"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" Questions & Answers
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost হলো English literature-এর সবচেয়ে সুন্দর আর জনপ্রিয় poems-এর মধ্যে একটি। এই কবিতায় কবি এক অভিজ্ঞতা বর্ণনা করেছেন, যেখানে বক্তা বরফে ঢাকা শান্ত অরণ্যের সৌন্দর্যে মুগ্ধ হয়। কিন্তু সেই সঙ্গে কবিতা আমাদের মনে করিয়ে দেয় যে life-এ অনেক duties, promises, and responsibilities রয়েছে, যেগুলো শেষ না করে থামা যায় না।
এই পোস্টে তোমরা পাবে সহজভাবে লেখা Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening summary, analysis, notes, এবং important question-answers, যা students দের জন্য খুবই helpful হবে exam preparation এর সময়।
"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" Reference to the context.
"His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here"
a. Who is the speaker? (1)
b. Whose house is in the village? (1)
c. Where has the speaker stopped? (1)
d. Who is with the speaker? (1)
Answer:
The lines are taken from "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost.
a. The poet is the speaker.
b. The house in the village is of the person whose woods the speaker is passing through.
c. The speaker has stopped in the woods.
d. The speaker is accompanied by his horse.
"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"
a. Who does "I" refer to? (1)
b. Where is the house? (1)
c. Who lives in the village? (1)
d. Pick out the rhyming words from the above lines. (1)
e. Identify the rhyme scheme of the above stanza. (1)
f. Identify the figure of speech used in the 4th line. (1)
g. Pick out the alliterated words in the 1st and 2nd line. (1)
Answer:
The lines are taken from "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost.
a. 'I' refer to the poet.
b. The house is in the village.
c. The owner of the woods resides in a house in the village.
d. The rhythmic words in the above lines are : know - though - snow.
e. The rhythmic scheme of above stanza is : "aaba".
f. The figure of speech used in the 4th line is Hyperbole.
g. Alliterated words in :
1st line = these - think, 2nd line = see - stopping
"My little horse must think it queer"
a. Whose little horse is being referred to here? (1)
b. Where are the speaker and the horse? (1)
c. What must the horse find queer? (1)
d. Compare the response of the horse and that of the traveller. (2)
Answer:
The lines are taken from "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost.
a. The poet’s horse is being referred here.
b. The speaker and the horse are passing through the woods.
c. The horse must find it queer for the speaker to stop by the woods on a snowy evening without any nearby farmhouse.
d. The horse finds it queer or strange that the speaker has stopped by the woods on a snowy evening, but the speaker is charmed by the beauty of the woods. He could not help but stop and admire the snowy night.
"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."
a. Who gives his harness bells a shake? (1)
b. Why does ‘he’ think there is some mistake? (1)
c. Where is ‘he’? (1)
d. What can we infer about the weather from these lines? (1)
Answers:
The lines are taken from "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost.
a. The horse gives his harness bells a shake.
b. He thinks that his master has stopped by the woods because of some mistake because there was no farmhouse close by.
c. He is with his master in the middle of the woods, beside the frozen lake.
d. The weather is cold and ‘downy flake’ suggests that it has begun to snow.
"He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow."
a. Whom does ‘he’ refer to? (1)
b. Identify the season in these lines. (1)
Answer:
The lines are taken from "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost.
a. He refers to the owner of the woods.
b. It is a winter season.
"My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near"
a. Who is the speaker? (1)
b. Why should the horse think it queer? (1)
c. Pick out the rhyming words. (1)
Answer:
The lines are taken from "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost.
a. The poet is the speaker.
b. The horse thought it queer because there was no farmhouse near.
c. The rhyming words are : "queer, near"
"He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake."
a. Whom does ‘he’ refer to in these lines? (1)
b. Why does ‘he’ give his harness bells a shake? (1)
c. How does the horse communicate with the poet? (1)
Answer:
The lines are taken from "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost.
a. He refers to the horse.
b. He gives his harness bells a shake to get his master's attention. As if he wanted to ask if his master has stopped because of some mistake.
c. The horse communicates with the sound of the bells.
