Mending Wall
Mending Wall Biography Robert Frost was inspired to write Mending Wall after talking with one of his farming friend Napoleon Guay. He learned from talking with his neighbor that writing in the tones of real life is an important factor in his poetic form (Liu,Tam). Henry David Thoreau once stated that, "A true account of the actual is the purest poetry." Another factor that might have played a role in inspiring Frost to write this poem was his experience of living on a farm as a small boy. Mending Wall was published in 1915 along with a collection of Frost's poems in North of Boston. Theme Statements Nature dissolves the barriers that humanity erects. The purpose of the wall in this poem was to isolate one's personality and privacy. In line one and thirty-five, "Something there is that doesn't love a wall" reveals that nature has no boundaries, and because it, "doesn't love the wall," nature attempts destroy that boundary to bring humanity and the environment together in a harmonious bond. Nature has made, "... gaps even two can pass abreast," shows how nature has made a hole big enough for one person to walk across, and towards another person's property to talk. But, it also shows how humans are still unknowingly walling one anoth
er out from each other's lives. Tradition undermines the desire for change. As the poem progresses it gradually changes from young ideals to old tradition. The old man in the end, is presenting what he learned from his father through tradition. In line 43, "He will not go behind his father's saying," it clearly states that he will not stray from his father's teachings and the tradition set by his antecedents. Why change something they isn't broken? Even though the youth has his points as in lines 24-26, "He is all pine and I am apple orchard. / My apple trees will never get across/ And eat the cones under his pines," the youth will never affect the old man's tradition. Apples come and go with the seasons, but pines are forever and never out of season. Change instinctively challenges and questions the ideals of tradition. In order to change, one must first break tradition. But, in the poem the old man does not want to change and break tradition. The person who is willing to question tradition and confront the problem is the young man. He uses those "w" words to ask the question, "There where it is we do not need the wall," and "Why do they make good neighbors...Where are the cows?" The youth is asking logical questions, but is rebutted with the answer that, "Good fences make good neighbors". The youth challenges the old man to say what is on his mind, but the old man is an, "old-stone savage armed," who, has no ideas of his own and, "moves in the darkness," of the traditions he follows. Tone Narrative and explanations (lines 1-22) In these lines, Frost is introducing the setting, characters, and the conflicts to the reader. We also get an explanation about how, "Something there is that doesn't love a wall," and how the wall has been damaged to the point where, "gaps even two can pass abreast." The reader is also introduced to the attitudes of the characters, and how they feel towards the wall. The youth is curious and jolly in the beginning, thinking it as a game. But, the old man is a complete opposite, he doesn't say much and gets right to work without a simply hello or gesture. Inquisitions and curious (lines 23-36) The youth wishes to understand the purpose of the wall, and uses question words to support his curiosity. For instance, when the word "why," is italicized in line 30 it emphasizes his questioning of the importance of the wall. He challenges the neighbor to give a better answer then, "Good fences make good neighbors," but he doesn't receive one. Instead he accepts this to an extent and is still contemplating ways to how he can, "If I could put a notion in his head...(line 29)" Frustration (lines 36 and 40) Within the youth there is an internal conflict because he does not want to go along with the old man's tradition. However, he respects the old man enough, he does not say anything to his face but contemplates his ideas in his mind. As you know, silence is golden and a true sign of respect, even though the youth is frustrated and calling the old man names inside his head; he does not say it a load and make the old man uncomfortable in front of him. Wise Resignation (lines 43-45) The youth is getting smarter as time goes on because he knows it is a useless cause. It will be a waste of breath to the youth because he will not be able to change the old man's senile attitude. The old man is set in his ways and will not break tradition when the youth says, "He will not go behind his father's saying. (line 43)" This line states even though there is no meaning behind, "Good fences make good neighbors," it is like an unwritten rule and he expects to go through this ritual every year during "spring-mending time." Paradoxical (Carson Gibbs, 1962) This poem can be seen as being negative, but it can also be viewed as a positive to many reader's eyes. Even though the wall divides the neighbors, it also unites them once a year. In lines 13-14, "And on a day we meet to walk the line/ And set the wall between us once again," we n
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2853
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)
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