Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though:
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
বরফে ঢাকা এক সন্ধ্যায় কাঠবনের পাশে দাঁড়িয়ে
রবার্ট ফ্রস্ট
আমি জানি এই জঙ্গলের মালিক কে।
তাঁর বাড়ি আছে গ্রামে যদিও।
তিনি দেখবেন না আমি থেমে আছি এখানে
বরফে ঢাকা বনভূমি দেখার আশে।
আমার ছোট্ট ঘোড়াটি ভাবছে বোধহয় অদ্ভুত
এমন জায়গায় থামা যেখানে নেই কোনো কুটির বা গৃহস্থালির ছুঁত।
বনের ধারে আর হিমায়িত হ্রদের পাশে
এই বছরের সবচেয়ে অন্ধকার সন্ধ্যায় বসে।
সে তার ঘন্টি বাজিয়ে কাঁপে
জানাতে চায় কি ভুল করেছি তবে?
শুধু শোনা যায় সহজ হাওয়ার স্বর
আর নরম তুষারপাতের মৃদু জড়ানো চর।
এই বনভূমি বড় সুন্দর, গম্ভীর আর গভীর।
কিন্তু আমার আছে কিছু প্রতিশ্রুতি রক্ষার অধিকার,
আর অনেক পথ পেরোতে হবে ঘুম আসার আগে,
আর অনেক পথ পেরোতে হবে ঘুম আসার আগে।
Theme: Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” explores the contrast between the allure of nature’s peaceful beauty and the responsibilities of daily life. The woods symbolize a tempting escape from the world, but the speaker is reminded of his duties. Ultimately, the poem reflects on the balance between personal desires and life’s obligations.
থিম: রবার্ট ফ্রস্টের “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” কবিতাটি প্রকৃতির শান্ত সৌন্দর্য এবং জীবনের দায়িত্বের মধ্যে দ্বন্দ্বকে তুলে ধরে। বন এখানে এক প্রলোভনময় নির্জনতার প্রতীক, যেখানে কবি হারিয়ে যেতে চান, কিন্তু তাঁর প্রতিশ্রুতি তাঁকে ফিরিয়ে আনে। এই কবিতা ইচ্ছা ও কর্তব্যের মাঝে ভারসাম্য রক্ষার ভাবনাকে প্রতিফলিত করে।
Summary: The speaker pauses by a quiet, snowy forest on a dark winter evening, admiring its beauty and stillness. He realizes the woods belong to someone who lives in the village and won’t notice his stop. His horse, confused by the unexpected halt, shakes its harness bells as if questioning the pause. The calm and silent snowfall creates a peaceful but enchanting atmosphere. However, the speaker reminds himself that he has promises to keep and a long journey ahead before he can rest.
সারাংশ: কবি এক বরফে ঢাকা সন্ধ্যায় নির্জন বনভূমির পাশে থেমে দাঁড়ান এবং তার সৌন্দর্যে বিমুগ্ধ হন। তিনি জানেন এই বন কার, কিন্তু মালিক গ্রামে থাকেন বলে বুঝতে পারবেন না কবি এখানে থেমেছেন। হঠাৎ থেমে যাওয়ায় তাঁর ঘোড়া অবাক হয়ে ঘণ্টা বাজায় যেন জিজ্ঞেস করছে, ভুল হয়েছে কি না। চারপাশে নীরবতা আর তুষারের শান্ত পতন এক মোহময় পরিবেশ সৃষ্টি করে। কিন্তু কবি মনে করিয়ে দেন, তাঁর কিছু প্রতিশ্রুতি পালন করতে হবে এবং ঘুমানোর আগে অনেক পথ চলা বাকি।
Words | Bangla | Synonyms | Antonyms |
Woods (noun) | বন | forest, woodland | city, desert |
Snowy (adj) | তুষারে আবৃত | covered with snow, wintry | sunny, snowless |
Village (noun) | গ্রাম | small town, rural area | city, metropolis |
Queer (adj) | অদ্ভুত | strange, odd, unusual | normal, ordinary |
Farmhouse (noun) | খামারবাড়ি | country house, rural dwelling | apartment, city house |
Frozen (adj) | জমাট | icy, chilled | melted, warm |
Darkest (adj) | সবচেয়ে অন্ধকারময় | most gloomy, pitch-black | brightest, lightest |
Harness (noun) | লাগাম | bridle, strap for animals | — |
Sweep (noun) | ঝাপটা, প্রবাহ | flow, gust | stillness |
Downy (adj) | তুলার মতো নরম | soft, fluffy | rough, coarse |
Flake (noun) | ফোঁটা (তুষারের) | snowflake, bit | lump, clump |
Lovely (adj) | সুন্দর | beautiful, charming | ugly, unpleasant |
Deep (adj) | গভীর | profound, extensive | shallow, superficial |
Promise (noun) | প্রতিশ্রুতি | vow, commitment | betrayal, break of word |
Sleep (noun/verb) | ঘুম | rest, slumber | wakefulness |
Answer the following WH Questions
- Who is the owner of the woods?
The speaker thinks he knows who owns the woods. The owner lives in the nearby village. - Who stops by the woods to watch the snowfall?
The narrator of the poem stops to admire the falling snow in the woods. He finds the scene peaceful and captivating. - Who is with the speaker during his stop?
The speaker is accompanied by his little horse. The horse seems confused by the unexpected stop. - Who might see the speaker stopping there?
