'Mending Wall' by Robert Frost

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North of Boston1914Something there is that doesn't love a wall,
That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it,
And spills the upper boulders in the sun;
And makes gaps even two can pass abreast.
The work of hunters is another thing:
I have come after them and made repair
Where they have left not one stone on a stone,
But they would have the rabbit out of hiding,
To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean,
No one has seen them made or heard them made,
But at spring mending-time we find them there.
I let my neighbour know beyond the hill;
And on a day we meet to walk the line
And set the wall between us once again.
We keep the wall between us as we go.
To each the boulders that have fallen to each.
And some are loaves and some so nearly balls
We have to use a spell to make them balance:
"Stay where you are until our backs are turned!"
We wear our fingers rough with handling them.
Oh, just another kind of out-door game,
One on a side. It comes to little more:
There where it is we do not need the wall:
He is all pine and I am apple orchard.
My apple trees will never get across
And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.
He only says, "Good fences make good neighbours."
Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonder
If I could put a notion in his head:
"Why do they make good neighbours? Isn't it
Where there are cows? But here there are no cows.
Before I built a wall I'd ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offence.
Something there is that doesn't love a wall,
That wants it down." I could say "Elves" to him,
But it's not elves exactly, and I'd rather
He said it for himself. I see him there
Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top
In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed.
He moves in darkness as it seems to me,
Not of woods only and the shade of trees.
He will not go behind his father's saying,
And he likes having thought of it so well
He says again, "Good fences make good neighbours."

Editor 1 Interpretation

Mending Wall: An Analysis of Robert Frost's Masterpiece

What does it mean to be a good neighbor? This question is at the heart of Robert Frost's poem "Mending Wall." Written in 1914, this poem is considered one of Frost's most famous and beloved works. It is a reflection on the human condition, the relationship between neighbors, and the nature of boundaries. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will examine the themes, imagery, and symbols used in "Mending Wall," and delve into the poem's underlying meanings and messages.

Themes

"Mending Wall" explores several themes, including the nature of boundaries, the relationship between neighbors, and the human desire for order and control.

The poem's central theme is the nature of boundaries, both physical and metaphorical. The speaker of the poem describes the process of repairing a wall that separates his property from his neighbor's. The wall is described as "something there is that doesn't love a wall," suggesting that barriers and boundaries are not natural or desirable. Despite this, the speaker and his neighbor continue to rebuild the wall each spring. This tension between the desire for boundaries and the recognition that they are ultimately futile is central to the poem's meaning.

Another theme explored in "Mending Wall" is the relationship between neighbors. The speaker and his neighbor are presented as two different types of people, with different beliefs and values. The speaker is willing to question the need for a wall, while the neighbor insists that "good fences make good neighbors." This tension between the two characters reflects the complexity of human relationships, and the challenges of living alongside others.

Finally, "Mending Wall" explores the human desire for order and control. The act of building and maintaining a wall suggests a need to create order and establish boundaries. The poem's speaker questions this impulse, suggesting that it may be rooted in fear or a desire for power. This theme is explored through the use of imagery and symbolism, which we will discuss in more detail below.

Imagery and Symbols

"Mending Wall" is rich in imagery and symbolism, which help to deepen the poem's meaning and message.

The most obvious symbol in the poem is the wall itself. The wall represents both physical and metaphorical barriers between people. The act of building and repairing the wall suggests a desire to create order and control, but it also highlights the futility of such efforts. The wall is described as "frozen ground-swell" and "spills the upper boulders in the sun," suggesting that it is a natural force that cannot be controlled or contained.

Another important symbol in the poem is the speaker's apple trees. The speaker describes how his neighbor's pine trees "will never eat the cones under his pines." This suggests that the neighbor is content to let nature take its course, while the speaker is more concerned with controlling and manipulating his environment. The apple trees also symbolize the speaker's connection to the land and his desire to live in harmony with nature.

Finally, the poem's imagery of spring and winter highlights the cyclical nature of life and the inevitability of change. The act of rebuilding the wall each spring suggests a desire to maintain the status quo, while the arrival of the "frozen ground-swell" each winter suggests that change is inevitable.

