Chapter: 17. The Way Through The Woods
Comprehension Answer Key
A. Answer these questions.
Weather and rain are explicitly mentioned as having “undone” the road. The poem mentions “where the ring-dove broods” and “the badgers roll at ease,” indicating that these animals are nesting and comfortable, suggesting a peaceful and undisturbed habitat where they “fear not men… Because they see so few.” The poet describes the atmosphere with details like “the night-air cools on the trout-ringed pools” and “The misty solitudes.” The poem indicates the passage of significant time by stating the road was shut “Seventy years ago.” The poet uses the word “misty” to describe the “solitudes.” B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.
“It is underneath the coppice and heath, And the thin anemones.”
a. “It” is referring to the old, lost road that was shut seventy years ago.
b. This line tells us that the road has been completely covered and absorbed by natural growth, leaving no visible trace of its former existence.
c. These words depict specific types of dense, wild, and natural vegetation (small trees/shrubs, open uncultivated land, and delicate wildflowers), emphasizing the untamed and overgrown nature of the place where the road once lay. “But there is no road through the woods.”
a. This line appears as the very last line of the poem.
b. Its appearance at the very end is significant because it provides a stark and absolute counterpoint to the mysterious, almost supernatural imagery of the horse and rider. It brings the reader back to the undeniable physical reality, confirming that despite lingering echoes, the road is definitively gone.
c. This line powerfully reinforces the central message that nature ultimately triumphs over and reclaims human constructs, asserting the impermanence of human endeavors against the enduring power of the natural world. C. Think and answer.
If I were a nature scientist, I would observe dense overgrowth of various plants where a clear path once was, indicating ecological succession. I’d note the healthy populations of wildlife (like badgers and ring-doves) that show no fear of humans, suggesting a lack of significant human disturbance for a long period. I would conclude that the ecosystem has fully recovered and returned to its natural, wild state, aligning with the poem’s message of nature’s resilience. If the poem were told from the perspective of a badger, the tone might be less melancholic and more focused on the daily life and comfort within the woods. The “lost road” wouldn’t be a source of sadness or mystery, but simply a part of their natural burrowing ground. The badger would likely focus on the abundance of food, safe places to roll and play, and the undisturbed peace, highlighting the woods as a perfect habitat rather than a place of human loss. The “ghostly” sounds might just be perceived as unusual wind patterns or the rustling of leaves, if even noticed at all. This contrast makes the poem more thought-provoking because it explores the idea that even when physical things vanish, their impact or ‘memory’ can linger in a place. It prompts us to consider different forms of existence – the tangible present versus the intangible past. This duality adds a layer of mystery and wonder, suggesting that history and the spirits of the past can leave an enduring, albeit unseen, impression on the landscape, making the woods not just a physical space, but also a repository of time and memory. 
Answer key