Translated & explained in Assamese and questions' answers prepared by Mr. Rupjyoti Goswami, PGT (English)
সৰু পুৰণি ঘৰটো সম্প্ৰসাৰণ (The little old house was out) কৰি সন্মুখৰ ৰাস্তাটোৰ নিচেই কাষত (at the edge of the road) এটা সৰু দোকান বহুওৱা হৈছিল। ইয়াৰ কাষেদি দ্ৰুত গতিত যান বাহনবোৰ পাৰ হৈ গৈছিল (traffic sped)।দোকানখনৰ মালিকে কাষেৰে পাৰ হৈ যোৱা গাড়ীবোৰৰ মালিকসকলক তেওঁৰ ক্ষুদ্ৰ দোকানখনৰ পৰা কিবা এটা কিনিবলৈ কাতৰভাবে অনুৰোধ জনাইছিল (pathetically pled)। অৱশ্যে এইটো কোৱা উচিত ন'হব যে (It would not be fair to say) তেওঁ ভিক্ষা বা জীৱনধাৰণৰ বাবে সাহাৰ্য্য হিচাপে বস্তু বা উপহাৰ (a dole of bread) বিচাৰিছিল।কিন্তু তেওঁ কেবল বিনিময়হে কৰিব বিচাৰিছিল। তেওঁ চহৰৰ সেই ধনৰ কিছু অংশ (some of the city money) বিচাৰিছিল, যাৰ জৰিয়তে চহৰৰ বাসিন্দাসকলে এক আৰামদায়ক আৰু বিলাসী জীৱন (flower of the cities--the comfortable and luxurious lifestyle of the people in the cities)যাপন কৰে আৰু যি ধনে চহৰীয়া জীৱনক অধোগতি হোৱা আৰু মৰহি নষ্ট (withering faint)হোৱাৰ পৰা বচাই ৰাখে।
পলিছ কৰাৰ ফলত মসৃণ আৰু চিকচিকীয়া হৈ থকা চহৰৰ গাড়ীবিলাক (the polished traffic) দোকানখনৰ কাষেৰে পাৰ হৈ গৈছিল আৰু গাড়ীবোৰত বহি যোৱা মালিকসকলৰ মন আৰু দৃষ্টি তেওঁলোকৰ সন্মুখৰ লক্ষ্যস্থানৰ প্ৰতি কেন্দ্ৰীভূত আছিল (with a mind ahead)। বা যদিও ক্ষন্তেক সময় তেওঁলোকে দোকানখনৰ ফালে চাইছিল (or even aside for a moment), তেতিয়া তেওঁলোক বিৰক্ত হৈ পৰিছিল (out of sorts--irritated), কাৰন দোকানখনৰ কাষত এনে কিছুমান চাইনব'ৰ্ড আৰি থোৱা আছিল য'ত চিত্ৰকলা বা সুকুমাৰ কলাৰ নামমাত্ৰ চিনমোকামো নাছিল (artless paint)। দিক নিৰ্দেশক N আৰু S আখৰটোৰ ভূল ব্যৱহাৰৰ ফলত চৌপাশৰ মনোৰম দৃশ্যপটটো কুৎসিৎ হৈ পৰিছিল (landscape marred with artless paint)। ৰাস্তাৰ কাষৰ সৰু দোকানখনৰ নেতিবাচক দিশবোৰেতেওঁলোকক ইমানেই ব্যতিব্যস্ত কৰিছিল যে দোকানখনত বিক্ৰীৰ বাবে কাঠৰ পাত্ৰত থোৱা বনৰীয়া জামু (wild berries in wooden quarts) আৰু চিলভাৰ বাচনত ৰখা বেকা ডিঙিৰ সোনালী বৰণৰ স্কোৱাচত (crook-necked golden squash with silver warts) তেওঁলোকৰ চকু পৰা নাছিল। চৌপাশে বিস্তৃত পৰ্বতটোৰ মনোৰম দৃশ্যবোৰ চাবলৈও তেওঁলোকে পাহৰি গৈছিল।