Complete Text of the Poem
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
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 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.
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.
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
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.
An Introduction of the Poem
In Robert Frost's literary piece entitled "A Roadside Stand," he dissects a society plagued with inconsistencies, particularly the glaring gap between the wealthy and poor. This economic disparity stems from the unfair allocation of resources, which has left the less fortunate in dire straits. Frost's poem explicitly portrays the struggles of the impoverished and the complexities of their existence. Moreover, it delves into the tragic reality that uneven urban development has caused feelings of anguish and hopelessness among individuals in rural areas.
Theme - A Roadside Stand
The poem "A Roadside Stand" depicts the plight of low-income individuals who struggle tirelessly but see no progress in their lives. The artist expresses anguish at their misery and seeks help and relief for them, hoping that someone will selflessly work towards their rehabilitation and not exploit them. The poem highlights the stark contrast between the wealthy and the poor with unfeeling clarity, emphasizing that a nation's economic prosperity depends on the fair development of both rural and urban areas.
The roadside stand serves as a symbol of the struggles faced by those living in poverty, and the writer draws attention to the indifference of city dwellers towards their plight. The artist relates to these disadvantaged individuals and shows great empathy for them, which is evident in the powerful description of the roadside sheds. These individuals have nothing to rely on but the occasional passing vehicle to stop and buy their products, but most cars pass by without stopping or offering any help.
Summary - A Roadside Stand by Robert Frost
Robert Frost was an acclaimed American poet in the 12th century whose works centred around various characters and their experiences. He delved into human tragedies and fears, exploring his own reactions to such situations and how he carried his burdens. One of his notable works is the poem "A Roadside Stand," which sheds light on the plight of impoverished individuals who struggle to make a living. Frost depicts their situation with pitiless clarity and compassion, highlighting how city dwellers often ignore their struggles.
In the poem, Frost implores readers to help these hardworking individuals who receive little in return for their efforts. He laments the distressing reality of poverty and how indifferent people can be towards those who suffer from it. The roadside sellers hope that the city people who pass by their stands will show them some kindness by buying their products, but often, they are met with complaints or requests for directions.
Despite this, Frost believes that there are those who would selflessly help the poor and not exploit them. He underscores the significant disparities between the rich and the poor, emphasizing that a nation's progress depends on the equitable development of both rural and urban areas.
In conclusion, Frost's poem is a poignant depiction of the struggles faced by the underprivileged community. It presents a clear picture of the contrast between the lives of those who enjoy comfort and luxury and those who face harsh realities.
Critical Analysis of the Poem - A Roadside Stand by Rober Frost
"A Roadside Stand" first appeared in the June 1936 issue of Atlantic Monthly and was later included in A Further Range with the subtitle "On Being Put out of Our Misery." Frost considered calling the poem "Euthanasia" at one point (Thompson, 439).
The poem is another dispute over modernization. Frost resists current encroachment as he does in other poems, such as "Lines Written in Dejection on the Eve of Great Success" about the US space program or "The Line-Gang" about the telephone.
The roadside stand symbolizes a dwindling past and signifies a decline in agricultural prosperity. The stand is a person selling berries, pleading with passing drivers to make a purchase. The poem begins with the "little new shed" and cars speeding by. The speaker hopes that some "of the cash, whose flow supports / The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint" will be spent at the stand. The comparison of fueling the growth of a city to keeping a flower from withering is fitting, as it shows that the speaker, a farmer, draws analogies to nature, not industry, to make his points.
The speaker describes the "false alarms," when people use the pullout to turn their car around, ask for directions, or ask to buy a gallon of gas, even though there is no gas for sale. The "wooden quarts" contain only wild berries and "crook-necked golden squash with silver warts."
The "polished traffic" of nonresidents only minimally and rather dismissively notices the unrefined stand signs, "with N turned wrong and S turned wrong," and views them as marring the otherwise pastoral landscape. The "squeal of brakes" and the "plow[ed] up grass" from city folk who have taken a wrong turn and who use the yard "to back and turn around" also cause the people at the stand to be annoyed by the disruptions and "marring" of their landscape that does not bring sales. The loss of sales, no matter how insignificant the purchases may be to city folk, has a significant impact on a farmer's way of life. The question of whether it is the stand or the traffic that mars the landscape highlights the difference in perspective between city and country people.
The folks "far from the city" are forced to become beggars in this contrast between city and rural life because they are made to "ask for some city money to feel in hand." The "party in power" is identified as responsible for this decline in a farmer's lifestyle and keeping from them the promise of affluence and glamour as portrayed by Hollywood.
