'Out, Out' by Robert Frost

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The buzz-saw snarled and rattled in the yard
And made dust and dropped stove-length sticks of wood,
Sweet-scented stuff when the breeze drew across it.
And from there those that lifted eyes could count
Five mountain ranges one behind the other
Under the sunset far into Vermont.
And the saw snarled and rattled, snarled and rattled,
As it ran light, or had to bear a load.
And nothing happened: day was all but done.
Call it a day, I wish they might have said
To please the boy by giving him the half hour
That a boy counts so much when saved from work.
His sister stood beside them in her apron
To tell them "Supper." At that word, the saw,
As if to prove saws knew what supper meant,
Leaped out at the boy's hand, or seemed to leap --
He must have given the hand. However it was,
Neither refused the meeting. But the hand!
The boy's first outcry was a rueful laugh,
As he swung toward them holding up the hand
Half in appeal, but half as if to keep
The life from spilling. Then the boy saw all --
Since he was old enough to know, big boy
Doing a man's work, though a child at heart --
He saw all spoiled. "Don't let him cut my hand off --
The doctor, when he comes. Don't let him, sister!"
So. But the hand was gone already.
The doctor put him in the dark of ether.
He lay and puffed his lips out with his breath.
And then - the watcher at his pulse took fright.
No one believed. They listened at his heart.
Little -- less -- nothing! -- and that ended it.
No more to build on there. And they, since they
Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Out, Out by Robert Frost: A Poem of Loss and Mortality

Robert Frost's poem "Out, Out" is a brief but haunting elegy to a young boy whose life is cut short by a tragic accident. Written in 1916, the poem is set in rural New England and tells the story of a boy who is working with a buzz saw when the tool suddenly jumps and cuts off his hand. The boy dies shortly afterwards, and the poem ends with the quiet lament of the onlookers:

"And they, since they / Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs."

This simple statement, with its understated tone and lack of sentimentality, speaks volumes about the transience of life and the inevitability of death. Frost's poem is a meditation on mortality and the fragility of human existence, and it invites us to reflect on our own mortality and the ways in which we come to terms with the finitude of our lives.

The Setting and the Imagery

The setting of "Out, Out" is crucial to the poem's overall effect. Frost sets the scene in a rural landscape, where the boy is cutting wood with a buzz saw. The imagery of the saw is central to the poem, and Frost masterfully uses it to create a sense of impending danger and unease. The saw is described as "snarling and rattling" and "leaping" as it cuts through the wood. The description of the saw is vivid and visceral, and it creates a sense of danger and tension that pervades the entire poem.

The natural imagery in the poem is also striking. The boy's hand is described as "like the hand of a boy / And was no bigger than his own." This image, with its suggestion of the boy's smallness and vulnerability, is poignant and powerful. Similarly, the trees in the landscape are personified as "watching" the boy, and their "whispering" creates a sense of eerie foreboding.

The Theme of Loss

One of the central themes of "Out, Out" is loss. The poem is a lament for the boy who dies in the accident, and it evokes a sense of sadness and sorrow that is palpable. Frost's description of the boy's death is spare and understated, but it is all the more powerful for its restraint. The boy's death is not sensationalized or romanticized; it is simply presented as a fact of life, a reminder that death can come suddenly and unexpectedly.

The theme of loss is underscored by the reactions of the people who witness the accident. The onlookers are described as "Five mountain ranges" who stand "silent" and "terrified" as they watch the boy die. Their silence and fear create a sense of helplessness and impotence, and it underscores the futility of human efforts to control or prevent death.

The Theme of Mortality

The theme of mortality is perhaps the most prominent theme in "Out, Out." The poem is a meditation on the fragility of human existence and the inevitability of death. Frost's description of the boy's death is unsentimental and matter-of-fact, and it underscores the fleetingness of life. The fact that the onlookers "turned to their affairs" after the boy's death highlights the transience of life and the way in which we are often preoccupied with mundane concerns in the face of mortality.

The boy's death also highlights the arbitrary nature of death. The accident that kills him is sudden and unexpected, and it underscores the fact that death can come at any moment, without warning or explanation. The boy's death is a reminder that life is precious and fragile, and that we must cherish every moment that we have.