সেই মূহুৰ্তত কবিয়ে দোকানখনৰ মালিকৰ হৈ আক্ষেপ প্ৰকাশ কৰি প্ৰশ্ন কৰিছে আৰু খঙেৰে কৈছে যে তেওঁলোকৰ ইমান ধন সম্পত্তি থকা স্বত্তেও যদি তেওঁলোক ইমান স্বাৰ্থপৰ (mean) হ'ব বিচাৰে, তেন্তে সেই ধন সঞ্চয় কৰি কি লাভ হ'ব।চাইনব'ৰ্ডবিলাক বেয়া হোৱাৰ বাবে চৌপাশৰ দৃশ্যপটটোৰ যি ক্ষতি হৈছে, সেই বিষয়ে তেওঁৰ একো আপত্তি কৰিবলগীয়া নাই (The hurt to the scenery wouldn't be my complaint)। কিন্তু চহৰৰ মানুহবোৰে ৰাস্তাত বস্তু কিনিব বুলি যি বিশ্বাসত তেওঁ দোকানখন খুলিছিল, সেই আশা ধুলিসাৎ হোৱাৰ বাবে তেওঁ যি দুখ পাইছে, সেয়াটো তেওঁ ব্যক্ত কৰা নাই (trusting sorrow of what is unsaid)। চহৰৰ পৰা বহু দূৰত বনোৱা এই ৰাস্তাৰ কাষৰ দোকানখনৰ মালিকে অলপ নগৰীয়া ধন আৰ্জন কৰিব বিচাৰিছে আৰু চাব বিচাৰিছে যে এই ধনে তেওঁলোকক আৰ্থিক ভাৱে ইমান আঢ্যৱন্ত বনাব পাৰিবনেকি (To try if it will not make our being expand), যাৰ জোৰত তেওঁলোকে চিনেমাত দেখা সেই বিলাসী আৰু আৰামদায়ক জীৱন যাপন কৰিবলৈ সক্ষম হ'ব (give us the life of the moving- picture's promise)। তেওঁলোকে সেই জীৱনশৈলীৰে থাকিবলৈ সক্ষম হ'বনেকি, যিটো দিয়াৰ প্ৰতিশ্ৰুতি নিৰ্বাচনৰ পূৰ্বে ৰাজনৈতিক নেতাসকলে দিছিল, কিন্তু আজিও তেওঁলোকে সেইটো পালন কৰিব পৰা নাই (that the party in power is said to be keeping from us)।
এটা খবৰ বিয়পি পৰিছে যে দৰিদ্ৰতাত ভাৰাক্ৰান্ত এই দূৰ্ভগীয়া পৰিয়ালবিলাকৰ ৰাস্তাৰ কাষৰ মাটিবিলাক কোনো লুভীয়া কিন্তু পৰোপকাৰী (greedy good-doers) লোকে কিনিব আৰু আৰু তেওলোকক গ্ৰামাঞ্চলত মানবীয়তাৰ খাতিৰত ওচৰা ওচৰিকৈ সংস্থাপন দিব।তেওঁলোকক এনেকুৱা ঠাইত বহুওৱা হ'ব য'ত ৰংগমঞ্চ, চলচ্চিত্ৰগৃহ আৰু সুন্দৰ সুন্দৰ দোকান পোহাৰ থাকিব (next to the theatre and the store)। সেইস্থানত তেওঁলোকে বিনাকষ্টত থাকিব পাৰিব আৰু নিজৰ ভবিষ্যতৰ বাবে কোনো দু:চিন্তা বা আশংকা কৰাৰ প্ৰয়োজন ন'হ'ব (they won't have to think for themselves any more)। কিন্তু এই লুভীয়া পৰোপকাৰী ব্যক্তিসকলক কবিয়ে সুযোগসন্ধানী চিকাৰী জন্তুৰ (beneficent beasts of prey) লগত তুলনা কৰি কৈছে যে তেওঁলোকে মুনাফা অৰ্জনৰ ন্যস্ত স্বাৰ্থৰ বাবে জনকল্যাণ কৰাৰ অভিনয় কৰিব আৰু সহজ সৰল গাওঁৰ মানুহবোৰক ফুচুলাই তেওঁলোকক ধনলাভৰ মিছা আশা দেখুৱাব।