A Roadside Stand

A Roadside Stand

                         By  Robert Frost

 

Analysis of the poem:

§  The poem titled 'A Roadside Stand' by Robert Frost, explores the plight of rural life and the economic struggles faced by those living in the countryside.

§  Robert Frost, an American poet, is widely known for his nature poems with realistic themes and revolutionary ideas.

§  The poem voices out loud the plight of poor vendors and subsequent efforts to change the predicament of rural sections of the city.

§  The poem is rich in terms of language, bitter in tone and expression, profound in emotional content and strong in appeal.

§  The rhyming scheme of the poem is inconsistent and irregular as sometimes consecutive lines rhyme and sometimes one after the other, and sometimes after a gap of two lines, and four lines.

§  The tone of the poem is critical and sad as the poet feels sad and irritated, thinking about the unexpressed desires and struggles of a roadside vendor, making a strong appeal for the desired change.

§  The poet clearly brings out the theme that unequal distribution of cash and city money hinders the real development of the city, voicing loud the capitalist theory of Carl Marx.

§  The impactful description of the stand, roadside scene, running traffic, urban and rural parts of city brings out the theme through powerful use of imagery. The poet skilfully employs various poetic devices such as alliteration, assonance, enjambment, metaphor, irony, and personification to convey its themes and an emotional message.

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Summary / Synopsis

To sum up, the poem captures the struggles of rural life, the impact of economic disparity, and the longing of poor vendors and poor people for a better life and their due right to enjoy their share of city's cash flow. It criticises the disconnect between urban and rural life and unequal flow of money among social groups highlighting the hardships faced by those living in the countryside. The poem also explores the complexities of the systems to find quick solutions to alleviate suffering and poverty.

The poet sensitises the readers, the government and the business sector against the plight, difficulties, and helplessness of poor vendors who live hand to mouth through description of the roadside stand, poor people and their hopeful eyes. He criticises the insensitive attitude of this selfish world and the government who fail to do their bit to improve the condition of the poor vendors through describing insensitive and fast moving traffic. The poet dreams and demands a fresh perspective towards development which ensures growth of all the sections of the city and change the sad reality of poor vendors and rural sections of the city.

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Line by Line Explanation

The little old house was out with a little new shed

In front at the edge of the road where the traffic sped,

A roadside stand that too pathetically pled,

It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread,

But for some of the money, the cash, whose flow supports

The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint.

The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,

Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts

The poem begins with a description of a small, old house accompanied by a new shed at the front of the house. The stand is standing at the edge of the busy road. The setting of the poem is a busy road where traffic moves in great speed. The roadside stand appears to be in a pathetic condition or state of need. It seeks people’s attention for livelihood of the people who depend on it. The poem suggests that the stand is not asking for charity but is seeking money by selling things and making livelihood which is their right. The stand is seeking little financial support, a small amount of the money on which entire city depends, and which is their due share. The poet suggests that the money earned supports the vitality of cities, and economy and development of the country at large. The cash flow, circulated by the roadside stand is a vital part of the city’s economy. The traffic is described to be high earning gentry who are running with individual purposes in their mind hence, not paying much attention to the stand as they don’t have time, nor sensitivity. If ever they do notice it for a moment, they are displeased or annoyed by its appalling condition thinking that it is spoiling the beauty of the city. 

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At having the landscape marred with the artless paint

Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong

Offered for sale wild berries in wooden quarts,

Or crook-necked golden squash with silver warts,

Or beauty rest in a beautiful mountain scene,

You have the money, but if you want to be mean,

Why keep your money (this crossly) and go along.

The presence of the roadside stand is seen by higher strata, as an unwelcome scene spoiling the beauty of the landscape. The signs on the stand are described as having incorrect directions for 'N' and 'S'. The stand is selling natural products like  fruits and vegetables in the wooden baskets. Perhaps the stand offers the only thing of beauty that people may enjoy is the mountain scenery which is painted on the stand. The poet suggests that those who have money should be willing to spend it. There's a sense of frustration that people are miserly and unwilling to spend money at the stand. Frost intellectually supports Marx theory that money should exchange hands by earning and spending, and that everyone has the right to earn and spend. If high earning people don’t spend on vendors, how these low poverty line people would survive. They are deprived of their share of city money which is ironically accumulated in few hands.

