Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
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.
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.
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.
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.
Also Read
Exercise
A. Find the words from the text for the following meanings.
a. the main house on a farm, usually where the farmer lives
- Farmhouse
b. covered in something very soft
- Downy
c. a small and very thin layer or piece of something
- Flake
d. strange or unusual
- Queer
e. an area of trees, smaller than a forest
- Woods
f. movement of the air
- Wind
g. a set of leather and metal pieces that are put around the body of a horse
- Harness bells
B. Choose the best answer.
a. Why does the speaker stop while on the journey?
i. to watch the woods filled up with snow √
ii. to find food for his or her horse
iii. to say hello to the owner of the woods
iv. to go skating on a frozen lake
b. What is the setting of the poem?
i. the woods on a bright, snowy afternoon
ii. a village on a dark, snowy evening
iii. a frozen lake on a bright, snowy afternoon
iv. the woods on a dark, snowy evening √
c. Which one of the following statements is true?
i. The woods are far away from the village. √
ii. The woods are near some houses.
iii. The owner of the woods and speaker are friends.
iv. The speaker of the poem does not like the owner of the woods.
d. How did the horse respond when the speaker stopped there?
i. stood calm
ii. did nothing
iii. shook its harness √
iv. asked the speaker a question
e. What does 'miles to go before I sleep' mean?
i. The speaker feels tired and sleepy.
ii. The speaker has lots of desires to fulfil.
iii. The speaker has lots of responsibilities to fulfil. √
iv. The speaker has a long distance to travel.
C. Fill in the gaps with appropriate words from the box to complete the summary of the poem.
promises, traveler, journey, death, the woods, destination
The poet compares human life with a……journey…. The speaker of the poem is a……traveler…... He has to reach his ……destination…before taking a rest. However, he is distracted by the momentary pleasure in the form of……the woods... His companion, the horse, reminds him of his ……promises…….in life. The speaker realizes that he has to fulfill many responsibilities before his……death……...
Summary
The speaker in the poem is travelling in the evening through the snow and pauses with his horse near the woods by a neighbour's house to watch the snow falling around him. His horse shakes his harness bells, questioning the pause; perhaps this place isn't on their usual route, or he is curious that there doesn't appear to be a farmhouse nearby.
The speaker continues to stand near the woods, attracted by his surroundings' deep, dark silence. He feels compelled to move further into the snowy woods, but he ultimately decides to continue, concluding with perhaps the most famous lines of the poem: 'But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.'
"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" is a poem by Robert Frost, first published in 1923. The poem describes the speaker's experience of stopping by dark, snowy woods on a winter evening.
The speaker is drawn to the beauty and tranquility of the woods, but he feels a sense of duty and responsibility that compels him to continue on his journey. He acknowledges the peacefulness of the scene and lingers for a moment before reminding himself that he has promises to keep and miles to go before he sleeps.
The poem's imagery and language convey a sense of quiet contemplation and the tension between the desire to stay in the moment and the need to fulfil obligations. It is often interpreted as a meditation on the human experience of mortality, with the woods representing the allure of death and the speaker's decision to continue symbolizing the will to live.
Grammar II
Use the correct form of the verbs given in the brackets to complete the sentences.
As per the schedule, the train ……….......… (leave) at 3 o'clock.
Look, that aeroplane is looking shaky! It …..............…… (crash).
My daughter says she ….........… (be) a doctor when she is older.
Tomorrow ……..........……… (be) a sunny day, according to the weather forecast.
A: What ….......…… (do) tomorrow evening?
B: Nothing special. I think I ………....…… (stay) at home.
It’s very stuffy here. Don't worry, I ….................… (open) the windows for you.
Ann is driving. There is very little petrol left in the tank. The nearest petrol station is a long way from here. She …… (run) out of petrol.
There is a hole in the bottom of the boat. It is filling up with water quickly. It……………(sink).
is leaving
is going to crash
will be
will be
Wii you do will stay
am opening
is going to run
is going to sink
Writing II
Write a letter to your friend describing your travel plans for your upcoming holiday or visit. Take help from the following questions to write your letter.
Address
Date
Dear [Friend's Name],
I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits. I am writing to share with you my upcoming travel plans for the holiday season. I am really excited about this trip and I can't wait to share all the details with you.
Firstly, I have decided to visit [destination] for my upcoming holiday. I have always wanted to explore this place, and I finally have the opportunity to do so. I have already made all the necessary arrangements, including flight tickets and hotel reservations.
While I am there, I plan to visit several places of interest. Some of the places that I have on my list are [list of places]. I have done some research and have found out that these places have a rich history and cultural significance. I am really looking forward to experiencing the local culture and traditions.
In addition to sightseeing, I also plan to indulge in some adventure activities such as [activity]. I have heard that these activities are quite popular among tourists and are a must-try.
Overall, I am really excited about this trip and I can't wait to share all my experiences with you. I will be sure to send you pictures and updates throughout my trip. I hope that we can catch up and talk more about my trip when I return.
Take care and stay safe.
Best regards,
[Your Name]