পোনপ্ৰথমে তেওঁলোকক পৰিশ্ৰম নকৰাকৈ গোটেই দিনত শুই বহি খাই এলেহুৱা হ'বলৈ শিকাব (by teaching them how to sleep they sleep all day) আৰু তাৰপাছত এনেকুৱা এটা সময় আহিব যেতিয়া তেওঁলোকে ৰাতি টোপনি ক্ষতি কৰি জীৱিকা আৰ্জন কৰিবলৈ বাধ্য হ'ব (destroy their sleeping at night)। এইটো এটা অতি পুৰণি পদ্ধতি (the ancient way) যাৰ যোগেদি গাওঁৰ দুখীয়া লোকসকলক চহৰত কাম কৰা পৰিবেশৰ লগত নিজকে খাপ খুওৱাবলৈ বাধ্য কৰাই মালিকশ্ৰেণীৰ আৰ্থিক উন্নতিৰ পথ প্ৰশস্ত কৰা হয়।
মাজে সময়ে মোৰ অনুভৱ হয় (Sometimes I feel myself), দোকানখনৰ মালিকজনে বৃথা"ল'ৰামতীয়া বাসনা"(childish longing in vain) ৰ অধীন হৈ তেওঁৰ দোকানখনৰ বস্তু বিক্ৰী কৰাৰ যি আশা পালি আছে সেয়া সহ্য কৰাৰ ক্ষমতা যেন মোৰ নাই (I can hardly bear)। গোটেই দিনটো খোলা খিৰিকীৰ ওচৰত ৰৈ গাড়ী এখনৰ ব্ৰেক মৰাৰ শব্দ, গাড়ী এখন দোকানৰ কাষত ৰোৱাৰ বাবে প্ৰাৰ্থনা কৰাৰ যি দুখ, সেয়া মই যেন সহ্য কৰিব পৰা নাই।ৰাস্তাইদি পাৰ হৈ যোৱা হাজাৰ হাজাৰ গাড়ীৰ স্বাৰ্থপৰ হৃদয়হীন মালিকসকলৰ (the thousand selfish cars that pass) কাৰোৱেই এবাৰ হ'লেও খেতিয়কজনৰ সামগ্ৰীবোৰৰ দাম সুধিবলৈ আহৰি নাই। আৰু এখন গাড়ী ৰৈছিল, কিন্তু গাড়ীখন ঘূৰাবলৈ খেতিয়কজনৰ চোতালখন ব্যৱহাৰ কৰি ঘাহবোৰ বিকৃত কৰি (only to plow up grass, In using the yard to back and turn around) থৈহে গৈছিল। আৰু এখন গাড়ী ৰৈছিল, কিন্তু ৰাস্তাটোৰে ক'ত ওলাবগৈ পাৰি সেইটো সুধিবৰ বাবেহে (to ask the way to where it was bound)। আৰু এখন গাড়ীৰ মালিকে তেওঁলোকে এক গেলন পেট্ৰ'ল (a gallon of gas) বেচিব পাৰিব নেকি সুধিছিল। মই খঙেৰে কৈছিলোঁ, তেওঁলোকে নোৱাৰে, তেওঁলোকে পেট্ৰল নাৰাখে, দ্ৰাইভাৰে দেখা নাছিল নেকি? (They couldn't (this crossly); they had none, didn't it see?)