 

The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint

So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid:

Here far from the city we make our roadside stand

And ask for some city money to feel in hand

To try if it will not make our being expand,

And give us the life of the moving-pictures’ promise

That the party in power is said to be keeping from us.

The speaker doesn't mind the visual impact of the city spoiled by the stand, as much as the unspoken suffering of poor vendors and their family when their trust is broken. The real issue is the silent suffering and unexpressed needs of those who depend on the stand. They don’t plead or demand, but they also have the right to hold their share of money which is being earned and spent in the city. The setting is described as rural, far from center of urban part of the city. The poor inhabitants seek financial support from the city by selling fruits at the stand. They hope that the money earned will improve their lives and well-being. They, too have a desire for a better life, which is many times projected in the movies as such themes are discussed through many films based on socialism and equality. The government and the political parties in power who have made high promises prior to the elections are withholding these promises, and not fulfilling them.

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It is in the news that all these pitiful kin

Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in

To live in villages, next to the theatre and the store,

Where they won’t have to think for themselves anymore,

While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey,

Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits

That are calculated to soothe them out of their wits,

And by teaching them how to sleep they sleep all day,

Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way.

There are reports in the news that the rural people are to be relocated. The government plans to bring out the rural inhabitants buying their lands and relocate them in the city where they may receive the benefits of development and urban growth. The relocation involves moving them to more urbanized settings, near theatres and market where they may have more opportunities and, earn better and improve their life. The people in power are described as opportunistic and predatory. The government or authorities will reap their benefits and satisfy their selfish motives instead of supplying the poor vendors their share of benefits. The benefits behind such plans are - to pacify and distract the rural inhabitants. The authorities attempt to control their lives, even regulate their sleep. The traditional way of living is disrupted, including the natural sleep cycle hindering the peace of their life.

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

For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car,

Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass,

Just one to inquire what a farmer’s prices are.

And one did stop, but only to plow up grass

In using the yard to back and turn around;

And another to ask the way to where it was bound;

And another to ask could they sell it a gallon of gas

The poet empathises with the struggles of the rural population. The longing for a better life is compared to childlike innocence. There is a sense of melancholy and longingness in their hopeful eyes. The poet suggests a hopeful waiting for some positive and beautiful change. The anticipation is for someone to stop and buy something. Despite the numerous passing cars, only a few may stop. The hope is for someone to ask about the products for sale or at least someone may enquire the farmer's price. Ironically, the car that stops does so for asking the farmer's price. Another car stops for directions but is not interested in buying anything. Yet another inquiry, this time about purchasing gas, is also unsuccessful as they all don’t purchase anything, instead they remove grass from the yard by making a turn by the car, which damages the yard while turning.

 

They couldn’t (this crossly); they had none, didn’t it see?

No, in country money, the country scale of gain,

The requisite lift of spirit has never been found,

Or so the voice of the country seems to complain,

I can’t help owning the great relief it would be

To put these people at one stroke out of their pain.

And then next day as I come back into the sane,

I wonder how I should like you to come to me

And offer to put me gently out of my pain.

The response of the people is dismissive, indicating a lack of understanding, concern and empathy. The poet explains the cruel reality of the rural economy. The needed improvement in the poor people’s situation has not been achieved. The poet portrays the collective voice of the rural community. He admits to considering the relief that may be brought. There's a suggestion of a drastic solution, that if anyone wants to put an end to their sufferings in one stroke, it would be death. Relocation, might not end their suffering or bring any improvement in their miserable life. At the same time the poet reflects on the idea with a more rational and logical perspective. He seems to conclude that offering a help is not a good idea. At the same time he wants a change in social fabric and policies of the government so that the predicament of these poor venders can change for better, everyone should understand they have the right to live a life with dignity and happiness. Hence, the poor vendor hopes for someone to stop and buy something to begin the end of their struggles.

