱন কেনেকৈ পৰস্পৰ-সংযোগী পছন্দৰ জৰিয়তে আগবাঢ়ে তাক দেখুৱায়।)

3. Is there any difference between the two roads as the poet describes them?
(কবিয়ে বৰ্ণনা কৰা পথ দুটিৰ মাজত পাৰ্থক্য আছেনে?)

(i) In stanzas two and three?
In stanzas two and three, the poet initially sees one road as grassy and less worn, but later realizes both were equally traveled, suggesting no real difference beyond perception.
(দ্বিতীয় আৰু তৃতীয় ছন্দত, কবিয়ে প্ৰথমে এটা পথক ঘাঁহনি আৰু কম ব্যৱহৃত বুলি ভাবে, কিন্তু পিছত বুজি পায় দুয়োটা সমানে চলাচল কৰা, পাৰ্থক্য কেৱল ধাৰণাত।)

(ii) In the last two lines of the poem?
In the last two lines, the poet reflects that he chose the “less traveled” road, implying a perceived difference that shaped his life, though earlier he saw them as equal.
(শেষৰ শাৰী দুটাত, কবিয়ে “কম চলা” পথ বাছি লোৱাৰ কথা কয়, যিয়ে জীৱন গঢ়িলে বুলি বুজায়, যদিও আগতে দুয়োটা সমান বুলি ভাবিছিল।)

4. What do you think the last two lines of the poem mean? (Looking back, does the poet regret his choice or accept it?)
(কবিতাটোৰ শেষৰ শাৰী দুটাৰ বিষয়ে কি ভাবা? কবিয়ে নিজৰ সিদ্ধান্তক লৈ অনুতপ্ত নেকি?)
The last two lines, “I took the one less traveled by, / And that has made all the difference,” suggest the poet’s choice defined his life uniquely. Looking back, he seems to accept it with a mix of pride and wistfulness, not regret, acknowledging its irreversible impact.
(শেষৰ শাৰী দুটা, “মই কম চলা পথটো লৈছিলোঁ, / আৰু তাৰেই সকলো পাৰ্থক্য গঢ়িলে,” বুজায় যে সিদ্ধান্তই তেওঁৰ জীৱনক অনন্য কৰিলে। পিছলৈ চাই তেওঁ গৌৰৱ আৰু কিছু আক্ষেপেৰে গ্ৰহণ কৰে, অনুতাপ নহয়, ইয়াৰ অপৰিৱৰ্তনীয় প্ৰভাৱক স্বীকাৰ কৰে।)

II. Answer these questions.

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?
(তুমি কেতিয়াবা জটিল সিদ্ধান্ত লৈ পাইছানে? যদি পাইছা কেনেকৈ লোৱা সেই সিদ্ধান্ত?)
Yes, I’ve faced difficult choices, like picking a career path. I weigh the pros and cons, consider my goals, and trust my instincts, aiming for long-term happiness and growth.
(হয়, মই জটিল সিদ্ধান্ত লৈছোঁ, যেনে কেৰিয়াৰৰ পথ বাছনি। মই ভাল-বেয়া চিন্তা কৰোঁ, লক্ষ্য বিবেচনা কৰোঁ, আৰু অন্তৰ্দৃষ্টিৰ ওপৰত ভৰসা কৰোঁ, দীৰ্ঘম্যাদী সুখ আৰু উন্নতিৰ বাবে।)

2. After you have made a choice, do you always think about what might have been, or do you accept the reality?
(তুমি কিবা এটা সিদ্ধান্ত লোৱাৰ পাছত কি হ’ব ভাবি চোৱানে? তুমি বাস্তৱক গ্ৰহণ কৰানে?)
I sometimes wonder “what if,” but I focus on accepting reality. Dwelling on the past wastes time; moving forward with confidence in my choice brings peace and progress.
(মই কেতিয়াবা “কি হ’লে” ভাবোঁ, কিন্তু বাস্তৱক গ্ৰহণ কৰোঁ। অতীতত থকাটো সময় নষ্ট; নিজৰ সিদ্ধান্তত আত্মবিশ্বাসেৰে আগবঢ়িলে শান্তি আৰু প্ৰগতি আহে।)

Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQ)

1. Where does the traveler find himself in the poem?
A) In a city
B) At a fork in two roads in a yellow wood
C) On a mountain
D) By a river
Answer: B) At a fork in two roads in a yellow wood
Explanation: The poem begins with the traveler at a divergence of two roads in a yellow wood, symbolizing a decision point.

2. What problem does the traveler face?
A) He is lost in the woods
B) He must choose between two paths without knowing their outcomes
C) He has no map
D) He is running out of time
Answer: B) He must choose between two paths without knowing their outcomes
Explanation: The traveler’s dilemma is deciding which road to take, aware he may not return to try the other.

