Chapter 13 A Roadside Stand Solutions
Question - 11 : - Why are the cars called ‘selfish’?
Answer - 11 : -
The poet has used a transferred epithet here. He actually means to call the car owners selfish as they just pass by without a thought for the plight of the owners of the roadside stands and if at all they do stop, it is either to complain or to turn their car round.
Question - 12 : - What is the sadness that lurks near the open window there?
Answer - 12 : -
The poet is referring to the disappointed faces that wait in vain at their stall windows for someone to ask for their wares and drop some money in their palm. But their hopes for a better living are belied.
Question - 13 : - What is the open prayer made by the country folk?
Answer - 13 : -
The country folk make an open appeal to the city dwellers that they should not be selfish. They expectantly pray for the city cars to stop at their roadside stand and help them lead a better life.
Question - 14 : - What is the trusting sorrow? What remains unsaid?
Answer - 14 : -
The country folk trust their rich brethren in the city to come to their help but they feel sad when their trust is breached by the city people through their indifference. Although the city people have said nothing but their silence speaks volumes about their cold and indifferent attitude to the rural poor, who feel hurt by it.
Question - 15 : - Which things irritated those passers-by who stopped at the roadside stand?
Answer - 15 : -
The passers-by got irritated by the tastelessly painted roadside stand. The thought that the artless decor of the stand was in disharmony with their surroundings and it had destroyed the scenic beauty of the landscape. Even their ‘N’ and ‘S’ on the signboards was wrongly presented. They did not approve of the things offered for sale.
Question - 16 : - Why did the people driving along the highway think that the landscape was marred?
Answer - 16 : -
The people driving along the highway objected to the tastelessly painted roadside stand. They thought that the artless decor of the stand was in disharmony with the surroundings and had destroyed the scenic beauty of the landscape. Although the shed had been recently renovated but it could never impress the city dwellers. They were always critical and felt that these unhygienically maintained roadside stands marred the beautiful mountain scene.
Question - 17 : - Who actually stopped near the sheds put up by the farmers at the edges of the road?
Answer - 17 : -
The poet states clearly that three cars stopped but none inquired about the prices of the farmer’s produce. One car stopped to reverse and another asked the way to where it was bound. The third foolishly asked if they could sell it a gallon of gas.
Question - 18 : - What would be the great relief for the poet in reference to these village folks?
Answer - 18 : -
The poet says loudly that he would be happy to own the great relief if the pains of these people were removed at one stroke. Obviously, he is much moved by their pathetic plight of life. He wants something to be done to improve their lives economically.
Question - 19 : - What hope does the poet nurture about himself when he asks that these people should be put at one stroke out of their pain?
Answer - 19 : -
The poet hopes that these people are put at one stroke out of their pain. The poet wants that the authorities should come to him and offer to put him ‘gently out of my pain’. The poet identifies himself with the village folks as far as their economic conditions are concerned.
Question - 20 : - What is the poet’s attitude to the good-doers and why is it so?
Answer - 20 : -
The poet condemns the good-doers for they actually take away the villagers’ freedoms to think for themselves. They force benefits on them which lull them into doing nothing and destroy their peace of mind and their lives. He criticizes them for exploiting the villagers for their own gains.