The Loaded Dog & Merchant of Venice

SEMESTER - I - _:ENGLISH STUDY MATERIAL

 THE LOADED DOG

                       

1.     Describe the short story of "The Loaded Dog".                                                        (Or) What is the theme of the short story of "The Loaded Dog".                                      (Or) Write the summary of The Loaded Dog".                                                                   (Or) Justify the title "The Loaded Dog".

The short story "The Loaded Dog" is written by Henry Archibald Hertzberg Lawson. He was born in 1867 in Australia. He was an Australian writer and poet.

One day, Dave Regan, Andy Page, and Jim Bently are 'sinking shafts' at Stony Creek. Dave and Andy like to fish, so Dave comes up with a new way of catching the fish. He suggests they should try to blow-up the fish with cartridge. Jim is not interested in the "damned silliness," but Andy, who "usually put Dave's theories into practice if they were practicable, or bore the blame for the failure and the chaffing of his mates if they weren't," starts to work on the project.

When all three men are back at the camp. Their playful retriever Tommy gets hold of the explosive. He starts chasing after the three men. Who are trying to runaway, following each other. After some time they split. Tommy ends up following Dave. Dave runs into a local pub. The announcement he makes causes chaos. Meanwhile Tommy encounters an aggressive yellow dog. So he drops the cartridge and runs away. The yellow dog sniffs around the explosive when it suddenly blows up.

2.     Who are Dave, Jim and Andy ?

The short story "The Loaded Dog" is written by Henry Archibald Hertzberg Lawson. He was born in 1867 in Australia. He was an Australian writer and poet.

Dave Regan: A laid-back gold miner, who is fond of fishing. It is Dave's idea to use a cartridge to catch fish.

Jim Bently: Described as being uninterested in the "damned silliness" of Dave and Andy's scheme. He enjoys eating fish, but has no interest in fishing.

Andy Page: A fellow gold miner, who "usually put Dave's theories into practice if they were practicable, or bore the blame for the failure and the chaffing of his mates if they weren't.

3.   What happens in the coda of "The Loaded Dog" by Henry Lawson?

The short story " The Loaded Dog" is written by Henry Archibald Hertzberg Lawson. He was born in 1867 in Australia. He was an Australian writer and poet.

In the strangest of ways, the conclusion to Lawson's story is one where a sense of justice emanates. The conclusion is^-one in which the "mongrel" dog that terrorized Tommy took the cartridge from his mouth, mistaking it for something of value. The other dogs follow the malevolent one's lead and when it explodes, evil. In a sense, it is destroyed. Tommy, the force of goodness, is one that is none the wiser and he goes back to the camp with Dave, immediately inundating him with his slobber and an unconditional love, unaware of the moral implications of what he initiated or what happened, but knowing that he did enough for one day. Andy ties him up in order to prevent the dog from getting into any more mischief.

The Bushmen, for their part. They have appropriated the story for themselves as a sort of an "outback legend," Something that they can tell to one another for a guaranteed laugh. Each time they pass by Dave's camp. They call out to him in an indigenous manner to indicate what passes to be an almost inside joke about what Tommy did and the results from it.

4.   Describe the dog which the party have with them in the short story "The Loaded Dog" ? (Or) What type of dog did the party have with them ?

The short story " The Loaded Dog" is written by Henry Archibald Hertzberg Lawson. He was born in 1867 in Australia. He was an Australian writer and poet.

Dave Regan, Jim Bently and Andy page had a big black young retriever dog. It was an over grown pup. It was big. It was four -footed mate who was always slobbering round them. It was lashing their legs with his heavy tail that swung round like a stock -whip. Most of his head was usually a red. It was idotic. It was a slobbering grin of appreciation of his own silliness. He seemed to take life in the world. His two - legged mates and his own instinct as a huge joke. He could retrieve anything. He carted back most of the camp rubbish that Andy threw away. He used to retrieve them when they went in swiming. He had jumped in after them. He took their hands in his mouth. He tried to swim out with them. He scratched their naked bodies with his paws. They loved him for his good - heartendness.