"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"
a. Where was the poet? (1)
b. What was the evening like? Why? (1)
c. Where has the horse stopped? (1)
d. What is meant by queer? (1)
e. Why did the horse think it queer? (1)
f. Pick out the rhyming words from the above lines. (1)
g. Identify the rhyme scheme of the above stanza. (1)
h. What is the figure of speech used in the first line? (1)
Answer:
a. The poet was between the woods and the frozen lake.
b. It was the darkest evening, because it was winter season.
c. The horse has stopped between the woods and the frozen lake.
d. 'Queer' means 'strange.'
e. As there was no farm house to take rest, the horse should think it queer to stop in the middle of the woods.
f. The rhythmic words in the line are : queer - near - year
g. The rhythmic scheme of above stanza is : "aaba"
h. The figure of speech used in the 1st line is: Personification
"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"
a. What does "he" refer to here? (1)
b. How did the horse react? (1)
c. Describe the sound in the poem. (1)
d. What does sweep mean? (1)
e. What does "downy flake" mean? (1)
f. Pick out the rhyming words from the above lines. (1)
g. Identify the rhyme scheme of the above stanza. (1)
h. What is the figure of speech used in the first line? (1)
i. Pick out the alliterated words in the first line. (1)
Answer:
a. Here, 'he' refers to the horse.
b. The horse shook its harness bell.
c. In the poem, there are sound of harness bells, wind blowing and the falling of the snow flakes.
d. Sweep means soft and gentle.
e. 'Downy flake' means soft snow crystals.
f. The rhythmic words in the line are : shake - mistake - fake
g. The rhythmic scheme of above stanza is : "aaba"
h. The figure of speech used in the 1st line is: Personification
i. Alliterated words in the first line are: dark - deep
"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 "
a. How were the woods? (1)
b. What are the promises that the poet has to keep up? (1)
c. Pick out the rhyming words from the above lines. (1)
d. Identify the rhyme scheme of the above stanza.(1)
e. What is the figure of speech used in the last two lines?(1)
f. Pick out the alliterated words in the first line.(1)
g. Whom does ‘I’ refer to? (1)
Answer:
a. The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
b. The poet has to keep up his duties and responsibilities.
c. The rhythmic words in the line are : deep - keep, sleep - sleep
d. The rhythmic scheme of above stanza is : "aaaa"
e. The figure of speech used in the 1st line is: Repetition
f. Alliterated words in the first line are: dark - deep
g. 'I' refer to the poet.
"And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
a. Why the poet has used the same line twice? (1)
b. Explain: Miles to go before I sleep. (2/3)
c. What does the sleep signifies in the poem? (1)
Answer:
The quoted lines are taken from the poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost.
a. The poet has repeated the last line to make a strong claim.
b. The repeated line “Miles to go before I sleep” is used in symbolic meaning. On the surface, it means the speaker has a long distance to travel before resting for the night. However, the “miles” stand for the many duties, responsibilities, and commitments he must complete, while “sleep” suggests the eternal sleep, or death. The poet reminds himself that before his final rest, he has to fulfil his obligations in life.
c. Here, in the poem, 'sleep' signifies the 'eternal sleep' or 'death'.
"He gives his harness bells a shake .........of easy wind and downy flake."
What does "He" refer to?
Answer: "He" refers to the speaker's horse.
Why does he give his bell a shake ?
Answer: The speaker's horse gave his bell a shake to ask his master if he has made some mistake by stopping at the woods. He found it strange and was confused as why his master has stopped in empty place where there is no farmhouse near to rest.
What are the sounds that the speaker hears in the woods?
Answer: In the wood, the speaker hears the sound of his horse's harness bells and apart from that the sound of the swapping wind and falling snowflakes.
What effect does the silence have on the speaker?
Answer: Silence creates a serene ambience that enchants the speaker and stops him from moving ahead to his destination.
What does the line "to ask if there is some mistake" mean?
Answer: The line means that the horse wanted to ask his master if he has committed some mistake by stopping at the woods. he was finding it strange and was confused as why his master is stopped at an isolated place where there is no farmhouse nearby to rest.
Why did the horse consider it a "mistake" to stop by woods? Explain its symbolic meaning.
Answer: This is because the woods are away from society and civilization and the speaker is getting his worldly responsibilities by indulging in sensual pleasures of nature.
"The woods are lovely, .................And miles to go before I sleep"
Why does the poet consider the woods as lovely, dark and deep?
Answer: The poet describes the woods as “lovely, dark and deep” because the woods covered in snow look enchanting and peaceful, offering a sense of calm and escape from daily life. At the same time, their darkness and depth suggest the unknown, the eternal rest, or even the temptation to forget worldly duties.
Why cant the speaker enjoy the natural scenery in the woods ?
Answer: the speaker can't enjoy the national scenery in the woods because he is reminded of the duties and responsibilities which he has towards himself and others he has to fulfil.
The speaker is talking about what promises ?
