"The Road Not Taken: Summary, Explanation, and NCERT Solutions (Class 9 English Beehive)

 "The Road Not Taken, Poem Summary, Question & Answer,NCERT Solutions, Class 9 English, Robert Frost,"

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;

👉Explanation:

This excerpt is from the poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost. The speaker is standing in a forest where two paths diverge, and he has to choose one. He feels regretful because he cannot take both paths and is forced to make a decision. The speaker stands for a long time, trying to see as far as he can down one path, but it bends and disappears into the undergrowth, making it unclear where it leads. This moment represents a choice in life, where one must decide which direction to take, even though the consequences of that choice are not fully visible.

Hindi Translation:

यह अंश रॉबर्ट फ्रॉस्ट की कविता "द रोड नॉट टेकन" से है। कवि एक जंगल में खड़ा है जहाँ दो रास्ते अलग-अलग जाते हैं, और उसे एक रास्ता चुनना है। उसे अफसोस है क्योंकि वह दोनों रास्तों पर नहीं चल सकता और उसे एक निर्णय लेना पड़ता है। कवि लंबे समय तक खड़ा रहता है, और एक रास्ते को जितना हो सके देखता है, लेकिन वह मुड़कर झाड़ियों में खो जाता है, जिससे यह स्पष्ट नहीं होता कि वह कहां जाता है। यह पल जीवन में किसी निर्णय को चुनने का प्रतीक है, जहाँ हमें एक दिशा का चयन करना होता है, भले ही उस चयन के परिणाम पूरी तरह से स्पष्ट न हों।

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.

👉Explanation:

In these lines, the poet speaks about the second road he chooses. He says that the second road appeared just as good as the first one, even though it seemed to have a better claim. The road was grassy and less worn, indicating it was less traveled. However, the poet later observes that both roads were actually equally worn and in similar condition. This highlights the idea that the roads, or choices in life, may seem different at first, but on closer inspection, they are often quite similar.

Hindi Translation:

फिर उसने दूसरे रास्ते को चुना, जो उतना ही अच्छा था, और शायद थोड़ा बेहतर था, क्योंकि वह घास से ढका हुआ था और कम इस्तेमाल हुआ था। हालांकि, जब उसने ध्यान से देखा, तो उसने पाया कि दोनों रास्तों का हाल लगभग एक जैसा था, क्योंकि दोनों पर समान रूप से यात्रा की गई थी। यह दिखाता है कि जीवन में जो रास्ते या विकल्प अलग लगते हैं, वे अक्सर अंततः एक जैसे होते हैं।

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.

👉Explanation:

In these lines, the poet talks about how both roads looked the same in the morning, with fresh leaves covering them and no footprints, meaning neither had been walked on yet. The poet decides to take the first road for now but also knows that one choice often leads to another. He wonders if he will ever be able to come back and choose the other road, showing that the choices we make in life are often final and we can't always go back.

Hindi Translation:

इन पंक्तियों में, कवि बताता है कि सुबह दोनों रास्ते एक जैसे थे, दोनों पर ताजा पत्तियां पड़ी थीं और कोई पदचिह्न नहीं थे, यानी कोई भी रास्ता अभी तक नहीं चुना गया था। कवि पहले रास्ते को चुनता है, लेकिन उसे यह भी एहसास होता है कि एक निर्णय अक्सर दूसरे निर्णय को जन्म देता है। वह सोचता है कि क्या वह कभी इस बिंदु पर वापस आकर दूसरा रास्ता चुन पाएगा, यह दिखाता है कि जीवन के चुनाव अक्सर अपरिवर्तनीय होते हैं और हम हमेशा वापस नहीं जा सकते।

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.

👉Explanation:

In these lines, the poet is saying that in the future, he will talk about the decision he made long ago, when he chose a less common path in life. He feels that this choice, though it seemed small at the time, made a big difference in his life. The "sigh" shows that he may feel both happy and thoughtful about the impact of his decision.

Hindi Translation:

इन पंक्तियों में, कवि कह रहे हैं कि भविष्य में वे उस निर्णय के बारे में बात करेंगे, जो उन्होंने काफी समय पहले लिया था, जब उन्होंने जीवन में एक कम सामान्य रास्ता चुना था। उन्हें लगता है कि यह चुनाव, जो उस समय छोटा सा लग रहा था, उनके जीवन में बड़ा बदलाव लेकर आया। "आह" से यह महसूस होता है कि वे अपने निर्णय के असर के बारे में सोचते हुए, शायद खुश और विचारशील महसूस कर रहे हैं।

Thinking about the Poem:

(Ⅰ) 1. Where does the Traveller find himself? What problem does he face?

Answer-The traveler finds himself at a fork in the road, where two paths diverge in a forest. The problem he faces is deciding which path to take, as each path represents a different choice or direction in life, and he cannot travel both.

2.Discuss what these phrases mean to you.

(i) a yellow wood 

(ii) it was grassy and wanted wear 

(iii) the passing there

(iv) leaves no step had trodden black

 (v) how way leads on to way 

Answer-

(i) A yellow wood:
A forest with yellow leaves, showing autumn and a time of change.

(ii) It was grassy and wanted wear:
A path that is not walked on much, showing a different or new choice.

(iii) The passing there:
People walking on the path, showing how choices leave an impact.

(iv) Leaves no step had trodden black:
Fresh leaves that no one has stepped on, showing an untouched path.

(v) How way leads on to way:
One choice leads to another, making it hard to go back.

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:
The poet says both roads are almost the same. One road looks grassy and less used, but later he notices both are equally traveled.

(ii) In the last two lines of the poem:
The poet says the road he chose made a big difference in his life. He talks as if his choice was unique, though both roads were similar.

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 mean that the poet feels his choice has made a big difference in his life. He does not show regret but accepts his decision. He looks back and understands that every choice shapes our future in some way.

(Ⅱ) 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)?

Answer- sometimes we have to make difficult choices, and I might have to face them in the future as well. I will make my choice by thinking carefully and considering my needs and future goals. I will choose the path that is best for my life and dreams.

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

Answer-When I have made a decision, sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had chosen a different path. But most of the time, I accept that decision and consider it the best for my situation. What happened in life was meant to be.