The Poem's Structure

The structure of "Out, Out" is deceptively simple. The poem consists of one stanza of 34 lines, and it is written in blank verse. The poem's lack of rhyme creates a sense of naturalness and spontaneity, and it underscores the poem's natural imagery.

The poem's structure also contributes to its overall effect. The poem's spare and understated language creates a sense of austerity and restraint, and it underscores the poem's theme of mortality. The poem's lack of embellishment or ornamentation creates a sense of inevitability and finality, and it underscores the poem's theme of loss. The poem's structure is carefully crafted to create a sense of unity and coherence, and it underscores the poem's overarching message about the fragility of human existence.

Conclusion

"Out, Out" is a powerful meditation on mortality and loss. The poem's spare and understated language creates a sense of austerity and restraint, and it underscores the poem's theme of mortality. The poem's natural imagery and vivid description of the saw create a sense of unease and impending danger, and it underscores the poem's theme of loss. The poem's structure is carefully crafted to create a sense of unity and coherence, and it underscores the poem's overarching message about the fragility of human existence.

Ultimately, "Out, Out" invites us to reflect on our own mortality and the ways in which we come to terms with the finitude of our lives. The poem reminds us that death is a fact of life, and that we must cherish every moment that we have. As we turn to our own affairs, we are left with a sense of sadness and melancholy, but also with a renewed appreciation for the preciousness of life.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Out, Out by Robert Frost: A Tragic Tale of Life and Death

Robert Frost is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, and his works have been studied and analyzed by scholars and enthusiasts alike. Among his many famous poems, Out, Out stands out as a poignant and tragic tale of life and death. Written in 1916, the poem tells the story of a young boy who dies while working with a buzz saw. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and symbolism in Out, Out, and examine how Frost uses language to convey his message.

The poem begins with a description of the boy's work, as he cuts wood with a buzz saw. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, as Frost uses vivid imagery to create a sense of danger and foreboding:

"The buzz-saw snarled and rattled in the yard And made dust and dropped stove-length sticks of wood, Sweet-scented stuff when the breeze drew across it."

The buzz saw is personified as a menacing creature, snarling and rattling, and the dust and wood chips it creates are described in sensory detail. The sweet scent of the wood is juxtaposed with the harshness of the saw, creating a sense of tension and unease.

As the poem progresses, we learn more about the boy and his family. Frost describes the boy as "a boy doing a man's work," and we get the sense that he is young and inexperienced. His sister, who is also working in the yard, calls out to him to come in for supper, but he is too focused on his work to pay attention. This foreshadows the tragedy to come, as the boy's preoccupation with his work leads to his death.

The turning point of the poem comes when the boy's hand is caught in the buzz saw. Frost describes the scene in graphic detail, using language that is both visceral and haunting:

"Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more."

These lines are a reference to Shakespeare's Macbeth, and they serve to underscore the tragedy of the boy's death. The image of the "brief candle" being snuffed out is a powerful metaphor for the fragility of life, and the idea that we are all just "poor players" who will eventually be forgotten.

After the boy's death, the poem shifts focus to the reactions of those around him. Frost describes the scene as "a boy's willful murder," suggesting that the boy's death was preventable and unnecessary. The family members are described as being in shock, and the sister's cry of "Don't let him cut my hand off" is a poignant reminder of the boy's youth and innocence.

Throughout the poem, Frost uses imagery and symbolism to convey his message. The buzz saw is a symbol of the dangers of technology and the dehumanizing effects of industrialization. The boy's youth and inexperience are a symbol of the vulnerability of the human condition, and his death serves as a reminder of the fragility of life. The title of the poem, Out, Out, is a reference to Shakespeare's Macbeth, and it serves to underscore the tragic nature of the boy's death.

In conclusion, Out, Out is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the themes of life, death, and the human condition. Frost's use of vivid imagery and symbolism creates a sense of tension and unease, and his message is both poignant and timeless. The poem serves as a reminder of the dangers of technology and the importance of valuing human life above all else.

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