5.  What methods Dave Regan, Jim Bently and Andy page use blast the rock?

OR

What procedure did the trio follow for mining gold? How do Andy and his team mates make the cartridge ?

The short story " The Loaded Dog" is written by Henry Archibald Hertz Lawson. He was born in 1867 in Australia. He was an Australian writer and poet.

Dave Regan, Jim Bently and Andy page used the old fashioned blasting - power time fuse. They make a sausage or cartridge of blasting - powder in a skin of st calico or canvas. The mouth was sewn. They bounded round the end of the fuse. 1 dip the cartridge in melted tallow to make

it. They get the drill - hole as dry as posy They drop in the cartridge with some dry dust. And was and ram with stiff clay broken brick.

Then they light the fuse and get out of the hole and wait. The result was usual!) ugly pot - hole in the bottom of the shaft and half a barrow load of broken rock.

6.  Describe the scene after explosion ?               (Or)
How is the scene after explosion ?

The short story "The Loaded Dog" is written by Henry Archibald Hertzberg Laws He was born in 1867 in Australia. He was an Australian writer and poet.

After the explosion there were several Bushmen round behind the stable. TI crouched, doubled up against the wall. They rolled gently on the dust. They were try to laugh without shrieking. There were two white women in hysterics at the house. half - caste was rushing aimlessly round with a dipper of cold water. The publican 1, holding his wife tight. He was begging her between her squawks to hold up for his sake.  Mary he said that he would lam the life out of ye.

7.  How did the boom's explosion affect the animals in the story?

The short story " The Loaded Dog" is written by Henry Archibald Hertzb Lawson. He was born in 1867 in Australia. He was an Australian writer and poet.

When the smoke and dust cleared away, The remains of the yellow dog were ly against the paling fence of the yard looking as if he had been kicked into a fire b' horse. Afterwards rolled in the under a barrow. Several saddle-horses which had be 'hanging-up' round the varanda.They were galloping widely down the road in cloud 01 dust. Two dogs of them went home. One was trying to walk on two legs. There was one old one -eyed cattle-dog round.

ONE ACT PLAY

1. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

(Court Scene — Act —IV -Scene —I)

1.      What is Antonio's attitude towards this scene? Elaborate your answer
by examining his statements to the Duke and to Bassanio? .(0r)

What things Antonio says to the Duke in the court?

The one- act - play 'The Merchant of Venice 'was written by William S-„akespeare. He was born in 1564 in England. He was an English poet, playwright actor.

Antonio says to Duke that Shylock is obstinate. He says to Bassanio that they are talking to a cruel money lender and they cannot change his heart. They may well go to the beach and ask the tide to lower its height or they may ask the wolf why he is killing the lamb. They may go to the mountain, and ask the pine trees shake their tops when there is wind, but not make any noise. He too requests court to give the judgment. He asks Bassano to convey his best wishes to his wife. Bassanio tells Antonio that he can give up everything, if it will save his life.

2. What was Shylock adamant about and why! What reason does he give to those in court. (Or)

What did Shylock appeal to things about the Antonio in the court. (Or) What reasons does Shylock give to Duke in the court.                                                                                                       (Or)
Why does Shylock refuse to show mercy on Antonio.

The one- act - play 'The Merchant of Venice 'was written by William Shakespeare. He was born in 1564 in England. He was an English poet, playwright and actor.

Shylock wanted a pound of flesh rather than three thousand ducats. He would only say that it was his desire to have it so. He had no reason to give for his wanting to get a pound of flesh except that he had always hated Antonio. Because he insulted in the public places and he called him a dog. He spoiled his interest business.  Due to this, Shylock was adamant. He filed a suit about the case the suit the case in the Duke's court. Antonio had failed to pay the debt in time. As per the bond, Shylock had a right to cut off a pound of flesh from Antonio chest.