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Poetic Devices

The little old house was out with a little new shed – Repetition, Imagery, contrast 

In front at the edge of the road where the traffic sped – Consonance, Repetition, Imagery

A roadside stand that too pathetically pled – Alliteration, Consonance, Personification

It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread – Alliteration, Consonance, Assonance

But for some of the money, the cash, whose flow supports – Repetition, Assonance  

The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint – Anaphora, Assonance, Consonance, Metaphor, Imagery

The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead – Anaphora, Alliteration, Consonance, Transferred epithet  

Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong – Repetition, Imagery

Offered for sale wild berries in wooden quarts – Alliteration, Consonance, Imagery

Or crook-necked golden squash with silver warts – Anaphora, Alliteration, Assonance, Imagery

Or beauty rest in a beautiful mountain scene – Anaphora, Alliteration, Imagery

You have the money, but if you want to be mean – Alliteration, Repetition, Consonance

The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint – Consonance, Repetition

So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid – Alliteration, Enjambment, Pathos

To try if it will not make our being expand – Assonance, Consonance

And give us the life of the moving-pictures’ promise – Assonance, Alliteration, Repetition  

That the party in power is said to be keeping from us – Alliteration, Assonance

It is in the news that all these pitiful kin – Assonance, Alliteration, Consonance

Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in – Alliteration, Consonance

To live in villages, next to the theatre and the store – Repetition, Assonance, Imagery

While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey – Alliteration, Oxymoron, Metaphor

Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits – Enjambment, Metaphor, Consonance, irony

And by teaching them how to sleep they sleep all day – Alliteration, Repetition, Irony, Symbolism

Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way – Alliteration, Consonance, enjambment

The thought of so much childish longing in vain – Anaphora, Assonance, Consonance, Pathos

The sadness that lurks near the open window there – Anaphora, Personification, Alliteration, Consonance, Repetition, Imagery, Pathos  

For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car – Alliteration, Repetition, Onomatopoeia, Imagery

Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass – Alliteration, Consonance, Hyperbole, Imagery, Transferred epithet  

Just one to inquire what a farmer’s prices are – Consonance, Assonance

And one did stop, but only to plow up grass – Consonance, Assonance, Imagery

In using the yard to back and turn around – Consonance, Imagery  

And another to ask the way to where it was bound – Anaphora, Alliteration

And another to ask could they sell it a gallon of gas – Anaphora, Alliteration, Consonance, Assonance

They couldn’t (this crossly); they had none, didn’t it see – Alliteration, Repetition, Consonance  

No, in country money, the country scale of gain – Repetition, Assonance

Or so the voice of the country seems to complain – Repetition, Alliteration, Personification

To put these people at one stroke out of their pain – Alliteration, Assonance, Consonance, pathos  

I wonder how I should like you to come to me – Repetition

And offer to put me gently out of my pain – Assonance, Alliteration, Consonance, Pathos 

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Theme

The poet clearly brings out the theme that unequal distribution of cash and city money hinders the real development of the city, voicing loud the capitalist theory of Carl Marx who says that every social group has equal right to earn and spend using the cash flow in the city and the country. The poet talks about the desired change in economic policies and laws of the government as everyone has the right to use equal share of city money and live a life with dignity and happiness.

RTC I

It is in the news that all these pitiful kin

Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in

To live in villages, next to the theatre and the store,

Where they won’t have to think for themselves anymore,

While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey,

1. What is meant by 'pitiful kin' here?

2. Who are called ‘greedy good-doers’ and ‘beneficent beasts of prey’? Why?

3. Why won’t these poor people have to think for themselves any more?

4. Why are the people to be “mercifully gathered in”?

5. What plan is being made for the ‘pitiful kin’ in these ‘villages’?

6. Identify the figure of speech used in “greedy good-doers’ and ‘beneficent beasts of prey’

7. How does the poet’s tone appear towards the 'greedy good-doers' in these lines?

8. What does the poet mean by “bought out” in this context?

Answers:

1. The pitiful kin refers to the poor and helpless villagers and vendors who are living a miserable life that arouses pity. They are like our family.

2. The crooked politicians or the policy makers are the greedy people who pretend to be good and pose as beneficiaries. These powerful men are actually beasts of prey in the guise of beneficiaries who ruthlessly exploit the poor people for their own benefits.

3. These poor people are now in the hands of the so-called ‘beneficiaries’, who will actually do them more harm than any good and thus they won’t have to think about themselves any more. They don’t have any freedom to think as they are bought out.

4. They are to be shifted in the government made villages near theatres and super stores or markets with the promise of better living.

