English Literature

Poetry : Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening

By Robert Frost
Std.6

Reference to Context
I. 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.

Q.1. Where is the poet when he quotes the above lines? What season is it?
A. The poet is in the middle of the lovely, dark and deep woods while quoting the above
line which happens to be in winter.

Q.2. According to the poet, who does he presume the woods belong to?
A. The poet presumes the woods belong to a rich village land owner who remains
unaware of the beauty that the poet, merely passing through, perceives.

Q.3. What according to the poet does darkest evening of the year refer to?
A. The darkest evening of the year refers to Winter Solstice (22nd December).

Q.4. Why does the poet feel his horse would think it queer?
A. The poet feels that his horse would think it queer because they have stopped in the
middles of the woods and the frozen lake, without any farmhouse in the vicinity.

Q.5. In what way does the horse convey his confusion? What does the poet feel he is
trying to say? Quote the answer.
A. The lines are :
He gives his harness bells a shake,
To ask if there is some mistake.

Q.6. What sounds does the poet hear when he stops in the middle of the woods?
A. The poet hears the sound of the sweep of easy wind and downy flake.

Q.7. Why cant he spend much time in these lovely woods?

A. The poet is unable to spend much time in these lovely woods as he has promises to
keep and miles to go before he sleeps.

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Q.8. Explain the line And miles to go before I sleep.
A. According to the poet it refers to the responsibilities he has to attend to before the
final sleep death.

Q.9. What regret does Robert Frost voice in this poem?

A. Robert Frost watches the woods filling up with snow, he is tempted to stop, rest and
extend this moment of pleasure. However, the thought of his responsibilities urges
him to continue his journey thus bringing to fore the regret that he cannot linger
over the simple pleasures of life.

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