Class 9 English Unit: 1 Travel and Holidays-III

 

Reading II: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

Complete guidelines for the whole unit of readings, writings, and grammatical exercises. 

Vocabulary

·        Woods - /wʊdz/ (noun, plural), forested area

·        Queer - /kwɪə/ (adjective), strange or unusual

·        Harness bells - /ˈhɑːnɪs bɛlz/ (noun, plural), bells on horse harness

·        Downy flake - /ˈdaʊni fleɪk/ (noun), soft snowflake

About Robert Frost

Robert Frost was an American poet and winner of four Pulitzer Prizes. His Famous works include 'Fire and Ice, "Mending Wall," 'Birches, "Out, Out, "Nothing Gold Can Stay", and "Home Burial". His 1916 poem, "The Road Not Taken," is often read at graduation ceremonies across the United States. Frost spent his first 40 years as an unknown. He exploded on the scene after returning from England at the beginning of World War I. He died of complications from prostate surgery on January 29, 1963.

Summary of the Poem

The speaker in the poem is a traveler. His journey signifies the journey of life of human beings. The journey begins with birth. The designation of the journey of life is death. Before reaching the destination, every human has many responsibilities (miles to go before I sleep). His staying in the woods signifies the indulgence of human beings in momentary pleasures (in the form of the woods), forgetting all those responsibilities. But his horse (his companion) reminds him of the responsibilities (He gives his harness bell a shake).

The poem comprises four stanzas. The first three stanzas rhyme similarly: The first, second, and fourth lines all rhyme, while the third does not rhyme, where it becomes the rhyme aaba, bbcb, ccdc. In the fourth stanza, all the lines rhyme, becoming dddd

Explanation of Each Stanza

Stanza 1: The speaker stops by the woods on a snowy evening, admiring the serene landscape. He acknowledges that the owner of the woods lives in the village and won't notice his presence. This stanza sets the tranquil mood and introduces the speaker’s connection to nature.

Stanza 2: The speaker imagines his horse finding it strange to stop in such a desolate place, far from a farmhouse, between the woods and a frozen lake on the darkest evening of the year. This stanza emphasizes isolation and the mysterious allure of the woods.

Stanza 3: The horse shakes its harness bells as if questioning the unusual pause. The only other sounds are the gentle sweep of the wind and the falling snow. The stillness and quietness of the scene deepen the sense of peace and introspection.

Stanza 4: The speaker admires the woods, calling them "lovely, dark, and deep," but remembers his obligations. He resolves to continue his journey, repeating, "And miles to go before I sleep." The woods symbolize temptation or rest, but the speaker reaffirms his duties and the journey ahead, symbolizing life and its commitments.

A.   Find the words from the text that match the following meanings.

a.      an area of tree, smaller than a forest – wood

b.     strange or unusual – queer

c.      the main house on a farm, usually where the farmer lives – farmhouse

d.     asset of leather and metal pieces that are put around the body of a house – harness

e.      movement of the air – wind

f.       covered in something very soft – downy

B.    Choose the correct answer.

a.      Why does the speaker stop while on the journey?

To watch the woods filled with snow

b.     What is the setting of the poem?

The woods on a dark, snowy evening

c.      Which one of the following statements is true?

The woods are far away from houses.

d.     How did the horse respond when the speaker stopped there?

By shaking its harness  

e.      What does 'miles to go before I sleep' mean?

The speaker has lots of responsibilities to fulfill.

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 to a journey. The speaker of the poem is a traveler. He has to reach his destination before resting. 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.

Grammar II: Present / Future Continuous, Simple / Going to Future

A.   Use the correct form of the verbs given in the brackets to complete the sentences.

a.      As per the schedule, the train leaves at 3 O'clock.

b.     Look, that airplane is looking shaky! It is going to crash.

c.      My daughter says she is going to be a doctor when she is older.

d.     Tomorrow is going to be a sunny day, according to the weather forecast.

e.      A: What will you be doing tomorrow evening?

B: Nothing special. I think I will stay at home

f.       It's very stuffy here. Don't worry, I'll open the window for you.

g.     Ann is driving. There is very little petrol left in the tank. The nearest petrol station is a long way from here. She is going to run out of petrol.

h.     There is a hole at the bottom of the boat. It is filling up with water quickly. It is going to sink. 

Quiz for Simple Present:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-Rp0P8QZt4

Quiz for Future Continuous:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U38_bo4PJGY

Writing II: Letter Writing (Travel Plan)

Write a letter to your friend describing your travel plans for your upcoming holidays or visit. Take help from the following questions in writing your letter.

          Where do you plan to go?                   Who will you go with?

          Where will you stay?                          How long will you stay?

          What are you going to see?

Bhadrapur, Jhapa

20 Poush 2081

Dear Rumi,

I am fine here and hope the same for you there. I got your letter this morning and know that you have asked about my plan for my upcoming holidays. Therefore, I am going to write about it.

I love traveling as it broadens our minds. We not only see the new places but also visit the people living there and learn about their culture and traditions. This winter vacation, I am thinking of visiting the place called 'Ghale Gaun'. This place is located in Lamjung district. It is also called a smart village in Nepal. We are making a plan to visit there with the help of our teachers for three days. We plan to stay in a homestay there because the services provided there are praiseworthy. Mostly, we are going to see the museum there as it shows the Ghale culture and their attire. I think we are also going to see the cultural show performed by the native people there.

Can you share your experience of visiting new places during the holidays? Thank you 

Your lovely friend,

Anuska Limbu

***