Interpretation

So, what does "Mending Wall" mean? At its core, the poem is a reflection on the human condition, the challenges of living alongside others, and the nature of boundaries. Frost uses the act of building and repairing a wall to explore the human desire for order and control, and the tension between this impulse and the recognition that boundaries are ultimately futile.

The poem's title, "Mending Wall," suggests that the act of repairing the wall is an ongoing process. This reinforces the idea that boundaries are not permanent or fixed, but are instead constantly shifting and changing. The poem's speaker questions the need for a wall, suggesting that it may be rooted in fear or a desire for power. This raises important questions about the nature of human relationships, and the ways in which we create and maintain barriers between ourselves and others.

Ultimately, "Mending Wall" is a meditation on the complexity of human relationships and the challenges of living alongside others. It highlights the tension between our desire for order and control, and the recognition that boundaries are ultimately futile. Through its rich imagery and symbolism, the poem invites us to reflect on our own relationships with our neighbors, and to question the barriers and boundaries we create between ourselves and others.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Mending Wall" is a masterpiece of American poetry. Its exploration of themes like the nature of boundaries, the relationship between neighbors, and the human desire for order and control continues to resonate with readers today. Frost's use of imagery and symbolism creates a rich and layered text that invites us to reflect on our own lives and relationships. Whether you are reading "Mending Wall" for the first time or revisiting it after years, this poem is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Mending Wall: A Poem of Boundaries and Unity

Robert Frost's "Mending Wall" is a classic poem that explores the themes of boundaries and unity. The poem is set in a rural landscape where two neighbors meet to mend a stone wall that separates their properties. Through the poem, Frost explores the idea of boundaries and their role in human relationships. The poem is a commentary on the human tendency to create boundaries and the need for unity and connection.

The poem begins with the line, "Something there is that doesn't love a wall." This line sets the tone for the poem and introduces the central theme of boundaries. The speaker questions the need for a wall and wonders why it is necessary to separate oneself from others. The speaker's neighbor, on the other hand, firmly believes in the importance of the wall and insists that "good fences make good neighbors."

The poem is structured in a conversational tone, with the speaker and his neighbor taking turns to express their views on the wall. The neighbor is portrayed as a traditionalist who values the wall as a symbol of order and tradition. He believes that the wall is necessary to keep out unwanted elements and to maintain a sense of privacy. The speaker, on the other hand, questions the need for the wall and wonders if it is really necessary to separate oneself from others.

The poem is rich in imagery and symbolism. The wall is a symbol of the boundaries that humans create to separate themselves from others. The stones that make up the wall are a symbol of the individual pieces that make up human society. The act of mending the wall is a symbol of the human desire to repair and maintain relationships.

The poem also explores the idea of unity and connection. The speaker questions the need for the wall and wonders if it is really necessary to separate oneself from others. He suggests that the wall is a barrier that prevents people from connecting with each other. The neighbor, on the other hand, believes that the wall is necessary to maintain a sense of order and tradition.

The poem is also a commentary on the human tendency to create boundaries. Humans have a natural tendency to create boundaries and to separate themselves from others. This is evident in the way that people create social, cultural, and political boundaries. The poem suggests that while boundaries may be necessary in some cases, they can also be a barrier to human connection and unity.

The poem also explores the idea of tradition and change. The neighbor is portrayed as a traditionalist who values the wall as a symbol of order and tradition. The speaker, on the other hand, questions the need for the wall and wonders if it is really necessary to maintain tradition at the expense of human connection. The poem suggests that while tradition may be important, it should not be maintained at the expense of human connection and unity.

In conclusion, Robert Frost's "Mending Wall" is a classic poem that explores the themes of boundaries and unity. The poem is a commentary on the human tendency to create boundaries and the need for unity and connection. The poem is rich in imagery and symbolism and is structured in a conversational tone. The poem suggests that while boundaries may be necessary in some cases, they can also be a barrier to human connection and unity. The poem also explores the idea of tradition and change and suggests that while tradition may be important, it should not be maintained at the expense of human connection and unity.

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