A Roadside Stand by Robert Frost

Explanation of the Poem:

In Robert Frost's poem "A Roadside Stand," the speaker describes a scene of a modest roadside
stand set up by rural folks seeking to sell their goods to passing travellers. The poem delves into
themes of economic struggle, societal neglect, and the longing for a better life. Here's a breakdown
of the lines you provided:
1. "The little old house was out with a little new shed": This line describes the setting of the
roadside stand, consisting of an old house and a new shed, suggesting a mix of tradition and
adaptation to changing times.
2. "A roadside stand that too pathetically pled": The stand is described as pitiful, indicating its
desperate need for business.
3. "It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread, but for some of the money, the cash, whose
flow supports The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint": The stand isn't just
asking for charity but for some of the money that sustains urban life, hinting at the economic
disparity between rural and urban areas.
4. "The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead, or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts
At having the landscape marred with the artless paint": The passing traffic, preoccupied with
their own concerns, is irritated by the sight of the humble stand disrupting the landscape.
5. "Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong Offered for sale wild berries in
wooden quarts, or crook-necked golden squash with silver warts": The signs are described as
poorly made, offering simple goods like berries and squash.
6. "Or beauty rest in a beautiful mountain scene, you have the money, but if you want to be
mean, why keep your money (this crossly) and go along": The speaker questions why
travellers wouldn't support the local economy by purchasing goods, accusing them of being
mean-spirited.
7. "The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint So much as the trusting sorrow of what is
unsaid": The speaker is more concerned about the unspoken pain and trust of the locals who
rely on the stand for their livelihood.
8. "Here far from the city we make our roadside stand and ask for some city money to feel in
hand to try if it will not make our being expand": The rural residents hope that urban money
will improve their lives and fulfil the promises of a better existence seen in movies.
9. "It is in the news that all these pitiful kin Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in to
live in villages, next to the theatre and the store, where they won’t have to think for
themselves anymore": There are plans to relocate these rural people to villages where they'll
be taken care of, suggesting a paternalistic attitude toward rural communities.
10. "Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear the thought of so much childish longing in vain":
The speaker struggles with the futile longing of the rural people for a better life.
11. "Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass, just one to inquire what a farmer’s prices are":
The speaker laments the lack of interest from passing cars in supporting local farmers.
12. "I can’t help owning the great relief it would be to put these people at one stroke out of their
pain": The speaker briefly entertains the idea of relieving the rural folks of their suffering,
although this thought quickly fades.
13. "And then next day as I come back into the sane, I wonder how I should like you to come to
me and offer to put me gently out of my pain": The speaker reflects on their own struggles
and muses about how they would feel if someone offered to alleviate their suffering. This
line suggests empathy and understanding for the plight of others.
A Critical Analysis:

"A Roadside Stand" by Robert Frost is a poignant commentary on the socio-economic dynamics
between rural and urban communities, as well as the struggles of individuals trying to make a living
in a changing world. Here's a critical analysis of the poem:
1. Themes of Economic Struggle: The poem vividly portrays the economic hardships faced by
rural farmers or small business owners trying to eke out a living. The roadside stand
symbolizes their efforts to sell goods for money, which they hope will improve their lives.
Frost critiques the unequal distribution of wealth, where rural areas are left struggling while
urban centres thrive.
2. Urban vs. Rural Divide: Frost explores the disconnect between urban dwellers, represented
by the passing traffic, and rural inhabitants. The indifference of the urbanites towards the
plight of the rural folk highlights a broader societal disregard for rural communities and their
economic struggles.
3. Yearning for a Better Life: The poem captures the yearning of the rural inhabitants for a
better life, as evidenced by their reliance on urban money and their belief in the promises
depicted in movies. This reflects a desire for upward mobility and access to the comforts and
opportunities associated with urban life.
4. Paternalism and Displacement: Frost criticizes the paternalistic attitudes of those who seek
to "gather in" the rural population into villages, suggesting a disregard for their autonomy
and self-sufficiency. The proposed relocation implies a loss of independence and agency for
the rural residents, who are expected to relinquish their way of life for the sake of urban
convenience.
5. Empathy and Reflection: Through the speaker's internal dialogue, Frost demonstrates
empathy towards the struggles of the rural inhabitants. The speaker's contemplation of their
own response to suffering underscores the universal human experience of longing for relief
from pain and hardship.
6. Symbolism and Imagery: Frost's use of imagery, such as the "roadside stand" and the passing
traffic, serves as powerful symbols of economic disparity and societal neglect. The contrast
between the "polished traffic" and the humble stand highlights the stark divide between
urban wealth and rural poverty.
7. Language and Tone: Frost's language is simple yet evocative, conveying the raw emotions
and stark realities of rural life. The tone shifts between frustration, empathy, and resignation,
reflecting the complex emotions surrounding issues of economic inequality and social
injustice.
Overall, "A Roadside Stand" offers a compelling critique of societal attitudes towards rural
communities and the economic challenges they face. Frost's exploration of themes such as economic
struggle, urban-rural divide, and the longing for a better life resonates with readers, inviting
reflection on broader issues of social justice and equity.

Literary devices used in the poem:

1. Imagery: Vivid descriptions create imagery that helps the reader visualize scenes such as the
roadside stand, passing traffic, and rural landscapes.
2. Symbolism: The roadside stand symbolizes the economic struggles of rural communities,
while the passing traffic symbolizes urban indifference to rural plight.
3. Metaphor: The stand "pathetically pled," comparing it to a pleading entity, highlighting its
desperation.
4. Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds, such as in "polished traffic passed" and
"beneficent beasts of prey," adds rhythm and emphasis to the poem.
5. Irony: The irony of the passing traffic being annoyed by the presence of the stand, despite its
being a representation of rural economic struggle, underscores the disconnect between
urban and rural worlds.
6. Personification: The stand is personified as pleading and "artless," attributing human
qualities to an inanimate object.
7. Parallelism: The repetition of the phrase "this crossly" emphasizes the speaker's frustration
and emphasizes their point about urban indifference.
8. Hyperbole: The exaggeration in lines like "greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey"
emphasizes the speaker's disdain for those who claim to help while actually exploiting rural
communities.
9. Allusion: The mention of "moving-pictures' promise" alludes to the cinematic depiction of an
idealized urban life, contrasting it with the harsh realities of rural existence.
10. Repetition: The repetition of the word "money" highlights its importance in the economic
struggle depicted in the poem.
11. Sarcasm: Lines like "Why keep your money... and go along" employ sarcasm to critique the
indifference of passing travellers.
12. Oxymoron: The juxtaposition of "greedy good-doers" creates a paradox, highlighting the
hypocrisy of those who claim to help while benefiting from others' suffering.