THE WAY THROUGH THE WOODS

Reference to context 

1. They shut the road through the woods seventy years ago.

Weather and rain have undone it again

A. When was the road shut ?

Ans. The road was shut 70 years ago.

B. What had happened to the road since it was closed ?

Ans.  It has disappeared due to the weather and rain and lack of use.

 

2. ‘It is underneath the coppice and heath And the thin anemones…’

a) What hid under the coppice and heath?

Ans. The road was underneath the coppice and heath

b) Who could see that ?

Ans. Only the keeper and ghosts could see .

 

3.‘You will hear the beat of a horse’s feet,

And the swish of a skirt in the dew

     Steadily canter through

a. What two sounds does the poet refer to here ?

b. Two sounds  the poet hears are beat of horse’s feet and swish of a skirt in the dew .

B.Q1. Who can see where the old road ran?

Ans. The keeper and the ghosts know where the old road ran.

Q2. When did the air cool the pool filled with fish ?

Ans. In late summer evenings, at night the air cools the pool. 

Q3. Why wasn’t the otter not afraid of men?

Ans. The otter is not afraid of humans because they hardly see any men there. 

Q4. What are the various creatures that can be seen and heard in those woods?

Ans. The various creatures that can be seen in the woods are doves, badgers, otters and trout in the pools.

C.1 Do you think all the sounds in the woods were for real ? Why ? Why not ?

Ans. The lines in the poem mention sounds in the woods, such as "the rustle of dead leaves," "the snap of a twig," and "the splash of a fish." These sounds evoke a sense of life and activity in the woods, despite the road being abandoned.these sounds could also be interpreted symbolically as representations of memories and echoes of the past. The poem speaks of the time when the road was well-trodden, and the sounds could be a metaphor for the lingering traces of the past that still resonate in the present. The "rustle of dead leaves" might symbolize the remnants of memories, and the "splash of a fish" could signify the flickering remnants(left outs) of life and joy that once graced the area.The sounds of horse hooves and laughter could represent the memories and echoes of the past, emphasizing the transience (temporary) of life and the impermanence of human activities. The absence of visible life could indicate the passage of time and the gradual disappearance of the once-thriving environment.

C.2.  Do you think there is a sense of mystery in the poem ? Justify your answer.

Ans."The Way Through the Woods" is a poem that describes an abandoned road through a forest and the memories of a vanished past that are preserved in that secluded pathway. The poem evokes a nostalgic and mysterious atmosphere by painting vivid imagery of the woods and the road's history.

There are several elements that contribute to the sense of mystery in the poem:-Abandoned road,Whispering and vanished ghosts,Sun-dappled shadows,Noises without sources,Human presence implied and overgrowth and concealment of road.

Overall, "The Way Through the Woods" conveys a feeling of nostalgia and hints at hidden stories within the depths of the forest, making it a mysterious poem.

  

Theme of the poem 

The theme of this poem is power of nature over man. Rudyard describes a struggle between mans' creations and natures power of regrowth. This poem clearly conveys the message that the nature will reclaim all human encroachments as and when human occupation stops. 

Literary Devices

The rhyming scheme of the poem is - AABCCB

 

Symbolism:The road through the woods is meant to symbolize human endeavors and the passage of time, while the hidden path represents forgotten histories and the enduring power of nature.

Personification: this occurs when the poet imbues something non-human with human characteristics. For example, the rain is described as undoing the road, emphasizing its relentless and trans formative power.

Imagery: can be seen when the poet uses particularly interesting descriptions. For example, “That, where the ring-dove broods, / And the badgers roll at ease.”