In the second stanza, the speaker bemoans that people will live in larger and larger places, places that are "in villages next to theater and store." He imagines the consequences of corralling people in such a way, arguing that it will make everyone lazy because people will not have to think for themselves. The "good-doers" and "beneficent beasts of prey" are satirically identified as the responsible party.
The city is the source of financial stability, and the country is largely dependent on the city folk to survive. This dependence causes significant misery and disappointment in the last stanza. The speaker can "hardly bear / The thought of so much childish longing in vain" for a car to stop. He concludes that in "the country scale of gain, / The requisite lift of spirit has never been found" and resolves that he would be relieved to "put these people at one stroke out of their pain," hence the consideration of "Euthanasia" as a title. Then the speaker catches himself and wonders what it would be like if someone should choose to do the same.
Think it Out
Q1. The city folk who drove through the countryside hardly paid any heed to the roadside stand or to the people who ran it. If at all they did, it was to complain. Which lines bring this out? What was their complaint about?
The lines that bring out the city folk's disregard for the roadside stand and its people are:
"The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,
Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts
At having the landscape marred with the artless paint
Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong"
The city folk's complaint was about the signs on the roadside stand, which they thought were artless and marred the landscape. They were not interested in the products being sold or the people running the stand, but rather in the aesthetics of the area.
Q2. What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand?
The folk who had put up the roadside stand were asking for some money, not for a dole of bread, but for some of the money flow that supports the flower of cities from sinking and withering faint. They wanted some of the city money to feel in hand, to try if it would not make their being expand and give them the life of the moving-pictures’ promise that the party in power is said to be keeping from them. In other words, they were pleading for some financial support from the city people who pass by their stand.
Q3. The government and other social service agencies appear to help the poor rural people but actually do them no good. Pick out the words and phrases that the poet uses to show their double standards.
The following words and phrases are used by the poet to show the double standards of the government and social service agencies towards the poor rural people:
"greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey"
"enforcing benefits that are calculated to soothe them out of their wits"
"destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way"
"pitiful kin"
"mercifully gathered in"
"to live in villages, next to the theatre and the store"
"where they won’t have to think for themselves anymore"
"the party in power is said to be keeping from us"
Q4. What is the ‘childish longing’ that the poet refers to? Why is it ‘vain’?
The "childish longing" referred to by the poet is the hope and expectation of the rural people who run the roadside stand that a passing car will stop and buy their products or at least inquire about them. The poet describes this longing as "childish" because it is naive and innocent, like a child's hope for something good to happen. However, the poet also suggests that this longing is "vain" because it is unlikely to be fulfilled. The passing cars are more interested in their own destinations and do not have the time or inclination to stop and buy from the roadside stand. Additionally, the poet suggests that even if the rural people did manage to sell their products, it would not significantly improve their lives, as they are still subject to the exploitation of the government and other social service agencies.
Q5. Which lines tell us about the insufferable pain that the poet feels at the thought of the plight of the rural poor?
The lines that express the insufferable pain that the poet feels at the thought of the plight of the rural poor are:
"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"
These lines convey the poet's empathy towards the rural poor, who long for a better life, but are unable to achieve it due to the lack of resources and opportunities. The poet feels deeply saddened by their situation and is overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness.
Talk About It
Q1. The economic well-being of a country depends on a balanced development of the villages and the cities. Discuss.
The poem "A Roadside Stand" by Robert Frost brings out the theme of the economic imbalance between the rural and urban areas. The poem highlights the fact that the economic well-being of a country depends on a balanced development of the villages and the cities.
The roadside stand is a symbol of rural poverty and economic backwardness. The people who run it are poor farmers who are struggling to make ends meet. They plead for some money from the city, which would help them to expand their business and improve their standard of living. However, the city people hardly pay any attention to their plea. They view the rural areas and their people as inferior and are unwilling to help them.
The government and other social service agencies also do not seem to be doing enough to help the rural poor. They appear to be offering help, but it is not enough to bring about any significant change. The poet shows the double standards of these agencies by using words like "pitiful kin" and "beneficent beasts of prey" to describe them.
The poem also brings out the fact that the rural poor have a longing for a better life, which they cannot achieve on their own. They are waiting for someone to help them, but their longing is in vain. The poet uses the phrase "childish longing" to describe their aspirations. The fact that their longing is "childish" implies that it is naive and unrealistic.
The pain that the poet feels at the thought of the plight of the rural poor is insufferable. He describes it as a "great relief" to put these people out of their pain. However, he immediately realizes the irony of his statement and wonders how he would feel if someone were to offer him relief in the same way.
FAQs on A Roadside Stand
Q1. Which Words and Phrases in the Poem A Roadside Stand Tell Us about the Double Standards of Government and Social Services?
