Chapter: 17. The Way Through The Woods
Practice Paper Answer Key
A. Answer these questions.
“They” shut the road through the woods seventy years ago. The poem mentions ring-doves, badgers, and an otter as being present in the woods. The poet describes the sound of the horse’s feet as a “beat.” The animals in the woods “fear not men” because they “see so few” men there, indicating a lack of human presence and disturbance. The “misty solitudes” contribute to the mysterious atmosphere when the phantom sounds are heard. B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.
“Weather and rain have undone it again, / And now you would never know”
a. “It” refers to the road that was once through the woods.
b. The phrase “undone it again” suggests the powerful, recurring, and relentless nature of natural elements to reverse human actions and reclaim constructed spaces.
c. This line creates a sense of loss or forgetting by emphasizing that the road has been so completely erased that its past existence is now imperceptible to anyone looking at the woods. “You will hear the beat of a horse’s feet, And the swish of a skirt in the dew,”
a. A person, likely a woman (due to the “swish of a skirt”), is implied to be riding the horse.
b. This is likely to occur “Of a summer evening late.”
c. It is significant because these sounds emanate from a “lost road” that physically “is no road through the woods.” This implies a ghostly or spectral presence, a memory or echo of the past, rather than a living presence, making the experience mysterious and haunting. C. Think and answer.
If the woods could speak, they might say, “We remember the road, a brief scar upon our ancient self. But we endured. The whispers of wheels and hooves are now ours, absorbed into the rustle of our leaves. We are whole again.” If the poem ended with “And the road lives on in their memory,” the feeling would be more hopeful or romantic, suggesting that human memory or the memory of the ghostly figures can preserve what is physically lost. It would lessen the starkness of nature’s ultimate triumph and introduce a more sentimental or even eternal aspect to the human connection with the path. The current ending emphasizes nature’s dominance and the finality of physical disappearance, creating a more haunting and melancholic tone. Kipling likely chose this setting to enhance the mystery and supernatural element. A “misty” environment blurs the lines between reality and illusion, making it easier to imagine unseen presences. “Evening late” adds to the quiet, solitary atmosphere, a time when the world is winding down and senses might be more attuned to subtle, unusual occurrences. A bright, sunny afternoon would suggest clarity and visibility, making a phantom phenomenon less believable or impactful. Appreciation
Enjambment: “Where the ring-dove broods, / And the badgers roll at ease,” This enjambment maintains a continuous flow, preventing a hard stop after “broods.” It connects the two images of the ring-dove and badgers smoothly, building a holistic picture of the wild inhabitants enjoying their undisturbed environment. It emphasizes the natural state of the woods by joining these elements together. Repetition: The phrase “Seventy years ago” (implied by context in the second instance referring to the passage of time since the road was shut). Or the word “knew” in stanza 3 (though not a direct repetition of itself, it highlights a state of awareness). A stronger choice: The word “again” (lines 3 & 4: “undone it again” vs. “you would never know”). Let’s go with “again.” The word “again” is used in “Weather and rain have undone it again” and then implicitly in “now you would never know”. This repetition (or strong implication across lines) emphasizes the continuous and repeated action of natural forces (weather and rain) in wearing away the road over time, making it clear that nature’s process is relentless and ongoing, leading to its complete disappearance. Rhyme: In the third stanza, the word “dew” internally rhymes with “through” (from “Steadily cantering through”). Effect: This internal rhyme adds a subtle musicality and rhythm to the line, connecting the image of the “skirt in the dew” with the act of “cantering through” the misty woods. It creates a flowing sound that mirrors the steady, smooth movement of the ghostly figures. Learn About Language
He likes to read stories both poems and poems. The cat was hiding either under the bed or behind the curtain. She is not only a good singer but also a talented dancer. You can either come with us or stay home. My brother is not only taller than me but also stronger. 
Answer key