3. What does “a yellow wood” symbolize in the poem?
A) A dangerous place
B) A time of change or decision
C) A hidden treasure
D) A lifeless forest
Answer: B) A time of change or decision
Explanation: The yellow wood, likely in autumn, represents a pivotal moment of transformation or choice.

4. What does the phrase “it was grassy and wanted wear” suggest about the road?
A) It was muddy and slippery
B) It was less traveled and inviting
C) It was blocked by grass
D) It was well-worn
Answer: B) It was less traveled and inviting
Explanation: The grass and lack of wear indicate the road was less used, suggesting an unexplored option.

5. What is the meaning of “the passing there”?
A) The traveler’s hesitation
B) The act of traveling the chosen road
C) People passing by
D) Time moving quickly
Answer: B) The act of traveling the chosen road
Explanation: It refers to the journey along the selected path after the decision.

6. What does “leaves no step had trodden black” imply?
A) The leaves were dirty
B) The road was unused and fresh
C) The path was dangerous
D) The leaves were burnt
Answer: B) The road was unused and fresh
Explanation: Untrodden leaves suggest the path was not walked on, symbolizing a new choice.

7. What does “how way leads on to way” indicate?
A) Roads merging together
B) One choice leading to more decisions
C) A dead-end path
D) A straight journey
Answer: B) One choice leading to more decisions
Explanation: It reflects how life’s choices create a chain of further paths and outcomes.

8. In stanzas two and three, how does the poet initially describe the two roads?
A) One is grassy and less worn, the other is paved
B) Both are equally worn
C) One is grassy and less worn, but later seen as equal
D) Both are dangerous
Answer: C) One is grassy and less worn, but later seen as equal
Explanation: The poet first sees a difference but later notes both roads were similarly traveled.

9. In the last two lines, how does the poet describe his choice?
A) As a mistake
B) As the less traveled road that made a difference
C) As an easy decision
D) As a random choice
Answer: B) As the less traveled road that made a difference
Explanation: He claims the less traveled road shaped his life uniquely.

10. Does the poet regret his choice in the last two lines?
A) Yes, he is full of regret
B) No, he accepts it with a mix of pride and reflection
C) Yes, he wishes he took the other road
D) No, he is indifferent
Answer: B) No, he accepts it with a mix of pride and reflection
Explanation: The tone suggests acceptance and recognition of the choice’s impact, not regret.

11. What season is implied by “a yellow wood”?
A) Winter
B) Spring
C) Autumn
D) Summer
Answer: C) Autumn
Explanation: Yellow leaves typically indicate autumn, a time of change.

12. Why does the traveler doubt he will return to the other road?
A) It’s too far away
B) Life’s choices lead him onward
C) The road is blocked
D) He dislikes the other path
Answer: B) Life’s choices lead him onward
Explanation: The poem implies that decisions propel one forward, making return unlikely.

13. How does the poet initially compare the two roads?
A) One is wider
B) One looks better worn
C) One is grassy and less traveled
D) Both are identical
Answer: C) One is grassy and less traveled
Explanation: He first notices one road as less worn and grassy.

14. What realization does the poet have about the roads in stanza three?
A) They are completely different
B) They were worn equally
C) One is shorter
D) One is safer
Answer: B) They were worn equally
Explanation: He later sees both roads as equally traveled despite initial impressions.

15. What emotion is hinted at in “I shall be telling this with a sigh”?
A) Anger
B) Relief
C) Wistfulness or reflection
D) Joy
Answer: C) Wistfulness or reflection
Explanation: A sigh suggests a mix of nostalgia or contemplation, not pure regret.

16. What personal experience does the poem remind you of?
A) Choosing a favorite book
B) Making a tough life decision
C) Walking in a forest
D) Meeting a friend
Answer: B) Making a tough life decision
Explanation: The poem’s theme relates to significant choices, like career or life paths.

17. How might you make a difficult choice, based on the lesson?
A) Flip a coin
B) Weigh pros and cons and trust instincts
C) Ask someone else
D) Avoid deciding
Answer: B) Weigh pros and cons and trust instincts
Explanation: The response suggests a thoughtful process, akin to the poet’s deliberation.

18. After making a choice, what does the lesson suggest about reflection?
A) Always regret it
B) Focus only on the future
C) Accept reality despite “what if” thoughts
D) Ignore the past completely
Answer: C) Accept reality despite “what if” thoughts
Explanation: The poet reflects but ultimately accepts his path.

19. What is the main theme of “The Road Not Taken”?
A) Nature’s beauty
B) The impact of choices in life
C) Travel adventures
D) Friendship
Answer: B) The impact of choices in life
Explanation: The poem centers on how decisions shape one’s destiny.

20. How does the poet feel about his choice in the end?
A) Confused
B) Proud and reflective
C) Angry
D) Sad
Answer: B) Proud and reflective
Explanation: The tone conveys pride in individuality and reflection on its consequences.