Mending Wall Symbolism, Imagery & Wordplay There’s more to a poem than meets the eye. The Wall/Fences The wall is the shining star of this poem. It unites our speaker and his neighbor, but separates them as well. As we hear the neighbor speak the proverb twice ("Good fences make good neighbors"), w... Nature and Tradition Nature seems to act as the third wheel in this poem – the silent character swirling around the speaker and his neighbor. Although he doesn’t explicitly describe the landscape, we see it... Read the Poem: MENDING WALL By Robert Frost Or, first you can read Gene's comments about the Poem: SYMBOLISM!! If you read what I wrote on the first page, then you know why I love Frost. The paragraph next to my picture says it. My favorite poems are the ones on this site. My special favorite is "Mending wall". My 10 acre piece of property is completely surrounded by a stone wall, six feet thick in some places! It is built completely of stones picked up from the fields where someone spent 200 years trying to scratch a living out of this ground. And I have "mended" parts of it! And I'm not sure what is being walled in, and what is being walled out! The best part about "symbolism" in literature is that it can mean many things to many people. That's the whole point! If the Poet had something very, very definite to say, he would spell it out in plain English; and it would then not mean as much to you, because it just wouldn't be a "picture" painted in your mind. And remember this: Perhaps the Poet HAD nothing specific to say, and merely wanted you to experience HIS vision, or memory, or what have you! The following is a quote written by Louis Untermeyer in the 1940's. It is found in "The Pocket Book of Robert Frost's Poems", Henry Holt, 1946. It will tell you what some people think Frost meant. And I agree with some of it. Pay particular attention to the first two sentences of the last paragraph. Show them to your teacher and ask him/her if it's not possible to sometimes read a poem for the sheer enjoyment of the mental picture it conjures up, and not have to analyze it too much. Untermeyer's comments: "The strength of 'Mending Wall', one of Frost's most often quoted poems, rests upon a contradiction. Its two famous lines oppose each other. The poem maintains that: " 'Something there is that doesn't love a wall.' "But it also insists: " 'Good fences make good neighbours.' "The contradiction is logical, for the opposing statements are uttered by two different types of people and both are right. Man cannot live without walls, boundaries, limits and particularly self-limitations; yet he resents all bonds and is happy at the downfall of any barrier. In 'Mending Wall' the boundary line is useless: " 'There where it is we do not need the wall.' "And, to emphasize the point, the speaker adds playfully: " '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.' "Some readers have found far-reaching implications in this poem. They have found that it states one of the greatest problems of our time: whether national walls should be made stronger for our protection, or whether they should be let down, since they cramp our progress toward understanding and eventual brotherhood. Other readers have read 'Mending Wall' as a symbolic poem. In the voices of the two men the younger, whimsical, 'new-fashioned' speaker and the old-fashioned farmer who replies with his one determined sentence, his inherited maxim - some readers hear the clash of two forces: the spirit of revolt, which challenges tradition, and the spirit of restraint, which insists that conventions must be upheld, built up and continually rebuilt, as a matter of principle. "The poet himself frowns upon such symbolic interpretations. He denies that the poem says anything more than it seems to say. The contradiction is the heart of the poem. It answers itself in the paradox of people, in neighbors and competitors, in the contradictory nature of man." "Mending Wall" (1914) Every year, two neighbors meet to repair the stone wall that divides their property. The narrator is skeptical of this tradition, unable to understand the need for a wall when there is no livestock to be contained on the property, only apples and pine the neighbor stands his ground. “North of Boston. No matter what the narrator says. though. The neighbor. While living in England . he cannot help but notice that the natural world seems to dislike the wall as much as he does: mysterious gaps appear.” which was published upon his return from England in 1915.” Analysis This poem is the first work in Frost's second book of poetry. repeating only: “Good fences make good neighbors.” Over the course of the mending. on the other hand. asserts that the wall is crucial to maintaining their relationship. Moreover. boulders fall for no reason. He does not believe that a wall should exist simply for the sake of existing. asserting. the narrator attempts to convince his neighbor otherwise and accuses him of being oldfashioned for maintaining the tradition so strictly. “Good fences make good neighbors.trees. This particular adage was a popular colonial proverb in the middle of the 17th century. but variations of it also appeared in Norway (“There must be a fence between good neighbors”). Frost was exceptionally homesick for the farm in New Hampshire where he had lived with his wife from 1900 to 1909. “Mending Wall” is autobiographical on an even more specific level: a French-Canadian named Napoleon Guay had been Frost’s neighbor in New Hampshire. the most famous line of the poem (“Good fences make good neighbors”) was not invented by Frost himself. and the two had often walked along their property line and repaired the wall that separated their land. Ironically. Frost associated his time in New Hampshire with a peaceful. but was rather a phrase that Guay frequently declared to Frost during their walks. rural sensibility that he instilled in the majority of his subsequent poems.with his family. Germany . Despite the eventual failure of the farm. but he is flexible with the form in order to maintain the conversational feel of the poem. Frost creates two distinct characters who have different ideas about what exactly makes a person a good neighbor. Frost does maintain iambic stresses. Japan (“Build a fence even between intimate friends”).” “well”). The narrator deplores his neighbor’s preoccupation with repairing the wall.