Question 2 - The Road Not taken - Beehive - Poems (Literature) - English Class 9

Read the given extracts and answer the questions

Extract:

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 traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

(The Road not taken)

Question (i)

 What does the word 'sigh' imply about the speaker's feelings in the first line?

• A) Satisfaction
• B) Relief
• C) Regret
• D) Boredom

Answer: 

Answer written by student:

C) Regret

Step-by-Step explanation: 📝

• To find the implication of a word in a poem, we can use context clues, connotations, tone or mood.
•  In this case, we can use context clues to figure out what 'sigh' implies. Context clues are words or phrases that give hints about the meaning or implication of an unknown word.
•  The context clue for 'sigh' is 'telling this'. This tells us that the word is related to something that the speaker is narrating or recalling from his past.
•  We can also use connotations or associations that a word evokes to guess what 'sigh' implies . Some connotations for 'sigh' are sadness, disappointment, longing or nostalgia.
•  We can also us e tone or mood to infer what 'sigh' implies. Tone or mood are the feelings or attitudes that the speaker or the poem expresses. The tone or mood of this poem is reflective, wistful and melancholic.
•  Using these strategies, we can eliminate options A, B and D as they do not match the context clue, the connotations or the tone of 'sigh'. The only option left is C) Regret, which means to feel sorry or unhappy about something that one has done or failed to do.

 Therefore, the word 'sigh' implies regret about the speaker's feelings in the first line of the poem.

Question (ii)

What does the phrase 'ages and ages hence' mean in the second line?

Answer:

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   Answer written by student:

 The phrase 'ages and ages hence' means a long time in the future.

Step-by-Step explanation: 📝

•  To find the meaning of a phrase in a poem, we can use context clues, synonyms, antonyms or a dictionary.
•  In this case, we can use context clues to figure out what 'ages and ages hence' means. Context clues are words or phrases that give hints about the meaning of an unknown phrase.
•  The context clue for 'ages and ages hence' is 'telling this'. This tells us that the phrase is related to something that the speaker is narrating or recalling from his past.
•  We can also use synonyms or words that have similar meanings to guess what 'ages and ages hence' means. Some synonyms for 'ages and ages hence' are 'many years later', 'far away in time', 'in the distant future' or 'after a long period'.
•  We can also use antonyms or words that have opposite meanings to eliminate some options. Some antonyms for 'ages and ages hence' are 'soon', 'now', 'recently' or 'in the past'.
•  Using these strategies, we can infer that ' ages and ages hence' means a long time in the future. This means that the speaker is imagining how he will look back at his choice after many years have passed.
•  Therefore, the phrase 'ages and ages hence' means a long time in the future.

Question (iii)

What does the dash (—) indicate in the third line?

Answer:

   Answer written by student:

 The dash (—) indicates a pause or an interruption in the speaker's speech.

Step-by-Step explanation: 📝

•  To find the indication of a punctuation mark in a poem, we can use context clues, grammar rules, sound effects or poetic devices.
•  In this case, we can use context clues to figure out what the dash (—) indicates. Context clues are words or phrases that give hints about the meaning or indication of an unknown punctuation mark.
• The context clue for the dash (—) is ‘I’. This tells us that the punctuation mark is related to something that the speaker is saying or emphasizing about himself.
• We can also use grammar rules to understand what the dash (—) indicates. Grammar rules are the conventions or standards that govern how words and sentences are structured and used in a language.
• According to grammar rules, a dash (—) is used to show a sudden break or change in thought, tone or direction. It can also be used to create suspense, drama or surprise in a sentence.
• We can also use sound effects to infer what the dash (—) indicates. Sound effects are the ways that words or punctuation marks create sounds or rhythms when read aloud or in the mind.
• A dash (—) creates a sound effect of a pause or an interruption in the speaker’s speech. It makes the reader stop and pay attention to what comes next. It also creates a contrast or a shift between the two parts of the sentence that are separated by the dash.
• We can also use poetic devices to deduce what the dash (—) indicates. Poetic devices are the techniques or tools that poets use to enhance the meaning, beauty or impact of their poems.
• A dash (—) is a poetic device that can be used to create emphasis, irony, repetition or parallelism in a poem . It can also be used to show the speaker’s emotions, thoughts or personality.
• Using these strategies, we can conclude that the dash (—) indicates a pause or an interruption in the speaker’s speech. It shows that the speaker is hesitating, reflecting or correcting himself as he recalls his choice. It also shows that he is emphasizing his individuality and responsibility for his decision.
• Therefore, the dash (—) indicates a pause or an interruption in the speaker’s speech.

Question (iv)

Fill in the blank with the correct word from the options given below:

The speaker says that taking the road less traveled by has made all the __________ in his life.

• A) changes
• B) choices
• C) challenges
• D) difference

Answer:

  Answer written by student:

D) difference

Step-by-Step explanation: 📝

• To find the correct word to fill in the blank, we can use context clues, rhyme, rhythm or theme.
•  In this case, we can use context clues to find the correct word. Context clues are words or phrases that give hints about the meaning of an unknown word.
•  The context clue for the blank is 'taking the road less traveled by'. This tells us that the word is related to something that the speaker did or experienced because of his choice.
•  We can also use rhyme to find the correct word . Rhyme is the repetition of similar sounds at the end of words or lines in a poem. The poem follows an ABAAB rhyme scheme, where the first, third and fourth lines of each stanza rhyme with each other.
•  The word that we choose should rhyme with the last word of the previous line, which is 'by'. This is because the last line of each stanza rhymes with the first, third and fourth lines of the same stanza.
• We can also use rhythm to find the correct word . Rhythm is the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry. The poem follows an iambic tetrameter rhythm, where each line has four pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables.
•  The word that we choose should have the same number of syllables and stress as the last word of the previous line, which is 'by'. This is because the last word of each line has one syllable and one stress.
• We can also use theme to find the correct word . Theme is the main idea or message that a poem conveys . The theme of this poem is about choice, consequence and regret.
•  The word that we choose should match the theme of the poem and convey the speaker's attitude or feeling about his choice.
•  Using these strategies, we can eliminate options A, B and C as they do not match the context clue, rhyme, rhythm or theme of the poem. The only option left is D) difference, which means a significant change or contrast between two things or situations.

 Therefore, the word that fits the blank is difference.

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