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POEM THE WAY THROUGH THE WOODS, , Comprehension, , A., , 1., 2., , The road has been shut for seventy years., , Weather and constant rain, for years altogether, have caused the shrubs and grass to grow., Because of this, the road is now covered in dense undergrowth., , . The keeper knows everything about the forest. He is witness to the changes in the forest and, , knows that the road existed once upon a time. He knows that now, because of the weather and, rain the road is covered with shrubs and bushes., , . On a summer evening, when the otter whistles to his mate, one can hear the beat of a horse's feet, , passing through the forest and the swish of a skirt in the dew., , . Trout are fresh-water fish. The words ‘trout-ringed pools’ imply that the fish are visible at the, , surface of the pool, although they are supposed to be deep in the water. It seems that because, people rarely come to the woods, the fish have been able to multiply unchecked. There were no, people fishing for trout in these pools, so there are plenty of fish here., , . The otters do not fear people because they are not used to seeing many people in the woods., , They do not realise that there is anything to fear from humans., , . The speaker says that if one enters the woods one can hear the steady cantering of a horse and, , the swishing sound of a woman's skirt. This indicates that it is a woman and that her skirts are, brushing the bushes as she rides past., , . The speaker feels full of wonder and curiosity when he enters the woods. The woods offer an eerie, , and misty atmosphere. The speaker feels that the old road has stories attached to it and he is very, interested in solving the mystery of the woods., , . a. ‘They’ here refers to the forest officials and keepers who looked after the forest seventy years, , ago., , b. The road must have been shut after an accident in the forest, in order to prevent other, travellers from travelling down the road. It might even stories about this accident that started, the rumours about the ghosts in the woods., , c. The country has high amounts of rainfall throughout the year. The constant rainfall has helped, trees and shrubs to grow abundantly and cover the road., , a. The'they’ refers to the ghostly apparitions in the woods., , , , b. The line‘As though they perfectly knew’ implies that the mysterious horse and the woman are, perfectly aware of the hidden road. The woman is used to travelling by it and therefore she, rides with confidence., , . The speaker is probably a keeper or someone who walks in the forest quite often. He has been, , visiting the woods for a very long time. He is witness to the changes in the forest and knows, how the trees and shrubs have covered the path. On summer evenings, he thinks he hears the, cantering of a horse and the swishing sound of a woman's skirt. They travel down the same path,, and therefore it is evident that it was a known route in the past., , . Human beings are wary of what is happening in the woods. On the other hand, the animals are, , not afraid of the mysterious horse and the woman in the forest. They are aware of a supernatural, presence but they live at peace with it. The ring-dove broods, the badgers roll at ease and the otter, whistles to his mate. However, the humans seem afraid and cautious.