5. The plan is to shift the poor villagers near city. It is claimed to be for their welfare, but in reality, it deprives them of freedom and self-reliance.

6. Oxymoron is used here. The opposite words are used together to create irony.

7. The tone is sarcastic and critical, showing Frost’s disapproval of their false charity. He criticises hypocritical reformers who exploit the poor under the guise of doing good.

8. The poor are being paid off or persuaded to give up their land and independence for false promises of comfort and work. They are forced to live a life of dependence, where opportunity of work replaces freedom and individuality.

RTC II

Sometimes 1 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
For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car,
Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass.

1.   What cannot be borne by the poet and why?

2.   What is the ‘childish longing7?

3.   Why the longing has been termed as ‘vain’?

4.   Why do the people driving in the cars stop sometimes?

5.   What poetic device is used in the phrase ‘selfish cars’? Explain.

 

Answers:
1. The poet cannot bear the thought of how these poor people and vendors nourish false hopes which are never going to be fulfilled. He feels genuinely sad about so much deprivation and lack of opportunities to earn for these poor people.
2. Like children, these poor people have many unfulfilled wishes and desires. So they keep their windows open expecting some prospective customers to turn up to buy their goods so that some good fortune can fall into their share.
3. The longing has been termed as ‘vain’ because it will never be fulfilled as the city dwellers are selfish, unconcerned and indifferent.
4. The people driving in the car stop sometimes either to just enquire about prices of crop, the way to their destination or to ask for a gallon of gas.

5. Here, Transferred Epithet is used as the word ‘selfish’ attributes to the people sitting in the cars, hence the quality of people is transferred to the cars.

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Aunt Jennifer's Tigers

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

                         By Adrienne Rich 

 

Analysis of the poem: 

§  The poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ is composed by Adrienne Rich, a well known new age American poet. Her works are known for original themes, revolutionary thoughts and strong voice for women empowerment.

§  Adrienne Rich, an American poetess, is widely known for her involvement in contemporary women’s movement as a poet and theorist.

§  The poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ addresses the constraints of married life a woman experiences, gender bias and immense power of art.

§  The poem is subjective in nature as it describes the emotions and opinion of the poet associated with her experience in this male dominated society.

§  The poem is simple in language, lyrical in style and profound in emotional content with the wonderful handling of poetic devices and expressions.

§  The poem is divided in three stanzas of four lines each, having the rhyming scheme –  aabb.

§  The tone of the poem is critical and melancholic as aunt Jennifer feels sad thinking about her unexpressed desires and limitations of a married woman.

§  The poet clearly brings out the theme that marital bond and responsibilities become a burden on a woman who is unable to express her desires. It also brings out a contrast between the art which is mode of expression and the life which needs submission.

§  The impactful description for tigers in the greenery successfully depicts the theme that art is so powerful to express itself while a married woman fails to express her desires, through powerful imagery, metaphor and skilful handling of other poetic devices.

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Summary / Synopsis

The poem deals with the themes of gender bias, marital expectations, immense power of art, helplessness of a married woman and social prejudices associated with marriage. 

Aunt Jennifer's tigers represent her desire for freedom and strength, contrasting with the challenges she faces in her married life. The art she creates becomes a symbol of her inner strength and a way to express herself despite the constraints of her reality. 

Ironically, she would die under the same burden and fear while the tigers she was making would prance proudly and fearlessly unlike the terrified aunt Jennifer.

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Line by Line Explanation

"Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,

Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.

They do not fear the men beneath the tree;

They pace in sleek chivalric certainty."

The poet introduces Aunt Jennifer's design on a tapestry or a piece of cloth featuring tigers that seem lively and full of fearless movement. The tigers are compared to a bright topaz, yellow gem stone, indicating their vibrant and intense nature. The phrase "denizens of a world of green" suggests that the tigers inhabit a lush green and lively environment. The tigers, depicted in Aunt Jennifer's creation, show no fear of the men who are under the tree. This embroidery symbolises a sense of independence or strength Aunt Jennifer dreams of. The tigers move with a confident walk, boldness, courage and assurance. This portrays a sense of regal and fearless life which is in sharp contrast of scared and fearful demeanour of aunt Jennifer.

 

"Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool

Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.

