Easily access NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo Poem 4 “A Roadside Stand” Q&A. Explore the poem’s social commentary through well-crafted answers. These solutions are vital for comprehensive exam preparation, providing insights into the poem’s themes, symbolism, and poetic techniques. Immerse yourself in the verses of “A Roadside Stand” with expertly curated solutions, honing your analytical and interpretive skills in the process.
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo Poem – 4 A Roadside Stand Questions and Answers
THINK IT OUT ➤➤➤
1. The city folk who drove through the countryside hardly paid any heed to the roadside stand or the people who ran it. If at all they did, it was to complain. Which lines bring this out? What was their complaint about?
Answer: The countryside travelers paid little attention to the roadside stand and its proprietors. The subsequent lines aptly illustrate this disregard:
“The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,
Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts, ….
If ever they paid any heed, it was to complain.”
Their indifference is evident, and any acknowledgment given was merely for voicing grievances. This sentiment is conveyed in the following lines:
“At having the landscape marred with the artless paint. Of signs that with N turned wrong and As turned wrong.”
These verses indicate a complaint about how the presence of the roadside stand disrupted the natural beauty of the landscape. The poorly designed signboards appeared as blemishes on the picturesque scenery, with misaligned and incorrect alphabets adding to the disappointment:
“In their artless paints, they gave the wrong turns to the alphabet also.”
2. What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand?
Answer: The owners of the roadside stand earnestly pleaded with the passersby to consider purchasing items from their establishment whenever they could. These humble folks were in dire need of money, and every purchase made by the travelers would greatly assist them in their financial struggles.
3. 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.
Answer: The poet skillfully exposes the double standards of the government and social service agencies, who claim to aid the impoverished rural population but, in reality, offer no true assistance.
The following words and phrases aptly highlight their hypocritical nature:
(i) “Greedy good-doers” – These individuals or organizations present themselves as benevolent helpers but are motivated by self-interest and greed.
(ii) “Beneficent beasts of prey” – The poet uses this metaphor to imply that despite their pretense of being helpful, these entities act like predators, exploiting the vulnerable communities for their own gain.
(iii) “Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits that are calculated to soothe them out of their wits.” – This line suggests that the government and agencies impose superficial aid programs that offer temporary relief but do not address the root causes of poverty. Their actions may even confuse and disorient the people they claim to assist.
(iv) “And by teaching them how to sleep they sleep all day, Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way.” – This indicates that the so-called help provided by these entities only leads to complacency and lethargy among the rural population. Their traditional ways of living and working are disrupted, resulting in a cycle of dependence and deprivation.
Overall, the poet criticizes the deceptive practices of those who pretend to aid the poor but, in reality, perpetuate their plight by not offering genuine solutions and meaningful support.
4. What is the ‘childish longing’ that the poet refers to ? Why is it ‘vain’?
Answer: The poet’s naive yearning is for at least one of the self-absorbed cars that pass by these humble shops to show genuine interest in purchasing something from them. However, this hope seems futile, as even when some cars do halt, it is not to make a purchase but rather to either reverse their direction or seek directions to their intended destination. The poet’s wish remains unfulfilled as the passing cars fail to acknowledge the struggling roadside stands, emphasizing the lack of consideration and support from the outside world.
5. Which lines tell us about the insufferable pain that the poet feels at the thought of the plight of the rural poor?
Answer: The mentioned lines convey the unbearable anguish that the poet experiences when contemplating the distress of the rural poor. The poet cannot help but acknowledge the immense relief it would bring to alleviate the suffering of these people entirely, by swiftly putting an end to their pain in one decisive act. The intensity of the pain felt by the poet underscores the deep empathy and concern for the plight of the impoverished rural community.
TALK ABOUT IT ➤➤➤
Discuss in small groups.
The economic well-being of a country depends on a balanced development of the villages and the cities.
Answer: Please attempt it yourself.
TRY THIS OUT ➤➤➤
You could stop at a dhaba or a roadside eatery on the outskirts of your town or city to see.
1. how many travelers stop there to eat
2. how many travelers stop for other reasons
3. how the shopkeepers are treated
4. the kind of business the shopkeepers do
5. the kind of life they lead
Answer: Please attempt it yourself.