Answer: the speaker is talking about the duties and responsibilities which he has towards himself and others he needs to take care of many commitments and compulsions and before embracing a long sleep which is death he wants to fulfil those duties and responsibilities.
- "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" Questions and Answers
“He will not see me stopping here” – what does this expression mean? (1)
Answer: The expression ‘He will not see me stopping here’ means the owner of the woods living in the village will not see the poet stopping by the woods.
Why does the horse give his harness bells a shake? Explain. (3)
Answer: The poet, riding across the countryside, stops by snow-wrapped woods. The horse is accustomed to stopping at farmhouses, but on the present occasion, he finds it strange that though his master has stopped, there is no farmhouse nearby. Therefore, the horse gives his harness bells a shake as if to ask whether his master has stopped there by mistake.
What is ‘the only other sound’ besides that of harness bells?
Answer: The only other sound besides the harness bells is the sound of easily flowing wind and falling snow.
Where does the owner of the woods live?
Answers: The owner of the woods lives in a village.
‘He will not see me stopping here.’ Who is ‘He’ here?
Answer: Here ‘he’ is the owner of the woods.
Describe the woods.
Answer: Robert Frost gives a beautiful description of the woods. They are lovely, dark, and deep. The sight of the woods being gradually covered with snow is so fascinating that the poet would like to watch it a little longer. The woods are outside the village and their owner does not live here. The poet knows him. Woods that constitute the essence of the poem suggests perilous enchantment.
What is the theme of the poem?
Answer: The theme of the poem lies in the speaker’s delight in contemplating the woods filling up with snow seems to him to be an abandonment of his responsibilities when he realizes that he has an appointment to keep with death.
Explain the significance of the repetition of :
‘And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.’
Answer: The repetition of these lines carries deep significance, showing the poet’s firm resolve. He is aware that death marks the end of life, yet he cannot help but be charmed by the beauty of the woods. He reminds himself of his life’s promises, his responsibilities, and the journey to complete before finding rest. This repetition emphasizes both his determination and the intensity of his feelings.
Who is referred to as "his"?
Answer: The owner of the woods is referred to as "his".
Why does the speaker stop by the woods?
Answer: The speaker stops by the woods to observe the natural beauty and snowfall in the woods. He wanted to enjoy the calmness of the dark, deep, lovely woods.
Write the meaning of the word "woods"?
Answer: Woods is an area of land which is smaller than a forest and is covered with a thick growth of trees.
Why does the speaker think he knows the owner?
Answer: The speaker thinks he knows the owner of the woods because he might have seen him before. Since he travels a lot, he may have met the owner sometime in the past and remembers him a little.
To whom did the woods belong and why will he not be able to see the speaker stopping by in his woods?
Answer: The woods belong to a man who lives in the village. Since he stays away from the woods, he cannot see the speaker stopping there. Also, as it was a cold and dark night, the owner was most likely at home.
Do you think the speaker is happy standing in the woods?
Answer: Yes, the speaker is happy standing in the woods. Nobody is there to watch him, and he finds peace in his thoughts. He enjoys the natural beauty of the woods, the frozen lake, and the snow. For him, it feels like an escape from life’s responsibilities and a way to blend with nature.
What do the words "Woods" and "Village" symbolise?
Answer: In the poem, “Woods” symbolize peace, beauty, mystery, and even the attraction of eternal rest or death. They represent the temptation to escape from worldly duties. On the other hand, the “Village” stands for human society, responsibilities, and obligations of daily life that the poet cannot ignore.
Where and why did the horse stop ?
Answer: The horse stopped between the woods and the frozen lake because the speaker wanted to see the beauty of the woods.
Do you think the horse was in support of the speaker's decision to stop?
Answer: No, the horse was not in support of the speaker's decision because he was finding it strange to stop at a place where there is no farmhouse to rest. moreover he tried to awaken the speaker from his state of awe by shaking his harness bell.
What was poet's feeling in the last stanza?
Answer: In the last stanza, the speaker feels a strong conflict between enjoying the calm, beautiful woods and remembering his duties in life. The quiet forest seems like a tempting escape, but he knows he has many promises to keep, and responsibilities to fulfil. By repeating the final line, the poet shows his inner struggle and the importance of completing his journey before resting or rather before he dies.
Nature's Beauty in the poem.
Answer: The poet describe the beauty of woods with vivid imagery that is covered with white snow. The poet is captivated by it and stopped by the frozen lake to admire its beauty. Snowflakes are falling with the little wind on the coldest evening of the year. The woods are described as 'lovely, dark and deep' suggesting a sense of quite beauty and escape from worldly affair.
