Mending Wall

Poetry | Robert Frost
Back to Hub
Contents

“Something there is that doesn’t love a wall.”-Discuss.

Premium

What idea does the poet convey by “Something there is that doesn’t love a wall”? [NU: 2019]

Or, “Something there is that doesn’t love a wall.”-Discuss. [NU: 2022]

Robert Frost (1874-1963) begins his famous poem “Mending Wall” (1914) with the striking line, “Something there is that doesn’t love a wall.” Here, the speaker is arguing with his neighbour that they do not actually need a wall between their lands. This line also shows nature’s dislike for barriers and the poet’s wish for openness in human life.

Nature Breaks the Wall: The speaker and his neighbour meet every spring to repair/mend the wall that divides their lands. The speaker says winter frost and frozen ground push the stones off the wall. Hunters also break the wall while chasing rabbits. But nobody knows how most of the gaps appear. So, nature itself does not like

barriers. The natural world does not support divisions between people.

The Speaker Argues More: The speaker thinks that the wall is not necessary. He grows apple trees on one side, and his neighbour grows pine trees on the other. He jokes that his apple trees will never get across and eat his neighbour’s pines. So, he asks why they need a wall when there are no cows or animals to keep in or out. For the speaker, the wall is meaningless and only separates people.

The Neighbour’s Belief: The neighbour disagrees. He believes in tradition. He is not happy to accept modern or smart ways of thinking. So, his only reply is,

"Good fences make good neighbours."

To him, walls are important for respect and boundaries. But the speaker thinks of him as an “old-stone savage,” living in darkness/ignorance.

Frost’s Idea: So, Frost’s idea becomes clear at the end. Nature does not love a wall, and neither does Frost. Frost does not love walls or boundaries because they can separate people without reason. The poem also leaves us thinking whether walls truly bring people closer—or keep them apart.

Continue Reading

Subscribe to access the full content

Upgrade to Premium
From this writer
R
Robert Frost
Literary Writer
More Topics