CBSE Class 12 English Chapter 4 – A Roadside Stand Notes

"A Roadside Stand" by Robert Frost is a emotional and thought‑provoking poem included in Revision Notes for CBSE Class 12 English Flamingo (Poetry) Chapter 4 A Roadside. This poem talks about the suffering of poor villagers who try to earn money by selling things in small roadside huts. The poet shows the contrast between the rich city people and the struggling rural community. When students read a roadside stand notes, they understand not only the meaning of poem but also the problem of inequality in society.

For exam preparation, many learners search a roadside stand notes pdf, a roadside stand question answer, and even a roadside stand extra questions and answers because these help in developing complete understanding. Teachers also suggest practicing roadside stand important questions for scoring good marks in exams. This lesson is fully connected to the CBSE Class 12 English Syllabus and also supported by NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English, which make the revision more easier.

CBSE Class 12 English Flamingo (Poetry) Chapter 4 A Roadside Overview

CBSE Class 12 English Flamingo (Poetry) Chapter 4 A Roadside Quick Summary

At the edge of a busy road, there is a small old house with a new shed used as a tiny shop. The family keeps the roadside stand hoping cars will stop and buy something, at least enough to earn their daily bread. But the polished cars of rich people usually pass without stopping. If they stop, it’s mostly to see the view, ask for directions, or take a U‑turn. The shop sells wild berries in boxes and crooked golden squash, sometimes even spoiled because no one buys them.

The poet does not blame people for loving mountains and landscape, but he feels hurt by the quiet sadness of the poor owners. They wait for “city money,” dreaming of the progress they see in films and posters—the kind of life the city promises and even the government says it will give. They are told they’ll be moved to better places near theaters and stores, and they’ll be “looked after,” but many promises are just words. The so‑called helpers look good on paper, but their help is forced and cold. It steals the villagers’ calm sleep. Honestly, it feels unfair and heavy.

All day the stand people pray for brakes to squeal, for one car to stop and buy kindly. Some ask prices and leave, some ask for gallons of gas (but the stand has no fuel). The countryside still stands far from money and gain, so their voices of need go unheard. The poet wishes to end their pain in one go—like magic—but next morning he knows it’s not possible to remove all sorrows suddenly. Still, the poem asks us: can we pause, look with empathy, and act in small real ways? Maybe that’s where true help begins.

A Roadside Stand Important Questions Class 12 English

Answer each of the following questions in about 150-180 words

Question 1. Why do the people who run the roadside stand wait for the squeal of brakes so eagerly? (2003 Delhi)

Ans: The people at the roadside stand wait eagerly for the sound of car brakes because it means someone might stop at their small shop. When they hear brakes squealing, their hearts fill with hope that city people will buy something from them. These poor villagers have very little money and need customers badly to survive. Every time a car passes by without stopping, they feel sad and disappointed. But when they hear the brake sound, they think maybe today will be different and they can earn some money. The squealing brakes is like music to their ears because it gives them a chance to sell their simple goods like fruits and vegetables. They stand there all day long waiting and hoping that rich people from the city will help them by purchasing their products. This small sound of brakes represents their biggest dream of earning enough money to live a better life.

Question 2. Explain: "soothe them out of them wits" with reference to the poem The Roadside Stand'. (2005 Delhi)

Ans: The phrase "soothe them out of their wits" means that powerful people trick the simple villagers with sweet but false promises. These clever politicians and rich people come to the poor countryside folk and tell them lies about making their lives better. They speak in such a nice and comforting way that the innocent villagers believe everything without thinking twice. The villagers are honest and trusting, so they easily fall for these fake promises about development and prosperity. These false leaders make the rural people feel calm and hopeful by telling them what they want to hear. But actually, these promises are just tricks to use the villagers for their own selfish purposes. The villagers don't understand that they are being cheated because the words sound so sweet and caring. They lose their ability to think clearly because they are so desperate for help and improvement in their lives. This shows how innocent people can be fooled by dishonest leaders.

Question 3. Why does Robert Frost sympathise with the rural poor? (2009 Delhi; 2011 Comptt. Outside Delhi)

Ans: Robert Frost feels very sorry for the poor people living in villages because they suffer a lot and nobody cares about them. These rural people work very hard every day but still remain poor and struggle to buy basic things like food and clothes. The rich politicians and government officials make big promises to help them, but these are all lies. They only want votes from the villagers and don't actually care about making their lives better. Frost sees that city people live comfortable lives with plenty of money, while village people barely survive. The villagers are honest and simple, but they get cheated by clever and selfish people who pretend to help them. The poet understands that this unfair treatment makes the rural poor feel hopeless and forgotten. He knows they deserve better treatment and equal opportunities like city people. Frost believes that every human being should live with dignity and respect, not in poverty and sadness. This is why he writes about their pain to make others aware.