The speaker believes the owner of the woods will not see him. This is because the owner’s house is in the village. - Who questions the speaker’s decision to stop?
The speaker imagines that his horse questions the stop. It does so by shaking its harness bells. - Who creates the only sound besides the wind?
The speaker hears only the soft ringing of the horse’s harness bells. The other sound is the sweep of the wind and snow. - Who is responsible for fulfilling promises in the poem?
The speaker mentions that he has promises to keep. These are duties or responsibilities in his life. - Who is the poet of the poem?
Robert Frost is the poet. He is known for his nature-themed and philosophical poetry. - Who might the speaker be addressing indirectly?
The speaker may be talking to himself or the reader. He reflects on his thoughts quietly. - Who shakes the harness bells?
The speaker’s horse shakes its harness bells. This suggests the horse is confused or impatient. - Where does the owner of the woods live?
The owner of the woods lives in the village. His house is not near the woods. - Where does the speaker stop?
The speaker stops near a wooded area filled with snow. It is between the woods and a frozen lake. - Where is the farmhouse mentioned in the poem?
The speaker mentions that there is no farmhouse nearby. The location is isolated and quiet. - Where does the snow fall?
The snow falls gently in the woods. It creates a soft and calm atmosphere. - Where does the horse expect to stop?
The horse expects to stop near a farmhouse or a usual resting place. But this stop is unusual and confusing for it. - Where is the darkest evening of the year described?
It is described in the woods near the frozen lake. The darkness adds to the quiet beauty of the scene. - Where are the woods located in relation to the lake?
The woods are beside a frozen lake. The speaker is in between them. - Where does the speaker need to go after stopping?
The speaker still has miles to travel. He needs to leave the woods and continue on his journey. - Where does the wind blow in the poem?
The wind blows softly through the woods. Its sound is barely heard, blending with the snow. - Where does the speaker plan to sleep?
The speaker plans to sleep later, after traveling a long distance. The poem implies a journey that must continue. - When does the speaker stop in the woods?
He stops on a snowy evening. It is described as the darkest evening of the year. - When will the owner of the woods see the speaker?
The speaker believes the owner will not see him at all. He is not present in the woods at the time. - When does the horse shake the harness bells?
The horse shakes the bells when the speaker stops unexpectedly. It seems to question why they have paused. - When does the speaker hear the wind and snow?
The speaker hears them after the horse shakes its bells. The sounds emphasize the stillness of the scene. - When will the speaker keep his promises?
The speaker implies that he must leave soon to fulfill his promises. He cannot stay in the woods for long. - When does the speaker reflect on his responsibilities?
He reflects at the end of the poem. The quiet of the woods makes him remember his duties. - When does the snow fill the woods?
The woods are filling up with snow as the speaker watches. The snowfall is calm and ongoing. - When will the speaker sleep?
He will sleep after keeping his promises. He mentions he still has miles to go before he can rest. - When does the scene take place in the year?
It is winter, possibly near the solstice. The evening is said to be the darkest of the year. - When does the speaker decide to move on?
He decides internally after admiring the woods. His sense of duty overcomes the desire to stay. - What is the speaker doing in the woods?
The speaker stops to admire the snowy woods. He finds beauty and peace in the scene. - What does the horse do to express confusion?
The horse shakes his harness bells. This action suggests that the stop is unusual. - What sounds does the speaker hear?
He hears the harness bells and the sweep of wind and snow. These are the only sounds in the quiet woods. - What is the setting of the poem?
The poem is set in a snowy forest on a dark winter evening. There is a frozen lake nearby. - What is special about the evening?
It is the darkest evening of the year. This could refer to the winter solstice. - What does the speaker say about the woods?
He says the woods are lovely, dark, and deep. He is clearly tempted by their beauty. - What prevents the speaker from staying longer?
His responsibilities and promises keep him from staying. He remembers his duties and moves on. - What is the theme of the poem?
The theme centers on the pull between desire and duty. Nature tempts the speaker, but he chooses responsibility. - What does the repetition of the last line suggest?
It emphasizes the speaker’s commitment to his journey. It also adds a reflective, almost meditative tone. - What mood does the poem create?
The poem creates a calm, contemplative mood. It blends beauty with a sense of quiet obligation. - Why does the speaker stop in the woods?
He stops to admire the snowfall and the peacefulness of the woods. The beauty attracts him. - Why is the horse confused?
Because they have stopped in a place with no farmhouse nearby. It is not a usual place to pause. - Why won’t the owner see the speaker?
Because the owner lives in the village. He is not present in the woods. - Why does the speaker find the woods lovely?
The woods are quiet, dark, and full of falling snow. Their peaceful beauty captivates him. - Why can’t the speaker stay in the woods?
He has promises and responsibilities to fulfill. Life’s duties call him away. - Why is the repetition in the last lines important?
It shows the weight of the speaker’s obligations. It also reinforces the journey ahead. - Why might the evening be the darkest of the year?
It could be the winter solstice. Or it may symbolize the speaker’s internal feelings. - Why does the speaker not mention what his promises are?
The poem keeps them vague to reflect universal responsibility. It allows readers to connect with the idea. - Why is the setting significant?
The setting represents solitude and reflection. It contrasts with the busyness of life. - Why is the poem so memorable?
Because it combines nature, reflection, and poetic beauty. Its simple language hides deep meaning.