The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band

Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand."

Aunt Jennifer is working on her embroidery, her fingers are moving weakly through the thread as she creates the tapestry. Aunt Jennifer has become weak and lost strength after facing challenges in her married life. Even the ivory needle is difficult for her to pull through the fabric. This suggests the physical and emotional strain she has experienced through her married life. Aunt Jennifer is wearing her husband's wedding ring which has "massive" weight for her fingers. It suggests that the ring is not just an ornament but carries a significant emotional burden of responsibilities and liabilities of demanding married life. The weight of the wedding ring is burdensome for Aunt Jennifer, symbolising the constraints of marriage and the traditional roles and expectations associated with it. She is described to be crushed and helpless under this weight and unable to express herself. Probably that's the reason she is trying to express her desire for freedom and expression through her embroidery of fearless tigers.

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"When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie

Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.

The tigers in the panel that she made

Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid."

The poet envisions Aunt Jennifer's death when her "terrified hands" will lie motionless and still terrified. It suggests a sense of fear or anxiety that would persist even in death. Even after Aunt Jennifer's death, her hands will bear the impact of the painful experiences and difficult challenges or "ordeals" that she was subjected to. She has been dominated by her husband or family in her married life that she would carry this fearful experience to her grave. The wedding band would remain there in her hand even after her death and so would its burden. The irony of life is described through the tapestry or panel that Aunt Jennifer created with the tigers. Ironically, the tigers created by aunt Jennifer will continue to prance with pride and fearlessness, suggesting a stark contrast between her art and her real life. Aunt would go to the grave with her fear and the tiger will go on showing their power and pride.

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Theme

The poem brings out the theme that marriage ordeals many a time become a massive burden on a woman and she feels suffocated and unable to express herself. The poem also brings out a contrast between art and human life. Art is a mode of expression and our life is a tale of submission and subjugation.

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Poetic Devices

Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen – Imagery, Consonance, Symbolism

Bright topaz denizens of a world of green – Metaphor, Imagery, Repetition

They do not fear the men beneath the tree – Anaphora, Alliteration, Repetition

They pace in sleek chivalric certainty – Anaphora, Assonance. Imagery

Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool – Imagery, Alliteration, Consonance

Find even the ivory needle hard to pull - Consonance, Symbolism, metaphor, hyperbole 

The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band – Alliteration, Metaphor, Symbolism, assonance 

Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand – Personification, Alliteration

When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie – Consonance, Alliteration, Synecdoche, Pathos

Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by – Assonance, Metaphor, exaggeration

The tigers in the panel that she made – Repetition, Imagery, Alliteration, Repetition

Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid – Assonance, Alliteration, Personification, Irony 

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Important Question Answers

Q. Why are Aunt Jennifer’s hands ‘fluttering through the wool’? What is suggested by ‘massive weight of uncle’s wedding hand’? Why is the needle so ‘hard to pull’ for aunt Jennifer?

Ans. The poet highlights the victimisation of Aunt Jennifer in his poem. Aunt Jennifer is so terrified of her husband that her fingers tremble when she pulls out the ivory needle through wool even though the needle is very light. It depicts her physical as well as emotional weakness. The wedding ring which she is wearing symbolises responsibilities that are a great burden on her soul. The wedding ring given by the uncle seems heavy to her. She finds it difficult to go ahead as her married life has taken away all her freedom from her.

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RTC 

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.

1.                1. What does it refer to ‘ordeal’?

2.   Why did she embroider ‘tigers’?

3.   How were the tigers different from her own personality?

4.   Which poetic device is in the phrase ‘terrified hands’

5.   Which tone is prevalent here?

Answer:
1. The word 'ordeal' refers to the unpleasant or painful job or responsibility. Here, it is conveyed that married life of aunt jennifer is quite painful and difficult as she was constantly dominated by her husband and was denied freedom.
2. Aunt Jennifer made tigers to give expression to her desire for freedom, fearlessness and courage. She was unable to express her desire so she took refuge in art.
3. Aunt Jennifer was meek and submissive whereas the tigers she embroidered were strong, ferocious, fearless and courageous.

4. Transferred Epithet is used here as the attribute of Aunt Jennifer is transferred to her hands.

5. Tone is sad and critical.

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