Question 4. What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand? (2008 Delhi; 2011 Delhi; 2013 Delhi)

Ans: The people who set up the roadside stand had a simple and heartfelt request to the city folks passing by in their cars. They pleaded with these wealthy travelers to please stop at their small shop and buy some of their goods like fruits, vegetables, or handmade items. These poor villagers were not asking for charity or free money, but they wanted customers to purchase their products so they could earn honest money. They hoped that if rich people would buy from them, they could improve their difficult living conditions and provide better food and clothes for their families. The villagers watched the road all day, hoping that someone would notice their small stand and decide to stop. They believed that even small purchases from city people could make a big difference in their lives. Their plea was born out of desperation and hope, as they tried to connect with the prosperous world that passed by them every day without stopping or caring about their struggles and needs.

Question 5. What is the 'childish longing' of the folk who had put up the roadside stand? Why is it 'in vain'? (2011 Comptt. Delhi)

Ans: The "childish longing" refers to the innocent and hopeful dreams of the villagers who run the roadside stand. Like children who wish for impossible things, these poor people have simple dreams about living better lives with enough money for food, clothes, and shelter. They hope that city people in fancy cars will stop and buy their goods, bringing them the prosperity they see in movies and hear about in political promises. This longing is called "childish" because it is pure, innocent, and full of trust, just like how children believe in fairy tales. However, their wishes are "in vain" because city people rarely stop to help them. Most wealthy travelers ignore the stand completely or stop only to ask for directions, not to buy anything. The villagers keep hoping day after day, but their dreams remain unfulfilled because the rich people don't care about helping the poor. Their innocent hope becomes meaningless because society is unfair and the gap between rich and poor continues to grow larger.

Question 6. Why didn't the 'polished traffic' stop at the roadside stand? (2012 Delhi)

Ans: The "polished traffic" refers to the shiny, expensive cars driven by wealthy city people who pass by the roadside stand without stopping. These rich travelers don't stop because they are only focused on reaching their destinations quickly and don't want any delays. They drive in clean, beautiful cars and live comfortable lives, so they don't understand or care about the struggles of poor villagers. When they look at the simple roadside stand, they think it looks ugly and poorly decorated compared to their fancy city shops. The stand's basic wooden structure and simple paint job seem shabby to them, and they believe it spoils the natural beauty of the countryside landscape. These wealthy people are also selfish and don't want to spend their money helping poor people. They prefer shopping in expensive city stores rather than buying simple goods from desperate villagers. The city people live in their own bubble of comfort and don't feel any responsibility to help those who are less fortunate than them.

Question 8. Why do people at the roadside stand ask for city money? (2013 Comptt. Delhi)

Ans: The people at the roadside stand ask for "city money" because they are extremely poor and struggle to meet their basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter. City money represents the wealth and prosperity that flows freely in urban areas but never reaches the countryside. These villagers see that city people have plenty of money to spend on luxuries, while they can barely afford necessities. They believe that if some of this city wealth could come to them through purchases at their stand, their lives would become much easier and happier. The villagers have been promised by politicians that development and prosperity would reach their rural areas, but these promises remain unfulfilled. They hope that earning city money will help them live the better life they have been shown in movies and advertisements. The phrase "city money" also represents their desire to be part of the modern, prosperous world rather than being left behind in poverty. They see money as the solution to all their problems and the key to dignity and respect in society.

Question 9. What does Frost himself feel about the roadside stand? (2011 Comptt. Outside Delhi)

Ans: Robert Frost feels deeply sad and troubled when he sees the roadside stand and the people who run it. He feels sorry for the poor villagers who wait patiently all day long, hoping that someone will stop and buy their simple goods, but most of the time nobody comes. The poet is upset because he sees how these honest, hardworking people suffer in poverty while rich city folks drive by without caring. Frost is also angry at the unfairness of society where some people have too much money while others have almost nothing. He feels frustrated because he knows that these villagers deserve better treatment and opportunities in life. The poet's heart breaks when he thinks about how these people keep hoping for customers day after day, but their hopes are usually disappointed. Frost also feels guilty because he himself is educated and privileged compared to these simple village folk. He wants to help them but knows that the problem is much bigger than what one person can solve. His feelings show his compassion for human suffering.

Question 10.

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.