Why does the poet use the expressions “dark”, “deep”, “darkest”?
Answer – The poet uses words like dark, deep, and darkest to highlight the mysterious and serious side of the woods. On the surface, these words describe the forest covered with thick snow and shadow. At a deeper level, they symbolize death, the unknown, and the eternal rest that attracts the speaker. These expressions create a contrast between the beauty of nature and the responsibilities of life, adding depth and meaning to the poem.
How do the speaker, the owner of the woods and the horse react to the beauties of nature?
Answer – The speaker is deeply moved by the beauty of the snowy woods and wishes to pause and admire them. The owner of the woods, however, is absent; his concern would be practical, not emotional, as he owns the land but does not stop to enjoy it. The horse reacts with surprise at his master’s unusual halt in the quiet forest, as if questioning why they have stopped in such a lonely place. Thus, while the poet is enchanted by nature’s charm, the owner remains indifferent, and the horse shows only curiosity and impatience.
What picture of natural beauty do you get from the poem?
Answer – The poem presents a beautiful picture of nature in winter. The woods are calm, quiet, and filled with falling snow, creating an image of peace and mystery. The frozen lake, the soft snowfall, and the dark, deep forest together paint a serene yet enchanting scene. This natural beauty fascinates the speaker, offering him a moment of rest and escape from the busy world. Frost’s description makes the woods appear both lovely and thought-provoking, showing the charm of nature in its purest form.
In the final stanza, the speaker says that he is not yet ready to “sleep”. What has he to do before he can take rest?
Answer – In the final stanza, when the speaker says he is not yet ready to sleep, he means that before taking rest he has many duties and responsibilities to fulfil. On the surface, it suggests that he has not yet reached his destination, but on a deeper level, it reflects the journey of human life. The miles ahead symbolize the tasks, goals, and promises that every person must complete, while sleep stands for death, the ultimate rest. The peaceful woods tempt him to stop and escape from responsibilities, but he reminds himself that he cannot do so until his obligations to society, family, and himself are met. The repetition of the final line emphasizes his determination to continue the journey of life before embracing eternal rest.
What does the expression, “The darkest evening of the year”, suggest ? Does it mean ‘the longest night of the year’ or ‘ the most depressing state of his mind’ ? Give a reasoned answer.
Answer – It means ‘the longest night of the year’ as it happened to be winter solstice or peak winter in the location mentioned in the poem. The daytime gets shorter in the winters for the scantiness of sun rays and the period of night time grows.
A four-line stanza is called a quatrain. How many quatrains are there in the poem?
Answer – The poem contains sixteen lines. Sixteen divided by four gives four. So there are four quatrains in the poem.
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. The poet used the word 'sleep' to symbolise that are 'eternal sleep', 'little horse' stands for speaker's common sense or the reminder of his responsibility, 'farmhouse' signifies the civilization society our people which contrasts the woods.
What is the setting of the poem where the speaker stops and narrates his situation?
Answer: The setting where the speaker stops and narrates his situation is middle of a wood and frozen lake in a cold wintry night.
What is the significance of the last stanza in the poem? (5)
Answer: The last stanza holds great significance as it highlights the main message of the poem. The speaker is deeply attracted to the peaceful beauty of the snowy woods, which seem to offer rest and escape. Yet, he realizes that he cannot remain there because he has many duties, promises, and responsibilities to fulfil in life. The repeated line at the end gives a strong effect, showing his determination to complete his journey before resting. It also suggests a deeper meaning — that how he wants to finish life’s obligations before embracing the final rest, which is death.
Theme of Life v/s Death in 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening'.
Answer: In the poem, the woods symbolize death. The darkness, frozen lake, and snow suggest silence, mystery, and the cold force of mortality. The poet accepts that death is inevitable, but he expresses that he is not yet ready to die. In the final stanza he chooses life over death, reminding himself of his promises and duties yet to be fulfilled. The repeated line shows his determination to live on, complete his responsibilities, and face life’s struggles with courage rather than escape into death.
Contrast between society and the natural world (Duty vs Individual Desire)
Answer: The poem shows a clear contrast between the world of nature and human society. Nature is described as calm, peaceful, and tempting, offering the speaker freedom and rest away from daily life. It seems to lure him with its beauty and silence, far removed from any signs of civilization. On the other hand, society represents duties, responsibilities, and obligations that bind an individual. The speaker feels torn between his desire to remain in the quiet woods and his promises to fulfil towards others. In this way, the poem reflects the broader conflict between personal desires and social responsibilities, finally emphasizing the importance of duty over individual longing.
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