3.        How is Shylock utterly defeated at the end of this scene? What punishments are meted out to him.                                                                                                                              (Or)

What happened at the end of the scene? What type of punishment did Shylock get at the end?      (Or)

How does Portia turn the tables on Shylock ?

The one- act - play 'The Merchant of Venice 'was written by William Shakespeare. He was born in 1564 in England. He was an English poet, playwright and actor.

Portia said that he should not shed any blood and take exactly one pound of flesh. If the flesh he takes from Antonio's body weighs more or less than one pound even by the weight of a hair, he will be put to death and all his properties will be confiscated. Duke punishes him. He pardons the Shylock even before his asks for it. Duke will not put him to death. As for his wealth, half of it goes to Antonio. The other half goes to the State.

4.  What is the theme of Portia's first major speech addressed to Shylock? (Or)

What is the speach called 'Portrait of Lady?                                                                (Or)

Why does Portia assert that Shylock must show mercy?                          (Or)

Does the object of Portias make major speech addressed to Shylock?

The one- act - play 'The Merchant of Venice 'was written by William Shakespeare. He was born in 1564 in England. He was an English poet, playwright and actor.

In the court, Portia's first major speech is addressed to Shylock that Mercy is not forced on any one. It comes as the gentle rain from the heaven. It is twice blessed. It blesses the man who gives it and the man who receives it. Therefore, Shylock, was asking for justice, but justice will not give him salvation. All of them pray to God for mercy. So it is our duty to show the same mercy to our fellowmen. She has appealed to him to soften justice with mercy. Of course, if he insists on justice, this court would pass its judgment against the merchant there.

5.  How do Bassanio, Portia and the Duke try to appeal to Shylock not to pursue his determined course of action?                                                                (Or)

      What was the request of Bassanio, Portia, and the Duke to Shylock?

The one-act- play 'The Merchant of Venice' was written by William  Shakespeare. He was born in 1564 in England. He was an English poet, playwright and actor.

In the court, Portia, Bassanio and Duke try to convince to Shylock show mercy on Antonio. Duke advises Shylock that he should show kindness at the last moment. And they hope that he will give up his claim on a pound of this poor merchant's flesh. Antonio has lost all his wealth suddenly. His story is sad, show pity and love towards him. Portia asks Shylock that he has been offered three times the money. Bassanio asks Shylock that instead of your three thousand ducats to take six thousand. Shylock cannot accept their appeal and he does not listen to their words.

6.  Sketch the Character of Shylock.

Shylock is not a fictional character in William Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice". Passion for revenge and passion for money are the two leading traits of his character. He is a miser who hoards, and for him even to spend a single penny is a Lo, .ure. He lives for money. Money is his life and soul.

Money is the standard by which he judges others. His greed has destroyed him and even his affection for his daughter. Since his solicitude at his daughter's loss is nothing compared with his rage at the loss of his money.

Perhaps even stronger than his love of money is his hatred of Antonio as one of the Christians who had persecuted his tribe so cruelly. And one cannot help feeling a natural sympathy with the Jew. A sympathy which Shakespeare evidently felt himself and presumably intended his audience to share. How pathetic these lines of Shylock are!

7.        Sketch the character of Portia?

The one- act - play 'The Merchant of Venice 'was written by William Shakespeare. He was born in 1564 in England. He was an English poet, playwright and actor.

Portia is the heroine of William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. A rich, beautiful, and intelligent girl. She is bound by the lottery set forth in her father's will woman in marriage. Portia is glad when two suitors.

One has been driven by greed and another by vanity, fail to choose correctly. She favours Bassanio. He is a young Venetian noble man, but is not allowed to give him any clues to assist in his choice. Later in the play, she disguises herself as a man, then assumes the role of a lawyer's apprentice (named Balthazar) whereby she saves the life of Bassanio's friend, Antonio, in court.