ANSWER:
The author criticizes the double standards of the government and other social welfare organizations, who claim to uplift the lifestyle of poor farmers and show them the positive side of life. However, when it's time to fulfill their promise, they either ignore them or seek to serve their own interests. The poet refers to them as "selfish do-gooders" and "benevolent predators" who "swarm over their lives". The poet highlights that these greedy individuals make calculated and well-planned moves, which the honest and naive farmers fall prey to. These humble and straightforward farmers are robbed of their peace of mind by these shrewd individuals.
Q2. How does the Poet Express his Helplessness towards the individuals who Set Up a Roadside Stand?
ANSWER:
The poet expresses his helplessness towards the individuals who set up a roadside stand by portraying them as powerful and influential. He describes them as "men who sell pink and purple ices" who have "castles with turrets and moats" and "money to spend on fine food and silk." Meanwhile, the people who are affected by their actions are depicted as helpless and powerless. The poet says that "we cannot keep them from moving in next door" and that "we cannot teach them to be honest or kind." The tone of the poem is one of resignation and defeat, as the poet recognizes that he cannot change the situation and that the powerful will continue to exploit the weak.
Q3. Why were the sellers hoping to get money?
ANSWER:
The poem does not explicitly mention why the sellers were hoping to get money. However, it is implied that they were hoping to make a profit by selling their goods on the roadside. The poem suggests that these sellers were poor and had not experienced much financial success, and that they were vulnerable to exploitation by those who sought to take advantage of their situation.
Q4. What were the words/lines used by the poet to describe the Government, and what did he say about it?
ANSWER:
Frost employed phrases such as 'greedy good-doers', 'beneficent beasts of prey', and 'swarm over their lives enforcing benefits, that are calculated to soothe them out of their wits' in his poem to describe the actions of the government and social service agencies towards the impoverished rural individuals who struggle to make a living. He utilized these lines to illustrate how these entities appear to offer assistance but do not provide any tangible help in reality. The poet highlights the long-standing criticism of charity, which suggests that wealthy individuals rob the poor of meaningful work and force them into a life of misery. Frost also emphasizes how the impoverished individuals cannot sleep peacefully after a hard day's work due to their hardships. He suggests that the government can make advancements to benefit such communities, which would ultimately benefit the country as a whole.
Q5. The poet uses the term ‘childish longing’ and says that it is in vain. Explain.
ANSWER:
The term "childish longing" in the context of the poem refers to the desire or longing for a simpler, easier life free from the struggles and challenges of poverty. The poet suggests that this longing is "childish" because it is a naive and unrealistic hope that ignores the harsh realities of life. The use of the term "in vain" suggests that the poet believes this longing is futile and ultimately unattainable. Despite their yearning for a better life, the poor farmers in the poem are unable to escape the harsh realities of poverty and the greed of those who exploit them. The poet suggests that only meaningful and concrete actions by the government and social service agencies can truly make a difference in the lives of these impoverished individuals, rather than empty promises or the false hope of a better life through a childish longing.
Q6. What attitudes do the city dwellers or the people who stop by have about the roadside seller?
ANSWER:
The city dwellers are often insensitive to the plight of the countryside sellers and may not fully understand the challenges that these individuals face. When they stop near the stalls, it is often to complain or ask for directions rather than to appreciate the goods being sold. The city dwellers may become annoyed with the sellers, criticizing their signage or the way they are impacting the landscape. In addition, they may try to take advantage of the sellers for their own benefit by offering insincere acts of charity.
FAQs on the poem 'A Roadside Stand'
What is the theme of 'A Roadside Stand'?
The theme of the poem is the struggle and helplessness of rural people who are forced to sell their goods on the roadside to make a living, and the indifference and exploitation they face from city dwellers and government agencies.
What is the tone of the poem?
The tone of the poem is critical and melancholic, as the poet expresses his frustration and sympathy towards the rural sellers and his disappointment with the government and society that fail to support them.
What literary devices does Frost use in the poem?
Frost uses several literary devices in the poem, such as metaphor (e.g., 'beneficent beast of prey'), personification (e.g., 'the roadside flowers, too wet for the bee'), imagery (e.g., 'the saddest phalanx of herds / That ever drooped behind'), alliteration (e.g., 'childish longing'), and repetition (e.g., 'And never get back home at all').
What is the significance of the title 'A Roadside Stand'?
The title refers to the makeshift stalls set up by rural sellers on the side of the road to sell their goods, which symbolize their struggle to make ends meet and their vulnerability to exploitation and neglect.
What is the social and political context of the poem?
The poem was written in the 1930s during the Great Depression, a time of economic hardship and social upheaval in the United States. Frost was known for his critique of the government and society that failed to address the needs of the poor and marginalized, and 'A Roadside Stand' reflects his concern for the plight of rural people and his call for social and economic justice.