নাই, গাঁৱৰ মানুহৰ ধন সম্পদত লাভ আহৰনৰ সম্ভাৱনা নাই আৰু গাৱঁৰ ধনেৰে জীৱনধাৰনৰ মানদণ্ড উন্নত কৰি উৎসাহ উদ্দীপনা দিব পৰা সামৰ্থ্য পোৱা ন'গল (the requisite lift of spirit has never been found)। গাঁৱৰ ৰাইজৰ কন্ঠইও (voice of the country) সেই আপত্তিকে কৰা যেন লাগে।গাঁৱৰ এই দৰিদ্ৰ জনসাধাৰণৰ দুখ কষ্ট মৰ্মবেদনা একেবাৰে মষিমূৰ কৰি তেওঁলোকক এটা মহান উপশম দিয়াৰ যি আনন্দ---, মই তাৰ কল্পনা নকৰাকৈয়ো নোৱাৰো।আৰু তাৰপাছত পাছদিনা যেতিয়া মই মানসিক ভাৰসাম্যতা ঘূৰাই পাই বাস্তৱৰ সন্মুখীন হওঁ (as I come back into the sane), মই ভাবি আচৰিত হও (I wonder) মই কেনেকৈ আপোনালোকক মোৰ ওচৰলৈ আহিলে ভাল পাম আৰু কেনেকৈ মোৰ এই কষ্ট দুৰ কৰাত আপোনালোকে সহায়ৰ হাত আগবঢ়াব (offer to put me gently out of my pain)।
Poetic Devices used in this poem:-
১. Oxymoron: এটা বাক্যত বা বাক্যাংশত দুটা স্ববিৰোধী শব্দৰ ব্যৱহাৰ হ'লে তাক oxymoron বুলি কোৱা হয়।যেনে-"beneficent beasts of prey","greedy good-doers"।
২) Personification: কোনো নিৰ্জীৱ বস্তু বা পদাৰ্থক জীৱন্ত ৰূপত উপস্থাপন কৰিবলৈ যেতিয়া মানবীয় গুনেৰে বিভূষিত কৰা হয় বা মানুহৰ দৰে আচৰন কৰা দেখুওৱা হয় তাক Personification বুলি কোৱা হয়।দোকানখন এটা নিৰ্জীৱ বস্ত,কিন্তু নিম্নলিখিত বাক্যটোত দোকানখনে মানুহবোৰক অনুৰোধ কৰা দেখুওৱা হৈছে। সেয়েহে ই Personification অন্তৰ্গত।
"A roadside stand that too pathetically pled", "The sadness that lurks near the open window there"
৩) Alliteration: যেতিয়া কবিতাৰ কোনো শাৰীত একাদিক্ৰমে কেইবাটাও শব্দৰ প্ৰথম আখৰটো একে হয়, তেতিয়া তাক Alliteration বুলি কোৱা হয়। অৱশ্যে এক অন্তৰালত আখৰ বা উচ্চাৰণ একে হ'লেও ইয়াক alliteration বুলি কোৱা হয়।যেনে-- "beneficent beasts", "greedy good-doers" etc.
Questions' Answers:-
1. Why do the people who run the roadside stand wait for the squeal of brakes so eagerly?
Ans:-
The "squealing of brakes which indicates the arrival of a car, is a
source of joy for the people running the roadside stand. They become
optimistic about selling their items to the rich city-folk traveling by
their cars. They are delighted at the prospect of earning some money.
2. Explain: "soothe them out of them wits" with reference to the poem The Roadside Stand'. Ans:- The powerful men deceive the country folk with fake promises of bringing about upliftment of their life and living conditions. These innocent rural people feel soothed and satisfied under the influence of their promises. They are too simple to doubt their crookedness and selfishness.
3. Why does Robert Frost sympathize with the rural poor?
Ans:- Robert Frost sympathies with the rural poor because the plight of the rural poor who are ignored and neglected by the rich politicians,is really agonizing
and unbearable The Government remains unaware of the need to improve their material conditions. They take undue advantage of their condition by making false promises and then exploit them to fulfill their vested interests.
4. What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand?
Ans:- The folk who had put up the roadside stand pleaded the city dwellers to stop and buy their items as they wanted to earn some extra money for a decent living. Their plea was to the rich city people traveling by their cars. They wanted them to stop there and buy some goods from them. The money earned from the rich people would help them to lead a better life.