(“Between neighbor’s gardens a fence is good”). but do not throw down the dividing wall”).” “hill. and even India (“Love your neighbor. it is a simple forty-five lines of first-person narrative. He also shies away from any obvious rhyme patterns and instead relies upon the occasional internal rhyme and the use of assonance in certain ending terms (such as “wall. he views it as old-fashioned and . In terms of form.” “balls. “Mending Wall” is not structured with stanzas. In the poem itself. It seems as if nature is attempting to destroy the barriers that man has created . the two neighbors fill the gaps and replace the fallen boulders.” As the narrator points out. Every year. all without explanation. are such borders necessary to maintain relationships between people? Despite the narrator’s skeptical view of the wall. responding to each of the narrator’s disgruntled questions and rationalizations with nothing more than the adage: “Good fences make good neighbors. the very act of mending the wall seems to be in opposition to nature.even archaic. stones are dislodged and gaps suddenly appear. Moreover. Every year. within a land of such of such freedom and discovery. the narrator asks. After all. only to have parts of the wall fall over again in the coming months. the neighbor maintains his seemingly “oldfashioned” mentality. his apples are not going to invade the property of his neighbor’s pinecones. he quips. the narrator himself walks along the wall at other points during the year in order to repair the damage that has been done by local hunters. Frost subtley points out that the narrator is actually more active than the neighbor. It is the narrator who selects the day for mending and informs his neighbor across the property. the narrator is really no different from his neighbor: he too clings . far beyond old-fashioned traditions.on the land. While he chooses to present himself as a modern man. while the narrator seems to begrudge the annual repairing of the wall. even as man continues to repair the barriers. Despite his skeptical attitude. it seems that the narrator is even more tied to the tradition of wall-mending than his neighbor. Ironically. simply out of habit and tradition. Moreover. Perhaps his skeptical questions and quips can then be read as an attempt to justify his own behavior to himself. the annual act of mending the wall also provides an opportunity for the two men to interact and communicate with each other. the narrator and his neighbor are able to maintain their individuality and personal identity as farmers: one of apple trees. the presence of the wall between the properties does ensure a quality relationship between the two neighbors. Mending Wall. an event that might not otherwise occur in an isolated rural environment. of ownership and individuality.to the concept of property and division. Moreover. By maintaining the division between the properties. and one of pine trees. by Robert Frost portrays the . The act of meeting to repair the wall allows the two men to develop their relationship and the overall community far more than if each maintained their isolation on separate properties. Ultimately. and extremely imaginable. you can bet that the two men are out there putting it back together piece by piece. If a stone is missing form the fence. Frost's description of every detail in this poem is quite interesting. Quite the contrary however. very pleasant to read. by laboring so hard. and constant drive shines through when reading how persistence these men seem about keeping the wall intact. Frost makes literal implications about what the two men are doing. commitment. they are physically putting the stones back. each man is experiencing . or wall. that separates their properties. He leaves the reader to decide for himself what deductions he is to make from the reading. For instance.routines of two neighbors who are constantly mending the fence. Their dedication. one by one. Indeed. is the inferences that something even deeper is going on. On one hand. There is a sharing experience taking place here. Is there a reason for this? It is important to note that not only are these men completing a manly task. and "I have come after them(hunters) and made repair where they have left not one stone on a stone.physical repercussions. Frost writes. We can gather from the beginning of the poem that the wall has many forces that keep's it in shambles. the neighbor would not repeat." .". ".." The man and his neighbor don't seem to have time for anything else.. but they are also "building" some type of relationship. "Good fences make good neighbors. If this were not an issue..that sends the frozen ground swell under it and spills the upper boulders in the sun... for it sounds as if they are constantly making repairs. For instance. but they are also using this time as a "meet and greet" period.. As the poem continues we see that what is taking place is almost like a game. One of the men farms "apples"." It seems to show that even though there is a need