by Robert Frost
An insight into the pitiful conditions of the village farmers.
“Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass, Just one to inquire what a farmer's prices are.”
Answer the following questions:
1) The city folk who drove through the countryside hardly paid any heed to the roadside stand or to the people who ran it. If at all they did, it was to complain. Which lines bring this out? What was their complaint about?
The lines that bring out this are:
The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead, Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts At having the landscape marred with the artless paint Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong
The people passing from there are complaining that the roadside stand has spoiled the beautiful view of the mountain landscape. Further, they also complain that the paint on the signboard is not particularly artful, and the directions are messed up which might mislead them.
2) What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand?
The people who had put up the roadside stand earnestly requested the passers-by to stop and buy some goods from them. They want the passing cars to hit the brakes, inquire about the prices, and buy those fruits and vegetables. This would bring some of the city money to these poor farmers so that they can earn a decent livelihood, and lead a fairly good life.
3) The government and other social service agencies appear to help the poor rural people, but actually do them no good. Pick out the words and phrases that the poet uses to show their double standards.
There is a strong criticism in the poem about the people who promise nice things to these poor farmers, show them fancy picturesque dreams, and then do not fulfil those promises. They either forget or ignore the solemn commitment to these poor people for their own benefits. The government and other social service agencies pretend to be helping the poor, but in reality they do not. The farmers are promised a peace of mind and a secure future, but it is those promise-makers who actually get those things.
The lines that indicate this are:
"While greedy good-doers.... .... the ancient way."
4) What is the ‘childish longing’ that the poet refers to? Why is it ‘vain’?
The wish of these people is very simple, and at times it sounds childish. Every day, they open their window hoping that some car will stop, that they will hear the squeal of brakes, and someone will buy something from them. Every day, this hope is shattered, and no one stops to buy things. Yet, the next morning, they have the same longing. That is why it is called 'childish', and as no one stops any day, it is said to be in vain.
5) Which lines tell us about the insufferable pain that the poet feels at the thought of the plight of the rural poor?
The poet sympathizes with the people who have put up the roadside stand, and are undergoing unbearable suffering, and a miserable life.
The lines that indicate this are:
Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear The thought of so much childish longing in vain, The sadness that lurks near the open window there, That waits all day in almost open prayer
Poem Analysis:
* Rhyme Scheme:
The poem has an irregular rhyme scheme.
e.g. first four lines - AAAA
next five lines - ABCAB
* Figures of Speech:
1) Alliteration:
pathetically pled
flow supports the flower
squash with silver warts
or beauty rest in a beautiful mountain
party in power
greedy good-doers
beneficent beasts
sound of stopping car
gallon of gas
country seems to complain
2) Metaphor:
flower of cities (representing the developed cities)
moving-pictures' promise (representing success as shown in films)
3) Personification:
a roadside stand pathetically pled
the sadness that lurks near the open window there / that waits all day
the voice of the country seems to complain
4) Repetition:
The little old house was out with a little new shed
with N turned wrong and S turned wrong
by teaching them how to sleep they sleep all day / destroy their sleeping
in country money, the country scale of gain
Words repeated across two lines
money, city, open window, open prayer
5) Transferred epithet:
polished traffic
trusting sorrow
selfish cars
6) Oxymoron:
greedy good-doers
beneficent beasts
7) Onomatopoeia:
squeal
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