Poetry Chapter 5 - A Roadside Stand

Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 5 is a poem, A Roadside Stand by Robert Frost. It narrates the sad tale of the economically deprived people who are often fooled by cunning and selfish people. These people are solely responsible for their pathetic condition. The poet sympathises with these people and cannot bear their sadness. In this poem, the poet draws a comparison between the lives of the poor and the rich. For further information refer to A Roadside Stand Class 12 summary and solutions here at UrbanPro.

Summary 

A Roadside Stand Class 12 begins with a description of the stand. A poor farmer has constructed this stand along the highway, which is outside his house. He is full of anticipation that the people in the moving vehicles would buy his goodies and trinkets. The poor farmer wants to earn money not by begging but by supporting the economy of the city before it dissolves into ruins. Even after setting up his stand, no one stopped their cars to buy his goodies. Furthermore, if someone does stare in his direction, their eyes covey a look of criticism and would criticise the painting of the North-South signs which weren’t done correctly. They would pass by without noticing the squash and wild berries which were on sale.

This infuriates the farmer, and he tells the rich to keep their money to themselves if they intend to be rude, cruel, and mean. He is not hurt by the fact that they passed by his stand without noticing it, but because of the way he was treated and ignored. A life of comfort is denied to him because of the existence of political parties.

Frost also mentions that some people genuinely care about poor people. These benefactors helped in relocating them to areas where they can visit stores and cinemas. According to the poet, such people are selfish and only help others for their advantage. They robbed their ability to be independent. The villagers used to work throughout the day and night; however, now the benefactors ask the villagers not to use their opinions.

The poet also pours his feelings in this poem. He sympathises with the pain and sadness; the farmers go through. Frost believes that these farmers should lead a life of comfort and be rid of this horrible suffering. The poet thinks of some solution for this condition of the farmers as they have not found progress, which is evident by the lifestyle they are leading.

Literary Devices 

Transferred Epithet

This device has been used in A Roadside Stand. ‘Selfish cars’, is a transferred epithet. It used to refer to the owners of the car who don’t stop at the stand. Instead, they criticise the road signs and ask about the gas stations.

• Alliteration 

Alliteration is used in ‘Greedy good’ and ‘beneficient beasts’.

• Oxymoron 

Oxymoron is a figure of speech where two contradictory words are juxtaposed together in one sentence. This device has been used in “beneficient beasts of prey” and “Greedy good doer.”

• Personification 

Personification is the device, where the attribute of a living being is given to nature, animate and inanimate objects. In “the sadness that lurks behind the open window…” sadness, has been personified.

For further reference, download A Roadside Stand Questions and Answers PDF.