1. Where was the new shed put up? What was its purpose?
2. Why does the poet use the word ‘pathetic’?
3. Explain: ‘too pathetically pled’
4. Who are referred to as ‘the flower of cities’? (2009 Outside Delhi; 2010 Comptt. Delhi; 2012 Comptt. Delhi)

Ans. 

1. A small house by the side of the road was expanded, and a shed was added to create a roadside stand. They set it up to attract people passing by to buy things from them and make some money.
2. The poet uses the word 'pathetic' to highlight that the shed's condition was very poor, and it looked quite sad.
3. It seemed like the owner put up the shed as a heartfelt request to the well-off city residents to visit their roadside stand and buy things to help them earn some extra cash.
4. In this context, 'the flower of the cities' refers to the rich and prosperous city dwellers who can afford the best things.

Question 11.

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 hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint
So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid

1. What attraction does the place offer?
2. What should one do if one wants to be mean?
3. What does the poet not complain about?
4. What do you think is the real worry of the poet? (2010 Outside Delhi)

Ans.

1. This spot provides a lovely sight of the pretty mountains.
2. If someone wishes to be unkind, they can save their money and continue ahead.
3. The poet doesn't lament the scenery ruined by the amateurish painting on the structure.
4. What truly concerns the poet is the hidden sadness of the individuals who have set up the roadside booth.

Extra Questions on A Roadside Stand

1. Question: What is the theme of the poem "A Roadside Stand"?

Answer: The theme of the poem revolves around the disparity between the rich and poor. The poem highlights the sufferings of rural people who are trying to make a living by selling goods on the roadside, and their unfulfilled dreams of a better life. The poem also reflects on how city people are indifferent to their plight and ignore their struggles.

2. Question: Why do the people at the roadside stand want to sell their goods?

Answer: The people at the roadside stand are selling their goods because they are poor and trying to earn money. They hope that by attracting city people, they can make a living. The rural people want to escape their poverty and live a better life, but their efforts go unnoticed by the wealthy who pass by without paying attention.

3. Question: How do the city people react to the roadside stand?

Answer: The city people are indifferent and ignore the roadside stand. They speed past without stopping to buy anything or acknowledging the struggles of the people. The poem suggests that the rich are unaware of the hardships faced by the poor and don't care about their situation.

4. Question: What does the poet suggest about the unfulfilled desires of the poor in the poem?

Answer: The poet suggests that the poor have unfulfilled desires for a better life, and they dream of wealth and comfort like the rich. They believe that by selling their goods on the roadside, they can change their lives. However, these dreams remain unfulfilled because the rich remain unaware and don’t help them achieve their goals.

5. Question: What is the poet’s view of the city life in "A Roadside Stand"?

Answer: The poet portrays the city life as busy, fast-paced, and uncaring. The city people, who are rich, live in their own world, ignoring the needs of the poor. The poet criticizes how the city people have no time to stop and help those who are struggling for a better life. City life is shown to be self-centered and disconnected from the reality of rural life.

6. Question: What is the significance of the phrase "a place for a roadside stand" in the poem?

Answer: The phrase "a place for a roadside stand" symbolizes the poor rural areas where people are trying to make a living by selling their goods on the road. It represents their desperation to be noticed and included in the larger, wealthier society. The phrase also reflects their longing for a better life that seems out of reach.

7. Question: How does the poem criticize the difference between the rich and the poor?

Answer: The poem criticizes the sharp divide between the rich and the poor by highlighting how the poor are ignored and marginalized. The poor, represented by the roadside stand, want to improve their lives, but they are unnoticed by the rich. The poem emphasizes that the rich live in comfort while the poor struggle without support.

8. Question: What is the poet's attitude toward the society depicted in the poem?

Answer: The poet’s attitude toward society is one of criticism and frustration. He feels that society is unjust, as the poor are left to suffer while the rich live comfortably without caring about their problems. The poet urges the rich to acknowledge the suffering of the poor and take steps to help improve their situation.

9. Question: What is the message of the poem "A Roadside Stand"?

Answer: The message of the poem is about the inequality between the rich and poor and the need for compassion and awareness. It calls for the rich to acknowledge the struggles of the poor and take action to improve their lives. The poem encourages a sense of responsibility toward the underprivileged in society.

10. Question: Why does the poet mention the “motorist” in the poem?

Answer: The poet mentions the motorist to symbolize the wealthy city people who drive by the roadside stand without stopping. The motorist represents the indifference of the rich towards the poor. Their careless passing symbolizes how the rich ignore the struggles of the poor and do not show any empathy toward their situation.