5. What is the 'childish longing' of the folk who had put up the roadside stand? Why is it 'in vain'?
2. Explain: "soothe them out of them wits" with reference to the poem The Roadside Stand'. Ans:- The powerful men deceive the country folk with fake promises of bringing about upliftment of their life and living conditions. These innocent rural people feel soothed and satisfied under the influence of their promises. They are too simple to doubt their crookedness and selfishness.
3. Why does Robert Frost sympathize with the rural poor?
Ans:- Robert Frost sympathies with the rural poor because the plight of the rural poor who are ignored and neglected by the rich politicians,is really agonizing
and unbearable The Government remains unaware of the need to improve their material conditions. They take undue advantage of their condition by making false promises and then exploit them to fulfill their vested interests.
4. What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand?
Ans:- The folk who had put up the roadside stand pleaded the city dwellers to stop and buy their items as they wanted to earn some extra money for a decent living. Their plea was to the rich city people traveling by their cars. They wanted them to stop there and buy some goods from them. The money earned from the rich people would help them to lead a better life.
5. What is the 'childish longing' of the folk who had put up the roadside stand? Why is it 'in vain'?
Ans:- The 'childish longing', refers to the dreams, desires and
child-like longing of the rural folk for a better life. They want to
build this life on their income from the city dwellers. Their longing
goes in vain because the city folk are not willing to help them and so
their childish longing suffers a setback.
6. Why didn't the polished traffic' stop at the roadside stand?
Ans:- The 'polished traffic' overlooked the roadside stand and did not stop there as their mind was preoccupied only with a desire to reach their destination. Moreover, the unattractive ambience of the stand, its artless interior and paint, dissuaded them from stopping there.
7. What news in the poem 'A Roadside Stand' is making its round in the village?
Ans:-The news making its round in the village is about the rehabilitation of the poor, rural people. They are supposed to be resettled in the villages, next to the theatre and the store. They will live a life free from worry about themselves in close proximity to the cities.
8. Why do people at the roadside stand ask for city money?
Ans:- The rural people running the roadside stand are poor and underprivileged unlike the people of the city. Therefore, they ask for city money to lead a life of happiness and prosperity. This much-sought after city money can provide them the life that had been promised to them by the party in power.
9. Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:
"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." HS-2024
a. Where was the new shed put up? What was its purpose?
b. Why does the poet use the word 'pathetic'?
c. Explain: 'too pathetically pled'
d.Who are referred to as the flower of cities'?
Ans:- a. The new shed was put up at one side of the road by extending a little house. It was set up to attract passersby to buy their items.
b. The poet uses the word 'pathetic' to emphasize the fact that the condition of the shed presented a rather pitiable sight.
c. The act of putting up the shed was a pathetic sight. The owner's desperate need of money under any circumstance regardless of the indifference shown by the rich city folks was really pitiable and a humiliating experience.
d. 'The flower of the cities' here refers to the rich and prosperous city-dwellers capable of buying the best things.
10. "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,"
a. What does the poet mean by 'with a mind ahead?
b.What are N and S signs?
c. Why have these sings turned wrong?
Ans:- a. The phrase 'with a mind ahead' suggests that the people who pass the roadside stand in their polished cars can ignore the roadside stand as their mind is preoccupied with thoughts on their destination.
b. The N and S signs stand for the North and the South direction.
c. These signs have turned wrong because they have been painted in the wrong way and so these signboards are wrongly presented.
6. Why didn't the polished traffic' stop at the roadside stand?
Ans:- The 'polished traffic' overlooked the roadside stand and did not stop there as their mind was preoccupied only with a desire to reach their destination. Moreover, the unattractive ambience of the stand, its artless interior and paint, dissuaded them from stopping there.
7. What news in the poem 'A Roadside Stand' is making its round in the village?
Ans:-The news making its round in the village is about the rehabilitation of the poor, rural people. They are supposed to be resettled in the villages, next to the theatre and the store. They will live a life free from worry about themselves in close proximity to the cities.
8. Why do people at the roadside stand ask for city money?
Ans:- The rural people running the roadside stand are poor and underprivileged unlike the people of the city. Therefore, they ask for city money to lead a life of happiness and prosperity. This much-sought after city money can provide them the life that had been promised to them by the party in power.
9. Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:
"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." HS-2024
a. Where was the new shed put up? What was its purpose?
b. Why does the poet use the word 'pathetic'?
c. Explain: 'too pathetically pled'
d.Who are referred to as the flower of cities'?
Ans:- a. The new shed was put up at one side of the road by extending a little house. It was set up to attract passersby to buy their items.
b. The poet uses the word 'pathetic' to emphasize the fact that the condition of the shed presented a rather pitiable sight.
c. The act of putting up the shed was a pathetic sight. The owner's desperate need of money under any circumstance regardless of the indifference shown by the rich city folks was really pitiable and a humiliating experience.
d. 'The flower of the cities' here refers to the rich and prosperous city-dwellers capable of buying the best things.
10. "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,"
a. What does the poet mean by 'with a mind ahead?
b.What are N and S signs?
c. Why have these sings turned wrong?
Ans:- a. The phrase 'with a mind ahead' suggests that the people who pass the roadside stand in their polished cars can ignore the roadside stand as their mind is preoccupied with thoughts on their destination.
b. The N and S signs stand for the North and the South direction.
c. These signs have turned wrong because they have been painted in the wrong way and so these signboards are wrongly presented.
11. "Sometimes I feel myself
.... of a stopping war." HS-2020
i. what is the childish longing that the poet refers to? Why is it vain? 1+1=2
Ans:- The childish longing" that the poet refers to, is the desire of the roadside stand owner to have some customers for buying his commodities.
It is in vain because no one seems to be interested in stopping near his stand.
ii. Who waits near the open window? 1
Ans:- The owner of the roadside stand waits near the open window.
iii. What does the person waiting near the open window pray for? 1
Ans:- The person waiting near the open window prays for the arrival of prospective buyers of his items. He is always alert to the squeal of brakes.
.... of a stopping war." HS-2020
i. what is the childish longing that the poet refers to? Why is it vain? 1+1=2
Ans:- The childish longing" that the poet refers to, is the desire of the roadside stand owner to have some customers for buying his commodities.
It is in vain because no one seems to be interested in stopping near his stand.
ii. Who waits near the open window? 1
Ans:- The owner of the roadside stand waits near the open window.
iii. What does the person waiting near the open window pray for? 1
Ans:- The person waiting near the open window prays for the arrival of prospective buyers of his items. He is always alert to the squeal of brakes.
12. Who are referred to as 'flower of cities'in 'A Roadside Stand'? 2
Ans:- It refers to the things and items that can provide a luxurious lifestyle to the city dwellers.
13. 'Of all the thousand selfish cars' some stop there but not for buying something. Why do they stop there at all? HS-2016
Ans:- The thousand selfish cars stop near the roadside stand either to know the prices of agricultural products offered for sale or to make use of the courtyard to take a turn. Some other cars stop there to make enquiries about gas and a few others stop to know where the road was leading to.
Syllabus of HS Second year English (Prose)
Syllabus of HS Second year English (Poetry)
Syllabus of HS Second year English (Supplementary Reader : Vistas)
2. The Enemy
Mr. Rupjyoti Goswami
Post Graduate Teacher (English)
Bhogeswar Hazarika Girls' Higher Secondary School, Bebejia, Nagaon, Assam.
Email: rupjyotigoswami983@gmail.com
Mobile: 9864425896.
Contact us (whatsapp no-7020477396) for free notes on English, Political Science, Logic & Philosophy, MIL Assamese, Advanced Assamese, Swadesh Adhyayan, Economics, Education, History.
Post Graduate Teacher (English)
Bhogeswar Hazarika Girls' Higher Secondary School, Bebejia, Nagaon, Assam.
Email: rupjyotigoswami983@gmail.com
Mobile: 9864425896.
Contact us (whatsapp no-7020477396) for free notes on English, Political Science, Logic & Philosophy, MIL Assamese, Advanced Assamese, Swadesh Adhyayan, Economics, Education, History.
6 Comments
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