for friendship in each of us. "Oh. it is equally as necessary for us to have our own space. each are special and . etc.." And the narrator continues by saying. This is almost like there is this game of leapfrog taking place! "He is all pine and I am apple orchard. while the other just has "pines". Having different likes.As the man tells his story. ". The man says. just another kind of outdoor game. we find that even though the two men may be conversing and interacting. there is some distance between them at all times. he says.. In fact. Nonetheless. "We keep the wall between us as we go"." This seems to indicate that each of us are different.on a day we meet to walk the line and set the wall between us once again. dislikes. or segregation. the only quote by the neighbor in this poem is. What could he have meant by this poem? "Stay where you are until our backs are turned"." In another light however. there is the idea of separation. This seems to be an odd touch to this poem. In other words he is telling them that if they are going to fall.both of them contain separate. It almost appears that the man is so bored at times that he would talk about or to anything. please wait until he is not looking. "Good fences make good neighbors. After all. Maybe the man only has himself and these inanimate objects to converse with. I have briefly touched on the idea that the two men are consistently . He is speaking to the stones. Maybe the neighbor is not as much of a talker as one might have imagined. Now let's reflect on Frost's use of the "stone" itself. yet endearing qualities. In addition though.kept apart by this wall. no matter the extent. We are left with the impression that if two people have differences. Finally. "Something there is that doesn't love a wall. they are not considered equals by society. ." This sentence infers that the wall separating we as a people. the author contrasts his "wall" of separation with the idea of segregation in our world. needs to come down. there is the recurring idea that the wall should not be there in the first place. It is virtually impossible for us to build lasting relationships while we are still possessed with hatred and discrimination. It ma disputes while they are repairing the wall. (“The Mending Wall”) The narrator does not love the wall a done it before him when the place used for range.The Mending Wall “The Mending Wall”.” The wall is important to them.” (Mending Wall) A wall is a usually solid structure that defines and sometimes protects space. he “presents to the readers the idea barriers.k12.il. “He is all pine and I am apple orchard”. They als In this poem.). which desires to break down the barriers that the humans place between each other. “Good fences make good neigh intrusion. At lines 36 to 38 “I could say 'Elves' to him. The wall gives the neighbors their own privacy. and I'd rather he said it for h to break down walls.” (Essay Analyzing of Mending Wall by Robert Frost) The poem consists of two characters. The Mending Wall. Robert Frost mentione could be God or nature. They are owned by the narrator and his neighbor. was written by Robert Frost.d. and spi wall and find the rabbit that hiding in the wall. It also gives the t about when they are repairing on the wall. “That sends the frozen ground swell under it. it said the right places that belong neighbor. the damage to the wall as evidenced by the line 2 & 3. The word “mending” m point of view of a person on one side of the wall. The center point in the poem is “Something there is that doesn't love a wall”. the line 24. H The theme of the poem is about two neighbors who disagree over the need of a wall to separate thei neighbors' friendship. 2005 from New Trier High School. communication. Every spring time they are rebuilding the wall together.newtrier. friendship and the sense of security pe Bibliography: Bibliography: Julie & Laura (n. In this poem. who ar separate their property. (Essay Analyzing of Mending Wall) For the neighbor with the pine make the people be friendly and closely as he mentions twice in this poem. The neighbor’s property is representation of his privacy and the wall acts as a barrier against intru right places for the apple orchard and a pine plantation. English Department Web site: http://nths. separating them. but it's not elves exactly. Mending wall could improve the neighbors’ communication and friendship between them.us/academi . Retrieved December 2. It told on one side of the wall the readers get a better sens the readers that his ideas of barriers between people. The two day we meet to walk the line and set the wall between us once again. Like I said your argument is g go that is not good for the human.” This sentence is in he “The way of some people’s talking different as their thinking. she used the word “same.2005-12-11 7:06 PM Dani’s writing is very well organized. It would be better if she divide some of her sentences into two or three. the bibliography is must in alphab From karolina . there were some errors that I found. you give lot examples based in both possible explanations the natural and th When you explain the natural part of the wall you do a comparison with the human behavior and the mask s could get along much better and at the same time respect each other property.2005-12-10 2:12 AM I reread today Dan’s analysis on (The Mending Wall) her audience is basically anyone who had read the poe given a possible meaning to each one of them. but later on you say that the wall will help both neighbors to get along m . “Everything has two sid long. How about adding some sug for the run on sentence. “the. The evide going to write. Your argument seems to go around what is the meaning of th that “something” is very good.Comments + Add Comment From parkse . she missed a comma between meaning and which. In the third paragraph. the walls just like the masks that people wear them everyday.” This sentence sounds awkward.” After “Every spring time……” it should have a comma after it.” At the end of this paragraph. For the conclusion. In the fourth paragraph. However. it would be better if she mentioned her main ideas briefly. time they are rebuilding the wall together.” This word should have used after the article. she questioned the read Her fifth paragraph is too short!! She needs more details and example to support it. it’s little har thought is different from what they actually thinking. In addition. “In our society. and be careful when using a comma. and the ideas that she provided are knowledgeable. The term "barrier. I think that the only thin What is your take on the mending Wall? The Poem "Mending Wall.defend your analysis will look more academic. The "Mending Wall" is a title with several meanings. because this will help the reader you try to interpret in the best way you could." by Robert Frost. It was a good choice of you to add the definitions of the wall and mending. Your format and grammar was good." is a structure built to bar passage." After I read the poem a few times. The first meaning I actually came across was " to improve poor relations in politics. presents the reader with the idea of separation between two neighbors because of a wall. The wall acts as a barrier between the two people in a literal and intellectual way. I thought it had to do with two politicians who . Robert frost uses many literary devices which cause his poem to have deeper meaning to the idea of separation. After I read it another few times." simply means to make repairs or to restore something.were trying to make repair their position with each other. On lines 1 to 4. The . On line 1." indicates the protagonist and his neighbor meet together every spring to "restore" the wall set between them. It has to do with the relationship with people. I decided it doesn't have to do with politics. "But at spring mending-time we find them there." may be describing how "nature" doesn't love the wall. The word "something" on line 1 could very well mean nature. The term "mending. the narrator is describing the condition of the wall before the two neighbors mend it. On line 11. "Something there is that doesn't love a wall. following words supporting this are "ground. and ultimately set a wall around us. A nature Motif is evident throughout the poem. Several words which support this are "ground" (line 2). "boulders" (line 3). we sometimes fail to let our guard down." "boulder. there is miscommunication and disagreement between people. The nature aspect supports the Theme of the poem. and "hill" (line 12). When this happens." In a connotative sense. "stone" (line 7). "sun" (line 3). In life. . the word "wall" throughout the poem. "rabbit" (line 8). is actually a wall which blocks out communication." and the "sun. These farmers probably mend the wall every spring because spring is a warmer month. I came to this conclusion because of line 11. my imagination . "But at spring mendingtime we find them there. and the speaker. The plants begin to grow again during the spring. and his neighbor.The actual month this poem is taking place. Spring is also the rebirth of plants." This indicates it is spring-mending time in the countryside. When the narrator of the story mentions the wall. will be getting together to help mend the wall. The two neighbors friendship may be growing during springtime as well. is in the spring. Robert Frost uses Imagery in many ways throughout his poem. visual touch to the poem which helped me see where the setting of the story truly is." When I read the word "hill" I immediately thought about farmland and rural areas where there isn't a lot of people or places. I believe the setting of the poem is somewhere out in the country. The narrator of the story mentions a description of boulders by the wall.envisions what the wall looks like between the land. and the sun shining down." The narrator is comparing his land to his neighbors. " He is all pine and I am apple Orchard. The protagonist says " I let my neighbor know beyond the hill. The two neighbors may be farmers. The narrator owns the apple tree . This was a very creative. This is supported by line 24. The term "wall" used in the poem. and the neighbor owns the pine trees. The wall which so boldly separates the two neighbors. This is denotation. are a good tool for shade and security. Although the pine trees make the neighbor feel safe. is a symbol for security. the wall is more important to him." the narrator is talking about the wall which separates the two neighbors. The wall is a physical barrier from the neighbor and the outside world. means the physical barrier between the two people. "And set the wall between us once again. The neighbor may have the pine trees to feel safe and secure on his own land. After reading the .orchard. Pine trees by nature. On line 14. The neighbors are separated from the "wall" physically. and emotionally. There is miscommunication between the two farmers. He is using connotation to reveal the relationship between people. The wall could also have a positive aspect towards the neighbors. On line 11 "But at spring mending-time we find them there." makes me believe the farmers only meet one day a year to help mend the wall. On line 13 "And on a day we meet to walk the line. despite its job as a barrier." I realize the farmers mend the wall every spring. I began to realize what Robert Frost may be trying to explain. can also . The wall. which will be explained