Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
-By Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Bengali Translation
এ কার বনভূমি আমি জানি
এই পাশের গাঁয়েই হয়তো তার বাড়ি;
সে আমায় এথা থামতে দেখেনি
পাতায় বৃষ্টির ফোটা ঝরতে দেখেনি ।
ছোট্ট ঘোড়া ভাবে আমায় পাগল
আশেপাশে দেখনি সে ধানের গোল ।
তবু হেটেচলি কালের অন্ধতম সন্ধ্যায়
রেখে একপাশে অরণ্য অন্যপাশে জল ।
নীরবতা ভাঙ্গে ঘোড়ার জিজ্ঞাসা শুনে
ভুল করে আমি কেন দাঁড়িয়ে এখানে ।
তবু তার সাজ ঘণ্টার জিজ্ঞাসা ছাপিয়ে
দাড়িয়ে ভিজতে থাকি মৃদু বৃষ্টির ছাটে ।
দুধারে তরুর সারি , গহীন অন্ধকার
কিন্তু ভেবে শুধু নিজের কথার ভার
হারাবার আগে পারি দেব দূরপারাবার
হারাবার আগে পারি দেব দূরপারাবার
a) Answer the following questions. 2×5=10
(i)How are the evening and the woods?
(ii)How are the horse and lake?
iii. What is the name of the poet and what has he promised?
(iv) How many stanzas are there in the poem.
(v)How does the natural setting contribute to the theme of the poem?
b) Read the poem again and express your feelings. Or, Write the theme of the poem. 10
Answer:
(i) It is a snowy evening. And the woods are lovely, dark and deep.
(ii) It is a little horse. And the lake is frozen.
(iii) The name of the poet is Robert Frost. The poet has promised to go miles before he sleeps.
(iv) The poem has four (4) stanzas.
(v) In “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening,” the speaker describes stopping to watch the snow fall while riding a horse through the woods at night. While alone in the forest, the speaker reflects on the natural world and its implicit contrast with society.
b) Theme
Frost’s ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’ taps on several themes such as life, death, commitment, pessimism vs optimism, and darkness. The main theme of this piece is the journey of life. It is present throughout the poem and highlighted in the last few lines. The title of the poem talks about a short event. The literal meaning points to the nocturnal scene and how it influenced the speaker’s mind.
Summary:
Robert Frost’s ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’ is about a traveler who waits by the woods to observe the nocturnal beauty of the frosty night. He is not sure why he is standing aimlessly there. At the end of the poem, he becomes realistic and says the memorable words, “But I have promises to keep,/ And miles to go before I sleep.” Thus, this poem is about the journey of life and how one should always be prepared to leave the static desires to rush with the dynamics of life.
Extra
O1. What is the meaning of and miles to go before I sleep and miles to go before I sleep?
Answer: The last two lines of the poem are repeated. This suggests that the speaker has a long journey ahead of him but that he is weary and would prefer to rest. Some readers interpret those lines as a description of the speaker’s longing for death.
2. What is the meaning behind”Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”?
Answer: ”Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” is the kind of poem that can have multiple interpretations. It can be a peaceful exploration of the natural world, or it can be a poem about death.
3. What is the main theme of”Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”?
Answer: There are several themes in”Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” perhaps the most salient of which is the interplay between human society and the natural world. The speaker of the poem is caught between both worlds but is obligated to return to human society.
5. Who is the speaker of the poem and why is he tempted to stay in the forest?
Ans. The speaker of the poem is a lone wagon driver or a traveller who narrates his experience of being tempted to stay in the woods. He is tempted to stay in the forest because the scene of the snowfall in the dark evening is so appealing to the speaker that he can’t stop himself from staying and enjoying the beauty of the woods.
6. What does the poet mean by the words ‘sleep’, ‘little horse’ and ‘farmhouse’?
Ans. The poet has shared deep meanings through the use of simple words or language like he used the word ‘sleep’ that symbolizes death (eternal sleep), ‘little horse’ stands for the speaker’s inner voice or common sense and ‘farmhouse’ signifies the existence of people, society or civilization.
7. What is the setting of the poem where the speaker stops and narrates his situation?
Ans. Though the particular location is not mentioned, the poem is set in the countryside of New England and the event takes place among the woods covered with snow in the dark evening of winter. A dark and deep forest with utmost silence creates a mysterious atmosphere but the speaker finds it beautiful and enjoyable.
8. What is the central theme of the poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”?
Answer:The central theme of the poem is the conflict between the attraction of nature’s beauty and the responsibilities of human life. The poet describes a peaceful snowy evening when he stops by the woods to admire their beauty. The woods symbolize peace, rest, and even death, while the journey represents life and its duties. Though the poet feels tempted to stay and lose himself in the calm and dark woods, he realizes that he has promises to keep—meaning duties, responsibilities, and goals in life. The repeated line “And miles to go before I sleep” highlights the idea that before rest or death, one must fulfill obligations. Thus, the poem teaches us about balancing life’s duties with the desire for rest and peace.
9. How does Robert Frost use symbolism in the poem?
Answer: Robert Frost has used rich symbolism in Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. The woods symbolize beauty, peace, rest, and sometimes death. The snowfall represents purity and silence. The dark evening symbolizes mystery and the unknown aspects of life. The horse represents practical sense, reminding the traveler of his duties. Finally, the journey and the repeated line “And miles to go before I sleep” symbolize the responsibilities of life that must be completed before death or eternal rest. Thus, through these symbols, Frost presents the tension between human desires for peace and the unavoidable call of duty.
10. How does the poet create a contrast between nature and responsibility in the poem?
Answer: The poem beautifully contrasts the peaceful attraction of nature with the reality of human responsibilities. On one side, the woods are dark, quiet, and inviting, offering the poet rest and escape from worldly struggles. On the other side, the horse’s impatience and the poet’s reminder of his “promises” reflect duty, responsibility, and life’s journey. The poet longs to stay in the woods and enjoy the calm beauty, but he cannot ignore his duties. This contrast makes the poem meaningful because it mirrors human life, where people often desire rest but must continue working to fulfill obligations before they can truly rest.
11. Why is the last stanza of the poem considered the most significant?
Answer:The last stanza is the most significant part of the poem because it reveals the poet’s ultimate realization. The lines—
“But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.”
These lines suggest that the poet cannot remain in the woods, no matter how peaceful they appear. He has duties and responsibilities in life, which he must complete before resting or dying. The repetition of the final line emphasizes the seriousness of this responsibility. This stanza elevates the poem from a simple description of nature to a deep reflection on life, duty, and death.
12. Discuss the use of imagery in the poem. How does it add to the poem’s appeal?
Answer: Imagery plays a vital role in making the poem memorable and appealing. Robert Frost uses visual imagery in “Whose woods these are I think I know” and “The woods are lovely, dark and deep,” allowing the reader to picture the dark snowy woods. Auditory imagery appears in “The only other sound’s the sweep / Of easy wind and downy flake,” which captures the silence of the snowfall. Sensory imagery helps readers feel the quietness, coldness, and beauty of the scene. This imagery not only paints a vivid picture of the snowy evening but also reflects the poet’s inner struggle between the desire for peace and the pull of duty. It makes the poem both simple and profound.