Question

Discuss what these phrases mean to you. 

(i) a yellow wood 

(ii) it was grassy and wanted wear 

(iii) the passing there 

(iv) leaves no step had trodden black 

(v) how way leads on to way

Answer 1

(i) a yellow wood: The yellow woods represents the season of autumn. Autumn also stands for old age and inactivity. The poet could be symbolically talking about his later stages of life when he finds it hard to take a decision. 

(ii) it was grassy and wanted wear : It means that the road was covered with grass. It looked relatively un-worn. The poet is trying to tell that people might have less travelled on the road because it was more risky. 

(iii) the passing there: It means the road used by the people to pass along it. 

(iv) leaves no step had trodden black: The speaker is trying to say that the leaves had not turned black because less people had stepped on them or it was the least travelled road. It represents a path which people may never have taken in life for the fear of uncertainty. 

(v) how way leads on to way: This phrase means how certain decisions are unpredictable. Whichever you choose would result in interesting and unique life experiences. We have to feel good about the choices we made.

Answer 2

(i) A yellow wood: A yellow wood symbolizes decaying and decomposing leaves which had turned yellow and filled the jungle. 

(ii) It was grassy and wanted wear: The phrase describes the road which is full of grass. Wanted wear further throws light on the idea that it had not been used much by travellers. 

(iii) The passing there: The path used by the passersby. 

(iv) Leaves no step had trodden black: The leaves had not turned black in colour because of less people stepping on them. It could have represented a path which was not chosen often by travellers due to uncertainty. 

(v) How way leads on to way: This phrase symbolizes certain decisions that an individual takes in life which could pave the way for many other decisions in future.