8.           Write the affection between Antonio and Bassanio in the dram "The Mearchant of Venice"?

They both are bossom friends it can be said as Antonio , a rich merchant and his intimate friend Bassanio shared a loving bond of friendship. It is Antono's love for Bassanio who is a spendthrift that makes him disregard Bassanio's frivolous habits and sign the fatal bond, even at the risk of his life. Bassanio reciprocates his love for Antonio with same ardour. Just after winning Portia., when he comes to know of the danger to Antonio's life he rushes immediately to Venice. He offers in the court the money he has inherited by marrying Portia to settle Antonio's debt. He even promises to sacrifice his own "Flesh,blood,bones and all ".

9.        What is the love of Portia for Bassanio ?

Portia and Bassanio is a compatible couple their relationship typifies ideal love and involves self-sacrificing, sharing, humility and devotion.

Portia is as faultless as one could imagine. She is blessed with beauty, heavenly qualities surpassing all other women on Earth and moreover "richly left". Portia's image is consistent as a goddess, an angel. However, she is by no means the "un lessoned girl, unschooled, un practiced" which she claims to be, but is on the contrary"sophisticated, educated and intelligent". Throughout theplay, she exhibits wit, resourcefulness, complete love for Bassanio and generosity towards friends. She came to the court with male dress as lawyer and saved the life of Antonio.

Her prejudice towards Jews and foreigners is probably one of the only blemish to her otherwise perfect character.

I SEMESTER MODEL QUESTION PAPER ENGLISH-I

RAYALASEEMA UNIVERSITY, KURNOOL

I SEMESTER

ENGLISH (PART-I)

MODEL  QUESTION PAPER

Time: 3 Hrs                                                                                      Max Marks: 70 Marks

Marks: 4 X 5=20

Section-A

1.   Answer the following Questions choosing A or B

                                              (Prose, Poetry & Short Stories)      

1.    A.What are the various sources of knowledge  Kalam listed?

(or)

 B. what happened to education system  in Arica after 1952 ?

2.    A. Why does the poet choose the less travelled path?

(or)

B. How did the child lose his way in the fair?

3.    A. What did the villagers do when they learnt about the scorpion bite?

(or)

B. what does the author Ngugi mean by ‘this harmony was broken’ ?

    4. A. What are the factors contribute to knowledge society according to Kalam?

        (or )

        B. Describe Ngugi’s experiences in learning his mother tongue and English.

2.   Answer any Three of the following Questions

(One act play &Short Stories)

Marks: 3 X 5=15

1.    Describe how Andy and his team make the catridge?

2.    What is the theme of Portia’s speech addressed to Shylock?

3.    What was Shylock adamant about ? Why?

4.    What things did the man who carried the lost child show?

Section-B

Answer all the following Questions

       (Grammar & Language activity)

Marks: 7 X 5 =35

1.    Fill in the blanks with appropriate form of the tense of the verb given in the brackets.

(1x5=5m)

a)    Shakespeare ___________(write) 36 plays

b)   John ___________(play) cricket in the evenings.

c)    They ___________(wait) for the bus for one hour

d)    If you go now, you _____(catch) the bus.

e)    When I ________(sleep) lastnight, my friend came and woke me up.

2.    Correction the following sentences (1 x 5 = 5 Marks)

a)    John has posted the letter yesterday

b)   They are going to college every day.

c)    Sonia is taller of the two girls.

d)    I’m too tired that I cannot attend the class.

e)    She has been absent since three days.