as this paper continues."mending wall" several times. The wall may also help the neighbors "mend" their friendship during the spring mending time. As they build the wall back to its original state. the farmers may also be building up the respect and friendship which is important to them. The theme of the poem is the barrier's set by people. cause the lack of communication and understanding in someone's personal relationship with someone. He doesn't understand why his neighbor needs the wall. This is a lack of communication because when the narrator asks the man why he needs the wall. Lines 23 to 27 is a conversation between the narrator and his neighbor. the .provide privacy for the two people. The wall. is a barrier. but it brings the two together during the spring. It separates their beliefs and communication." His response confuses the narrator of the story. "good fences make good neighbors.neighbor replies in line 27. I also think when the farmers meet to repair the wall they reminisce about their lives and become close during that time period. The reason why "nature" controls the . I believe the neighbor says this because he appreciates the privacy and enjoys feeling safe. whereas the other neighbor thinks walls make good neighbors. The narrator of the story doesn't really understand why the wall needs to be on the land. There is a minor conflict between the two neighbors. The poem is about two neighbors who have ." I had the idea nature is what doesn't love a wall.theme is "nature is what doesn't love a wall" The wall gets damaged by the weather. I believe when Robert Frost wrote "Mending Wall. and many other things which relate to nature. "something there is that doesn't love a wall." he intended on causing the reader to find the hidden meaning to the story. boulders. In the beginning of the poem on line 1. I think the narrator of the story is the true subject who doesn't love the wall. animals. As the poem progresses. This indicates nature may not agree with the wall being on the land. my interpretation of the word "something" changed. The wall also represents lack of communication.different opinions on the wall which splits their properties. The other neighbor continues to reply "Good fences make good neighbors. The physical wall is a barrier between people." This just shows how frustrated the narrator is because of the wall. The wall is a metaphor of barrier. The narrator says "My apple trees will never get across and eat the cones under his pines. and the act of building and repairing the wall is a metaphor for building a relationship with someone." I believe the way the narrator is speaking towards the end of the poem . I found lines 26 and 26 to be humorous. "screams" frustration. the narrator describes the neighbor as " an old. I .stone savage armed." This quote makes me believe the neighbor was raised by his father and was taught fences are a good source of privacy. On line 40. the narrator is talking about telling his neighbors about elves. The tone in which he speaks is frustration. I think the elves are the symbol for the weather which has damaged the wall during the year. One line 43. I believe the neighbor may be the antagonist of the story. On lines 36 to 38. "he will not go behind his fathers saying." This caused me to visualize the neighbor as being a barbaric person. I realize why the neighbor wants to keep the wall up. door . it made me flashback to a time in my life. but he continually says "good fences make good neighbors. "Mending Wall. I cannot help but be interested." I enjoyed reading the descriptive words Frost used. where my parents were in a miscommunication between my next.think the neighbor doesn't want to get rid of the wall because he may be having an internal conflict with himself. Robert Frost had several solid ideas presented in his poem. He may have a secret desire deep down to get rid of the wall. When an author uses good description in a piece of literature." In my personal opinion. When I realized this poem is about a conflict between two neighbors. Robert Frosts use of literary devices helps the reader understand the true meaning of the story in a much deeper intellectual way. The wall acts as a barrier and separates two neighbors.neighbors. and they have problems communicating throughout the poem. The neighbors emotional connection with each other is slightly off. He uses a "wall" as the basis for his overall theme of the story. with any type of conflict. there is always a good chance for resolution. "Mending Wall" by Robert Frost clearly presents the idea of separation. However. The ironic part about this. . is there was also miscommunication over a fence. I also used a different tone in my voice each time. verbally. As our . and struggled. Before I began writing this paper of interpretation. The "Mending Wall" helped me develop a good understanding of miscommunication between people. I read the poem several times. I was reading the poem visually.After interpreting this poem. and read out loud. I have grown to respect poetry as an art form. I then decided to read each line slowly. The " Mending Wall. and mentally. This helped me develop a strong understanding for the overall story. and it became clear how the poem was unfolding." Is a good example of how poetry can have a powerful impact on its reader. I thought "Mending Wall" was very confusing and I couldn't find any meaning. This poem has caused me to control this instinct. . as long as each person actually brings down the emotional wall surrounding them.society continues moving foreword. I believe miscommunication is something which can be resolved. humanity has become more independent and has turned their shoulder on their neighbors.