You will be able to write your own critical analysis of Frost's 'A Roadside Stand' if you have a better understanding of it so here is a brief summary.
The poet is contrasting the lives of the poor people in the country in India with the thoughtless city people who don't even notice the roadside stands. Initially the poem begins with a description of the roadside stand, and the intention behind it, which is for the farmer to earn some money from people passing in their cars.
However, no cars stop and the people who do notice the roadside stand are critical of how it spoils the view because it is ugly, or that it is badly painted and the signs for North and South are wrongly pointed. No-one notices the berries and the squash that are for sale.
The farmer tells the travelers to keep their money if that's the way that they feel and points out that the view is not as hurt as he is by them ignoring him. All he wants to do is to be able to enjoy some of the things that they take for granted.
Frost expands his theme by saying that 'good-doers' who want to re-locate the country people into the cities so that they can access stores and cinemas are actually doing harm because they are forcing these people to become reliant and unable to think for themselves.
The poem continues with the poet's personal feelings of his despair at the dashed hopes of the farmer. He continues with the thought that the country people have made no progress and it might be better to put them out of their misery, but then good sense prevails and he puts himself in their position.
The poet is contrasting the lives of the poor people in the country in India with the thoughtless city people who don't even notice the roadside stands. Initially the poem begins with a description of the roadside stand, and the intention behind it, which is for the farmer to earn some money from people passing in their cars.
However, no cars stop and the people who do notice the roadside stand are critical of how it spoils the view because it is ugly, or that it is badly painted and the signs for North and South are wrongly pointed. No-one notices the berries and the squash that are for sale.
The farmer tells the travelers to keep their money if that's the way that they feel and points out that the view is not as hurt as he is by them ignoring him. All he wants to do is to be able to enjoy some of the things that they take for granted.
Frost expands his theme by saying that 'good-doers' who want to re-locate the country people into the cities so that they can access stores and cinemas are actually doing harm because they are forcing these people to become reliant and unable to think for themselves.
The poem continues with the poet's personal feelings of his despair at the dashed hopes of the farmer. He continues with the thought that the country people have made no progress and it might be better to put them out of their misery, but then good sense prevails and he puts himself in their position.