3.    Write Phonemic transcription of the following words (1 x 5 = 5 Marks)

a)    Read

b)   Book

c)    Sing

d)    Teacher

e)    college

4.    Fill in the blanks with appropriate Prepositions (1 x 5 = 5 Marks)

a)    He worked ______hour

b)   They went home _____tram

c)    The train starts _____7 o’clock

d)    He killed the snake ___a stick

e)    He is very fond ___sweets

5.    Fill in the blanks with appropriate Articles (1 x 5 = 5 Marks)

a)_____________ modern life is stressful.

b) What’s _____________ capital of your country?

c)_____________ doctor earns more than _____________ teacher.

 d) Do you know who invented _____________ computer ?

 e) Have you seen _____________ newspaper? I can’t find it anywhere

6.    Write Question Tags to the following sentences (1 x 5 = 5 Marks)

a)    She is collecting stickers,______________?

b)   We often watch TV in the afternoon, ,______________?

c)    You have cleaned your bike,______________?

d)    John and Max don't like maths______________?

e)    Peter played handball yesterday______________?

7.    In each of the following group of words , one is spelt wrongly. Identify the wrong word.(1 x 5 = 5 Marks)

1.    a) believe                                b) perceive

c) recive                                  d) deceive                               (           )                      

     2.    a) capable                               b) await

c) awailable                             d) accountable                        (           )       

     3. a) immediatly                             b) intermittently

         c)   intently                                 d) intensely                              (           )             

   4)  a) incomplete                              b)  incorrect

        c)  incompleat                              d) incoherent                          (           )   

   5.  a)  illegal                                      b) ileterete

        c)  illogical                                 d) illegible                                  (           )               

The Knowledge Society

The Knowledge Society

                                                                                                      A.P.J.Abdul Kalam

The recipient of Bharat Ratna, Dr A.P.J.Abdul Kalam is the former president of India.”The Knowledge Society” is an extract taken from his popular and famous book “Ignited Minds”. He received many honorary awards like Bharat Ratna, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan.”Wings of Fire and India 2020”,”A Vision For The New Millennium” are some of his works. In this lesson, Kalam emphasizes that poverty can be rooted out only by striking a balance between the past heritage and present day knowledge. Kalam opines that India can reach the pinnacles of prosperity and glory by scrupulously following certain principles and applying modern technology.

                        Kalam opines that India is essentially a land of knowledge and it must rediscover itself its past legacy. No doubt, the foreign invasions and the colonial rule weakened India considerably. Knowledge has many forms and it is available at many places. It is available in academic institutions, at work places, from learning skills such as from artists, craftsmen, hakims, philosophers and saints and it is available from our heritage and history epics too.

                      Kalam says that Knowledge has always been the prime mover of prosperity and power. In India we had the tradition of transforming knowledge from guru to shishya and from the writings of the foreign travelers who visited Ancient Indian Universities like Nalanda. During the last century the world has changed from being an agricultural society to an industrial society. Thus technology played a vital role in the development of the society. While, in the 21^st century, knowledge has become the primary production resource instead of capital and labour. Education, health-care and agriculture are taken ahead in the knowledge society. It promotes high productivity and rural prosperity. It helps even to create new avenues for employment..

                       The multiple technologies and appropriate management structures must work together to generate a knowledge society. India has left its impression in Information Technology and it will be much more developed in the years to come. Thus it adds a new feather to knowledge society. As a second component, young and dynamic leaders are required for establishing knowledge society. The most important mission for the knowledge society is India should become a super power by the year 2010.

                       If societal transformation and wealth generation are the two important parameters to make India as knowledge society, a third dimension has come to transform India itself into a super power. Kalam says that our communication network and information generators must be protected from electronic attacks. It involves a tremendous responsibility. It is very important that our knowledge and culture too help us this great task of making India a super power.

