Mending Wall
Poetry
|
Robert Frost
Mending Wall Full Poem
Mending Wall
By Robert Frost (1874-1963)
Something 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 y...
Read Mending Wall Full Poem
Mending Wall Summary
summary
Nature and the Broken Wall: The poem begins with the speaker saying that something in nature does not like walls. In winter, the frozen ground swells and pushes the stones away. The sun also loosens them, and wide gaps appear in the wall. The holes are big enough for two people to walk through. The speaker also says that hunters sometimes break the wall. They pull down the stones while c...
Expand Mending Wall Summary
Mending Wall Character
Characters:
The Speaker (Poetic Persona): The speaker is the narrator of the poem. He is thoughtful and questions why people build walls. He believes walls separate hearts, not protect them. He is friendly but curious. He wants understanding, not division.
The Neighbor: The neighbor lives next to the speaker. He is simple and traditional. He believes in his father’s saying, “Good fences make...
Expand Mending Wall Character
Mending Wall Literary Device
Symbols
Wall: The wall symbolizes the boundaries, separations, and emotional distances people create between one another. Frost shows that humans often build walls without real need. They build walls sometimes for safety, sometimes out of habit. Thus, the wall stands both for protection and isolation.
Spring: Spring symbolizes renewal and change. Ironically, the wall is repaired in spring, th...
Expand Mending Wall Literary Device
Mending Wall Quotations
Quotes
“Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,”
Explanation: The speaker begins the poem by saying that some natural force “doesn’t love a wall.” Here, nature is personified as having feelings against boundaries.
“Good fences make good neighbours.”
Explanation: This famous line, repeated twice, is a proverb spoken by the neighbor. It reflects traditional belief in maintaining boundari...
Expand Mending Wall Quotations
Mending Wall Key Info
Key Facts
Full Title: Mending Wall
Author: Robert Frost (1874–1963)
Title of the Author: The Poet of New England; Four-time Pulitzer Prize Winner
Source: Written after Frost’s return to New England from England. It reflects rural life and human relationships.
Written Time: 1913–1914
First Published: 1914 in North of Boston
Publisher: David Nutt (London)
Genre: Narrative Poem,...
Expand Mending Wall Key Info
Mending Wall Theme
Themes
Tradition vs. Change: One of the main themes of Mending Wall is the conflict between tradition and new thinking. The neighbor represents tradition. He believes in his father’s old saying: “Good fences make good neighbors.” For him, walls are necessary because that is what he was taught, and he never questions it. On the other hand, the speaker represents change. He asks why a wall is needed...
Expand Mending Wall Theme
Notes
Explore 5 detailed notes related to Mending Wall. Each note provides in-depth analysis, explanations, and critical insights.