Meanings:-

emphasize                    = stress something as important

heritage                       = practices that are handed down from the past by tradition

pinnacle                        = the highest level or degree

prosperity                    = an economic state of growth with rising profits and full

                                        employment

glory                             = a state of high honor

scrupulously                  = with extreme care

legacy                           = money or something that one receive from after someone dies

invasion                         = stepping into a place/region/country in a forceful way

epic                               = a long narrative poem telling of a hero’s deeds

hakim                            = a Muslim physician(medical practitioner)

colonial rule                  = the rule of a country which exploits, imposes its authority

                                        towards a weaker country

transformation             = change in form, appearance, or nature of something

avenues                         = a line of approach; sources

adding a new feather    = adding a new advantage (to something)

parameter                     = any factor that defines a system and determines its

                                         performance

tremendous                   = extreme in degree or extent or impact

Short Answer Questions:

1)      What are the various resources of knowledge that Abdul Kalam points out?

A:- Kalam points out various resources of knowledge in this lesson. He points out that knowledge is acquired through education, information, intelligence and experience. It is available in academic institutions, at work places etc. Kalam says that knowledge, though closely linked to education, comes equally from learning skills like artists, philosophers, saints etc. It also available through our heritage, epics and traditions and is available in the oceans, bioreserves, deserts and in every state in our country.

2)      How has the world changed during the last century?

A:- Kalam mentions that during the 20^th century, the world has changed from being an agricultural society in which manual labor was the critical factor, to an industrial society, where the management of technology, capital and labor provide the competitive advantage.

3)  How can one judge whether a nation qualifies to be a knowledge society?

A:- Whether a nation qualifies as a knowledge society is judged by how effectively it deals with knowledge creation and knowledge deployment/usage.

4)      What does societal transformation result in?

A:- When a country is able to bring societal transformation in respect of education, health care ,agriculture and governance it will lead to employment generation, high productivity and rural prosperity.

5)      What are the areas which can help us change into a knowledge society?

A:- The TIFAC(Technology Information Forecasting Assessment Council) test team has identified certain core areas that will lead our march towards becoming a knowledge society. These areas are: information technology, biotechnology, space technology, weather forecasting, disaster management, telemedicine and tele-education, technologies utilizing knowledge, serving sector and infotainment that is the convergence of information and entertainment.

6)      What should be done in order to generate wealth?

A:- In order to generate wealth, which is the second component for establishing a knowledge society, citizen-centric approach is essential for shaping of  business policy, user-driven technology generation and intensified industry-lab-academia linkages have also to be established.

7)What according to Abdul Kalam is the third objective which needs to be realized in order to become a super power?

FROM DECOLINISNG THE MINDS: Ngugi wa Thiong’o

FROM DECOLINISNG THE MINDS: Ngugi wa Thiong’o                                   

1.      Describe the author’s experiences about language and literature ?

       Ngugi Wa Thiong'o famously began his writing career writing in English. He had considerable success, but eventually turned to writing in his mother tongue, Gikuyu. Ngugi is among a handful of authors who have written successfully in more than one language. In his essay Decolonizing the Mind argues in favour of expression by African writers in their native languages rather than in European languages. The children spoke Gikuyu and listen to Gikuyu tales with lot of interest. Ngugi stresses an important insight: Africans relate to their mother tongues in a very different way than they would use these foreign imposed languages. Speaking and writing in the language of colonizers make Africans think foreign. They even learnt the music of their language. When Thiong’o joined a colonial school, English became the language of his formal education. So the first four years there was still harmony between the language of his formal education and that of the limuru peasant community. The education of colonial schools in Kenya drove children away from their own selves and their culture. It was the official vehicle the magic formula to the colonial education. Language and literature took them away from their native culture. Thus language and literature were taking them further and further from themselves to other selves, from their world to other worlds.

2.      How does the title, DECOLINISNG THE MINDS get a voice through the life Ngugi wa Thiong’o?

The central objective in decolonizing the African mind is to overthrow the authority which alien traditions exercise over the African. This demands the dismantling of white supremacist beliefs, and the structures which uphold them, in every area of African life. Among the problems with Decolonising the Mind is its political and ideological slant. He writes of "two mutually opposed forces in Africa today: an imperialist tradition on one hand, and a resistance tradition on the other. ‘Decolonising the Mind’ is a political treatise with its many rants against colonialism and imperialism. For the author, the reverting back to local language use is the best way to rectify the evils and ills of adverse colonial influence. To say that Ngugi’s book is rife with ideology is an understatement. For him, Africa today is caught between two opposing forces: the colonial and the traditionalist.

3.      What is the importance of language in the story telling sessions of Ngugi’s childhood?

‘Decolonising the Mind’ is both an explanation of how he eventually decided to write in Gikuyu, as well as an encouragement for African writers to write in their native languages. According to Ngugi, language is more than just a means of communication; it is the essence of their being. Story telling is a part of the African Children’s life. It enabled them learn about their culture. In story telling language was effectively used. It was not a mere sitting of words but had a suggestive power. It gave the children a view of the world. It had a beauty of its own. It reflected their culture and way of life.

4.      Bring out the colonial systems of education experienced by Ngugi in his own native Kenya?

       Ngugi rightly complains that an educational focus that embraced essentially only foreign works was destructive. The local language is an integral part of conveying that experience, often because much of local tradition has been preserved in that language -- for example, in the songs and stories that have been passed down. Ngugi convincingly shows the benefits of working in the local language, and within local traditions, as the entire community works together to create and shape a play.

5.      What happened to the education system after 1952?

In 1952 when the Nationalists Schools were taken over by the colonial regime, English became the language of the writer’s formal education. Pupils were not allowed to speak in their native language. If they spoke they were given corporal punishment. English became the measure of one’s intelligence, which determines the progress. 

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

ROBER FROST

1.     Who does the speaker represent and why did he stand there long?

Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” has been one of the most analyzed poems in American poetry. In the first stanza, the speaker describes his position. He has been out walking the woods and comes to two roads, and he stands looking as far down each one as he can see. He would like to try out both, but doubts he could to take, so therefore he continues to look down the roads for a long time trying to make his decision about which road to take. So finally he chooses the road which is not used by many people.

2.     Why does the poet choose the less traveled path?

The poet makes us think about the choices we make in our life. We should think carefully before we take a decision. There is a spirit of regret and nostalgia and longing in the poem. At the point of divergence the poet stood and started observing both the roads. He took the first one and saw it carefully. He inspected the road as far as his eyes permitted him to. After inspecting the first road he moved on to the second road. He saw that the second road was more grassy and lacked usage. Also the second road appealed to him more than the first road did. But however he felt that both the roads were same. As, on both the roads, the leaves which had fallen were unstopped, he decided to travel through the second road.

3.     What difference does it make for the poet?

The poet knew that his choice might not lead him to his desired destination and that he might not get a chance to come back. The speaker took a brave decision to choose the road which was not preferred by travelers. In the future the speaker would be able to tell proudly that at the point of his journey he took the road which was less travelled by travelers which has made all the difference in his life. This poem teaches us to make right decisions in our life. It also states that opportunities once lost are lost forever. We have to face the consequences of choices made by us. This poem also, in a way, symbolizes life.

4.              Why does Frost prefer non-conventional thinking?

Robert Lee Frost was an American poet. He is highly regarded for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American colloquial speech. A wide-spread interpretation claims that the speaker in the poem is promoting individualism and non-conformity. His work frequently employed settings from rural life in New England in the early twentieth century, using them to examine complex social and philosophical themes. His poems appear to be simple but they have a deeper meaning. In the poem Road Not Taken, the poet represents the choices by using the image of two roads. Two paths represent choices; at the split in the road, the author looks far down both paths to see what each will bring. The first of the two paths is the more commonly travelled one, while the other is the 'less travelled' path. Frost presents the conflict - the decision between the common easy path and the uncommon but more difficult one. Choosing easy path in life will ensure success, but won't necessarily be fulfilling. Choosing the 'less traveled' road means a more difficult path in life, but more satisfying results that are not like anyone else's