Mending Wall Analysis

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."

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Owen Williams is the cutest guy ever, PB :)I love the way you are and if u ever read this, search the song pale blue eyes by the velvet underground i dedicated it to you am sure that after you read it you will know that it is from me:)

| Posted on 2009-11-18 | by a guest

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It just means that even when you feel so close to a friend that you feel you need not hide a single thing from him, you still need boundaries between him and you. Just like the persona in the poem wonders why there is a need for a wall when their properties are only trees and not cows and neither may wander onto each other's land, we might think there is no way we may offend our friend with our complete transparency and lack of filtering/self-censorship. There is a need for boundaries, so that there will not be any offence taken. As much as you love your friend, it is obvious you do not want him to be around you all the time or to tell you about every single thing in his life. But this is not spoken out loud in all relationships, just like the persona would rather his neighbour spell it out first, because he didn't want to. It is unspoken, but you know it, and I know it, so let's not overstep our boundaries, shall we?

| Posted on 2009-11-12 | by a guest

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I believe that this poem is much deeper than the surface. if you look at the time this poem was written World War one had just started and the cival war was only fourty years prior. I see this as Frost's way to look at segergation.

| Posted on 2009-11-03 | by a guest

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the wall is a physical and emotional barrier between the two men.

| Posted on 2009-11-02 | by a guest

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I actually think this poemis just like a journal reflection- a writing of his curiosity. He's frustrated and sore from continuously rebuilding this wall every spring. And it like a tradition but he's stunned when his neighbor makes the comment about "Good neighbors" the rest of his poem is wondering why we as a people need walls anyway if the person close to us has done nothing to offens us, why is a wall necessary?

| Posted on 2009-10-25 | by a guest

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I believe this poem is about the human need to define boundaries as humans are territorial creatures.

| Posted on 2009-10-21 | by a guest

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This poem is obviously about avoiding a boundary dispute between two landowners. Good fences make good neighbors. There is good advice about contacting the neighbor when the wall is down and needs to be jointly repaired. I wish I could force the people that call me complaining about 3" in an older neighborhood with no good survey control to read this poem.

| Posted on 2009-10-18 | by a guest

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I believe this poem describes the urges and apprehensions that one person, whoever that may be, feels when exposing him/herself to another, or assimilating: fear (perhaps of rejection, etc.) and desire (perhaps for acceptance-bonding or companionship). It signifies the two-faced, or two-faced, nature of human experience. (End note (Biblical): This presupposes that shame is recognized/actualized; but, only after nakedness is exposed/accentuated.)

| Posted on 2009-10-16 | by a guest

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I think most of people only see here in this poem, what the neighbor speaker of the poem wants you to see, he doesn't need the wall separating them, but at the same time he is the one who take the first step in mending the wall every year, I think the over the vision of friendship in this poem is the inability of human beings of walking together,and it's not one side only, both neighbors built the wall and mend it every year.

| Posted on 2009-08-20 | by a guest

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poetry is for faggts and i'm forced to read this sh*t

| Posted on 2009-08-14 | by a guest

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Mending Wall is obviously about the interpersonal relationship between two people. The wall, is the emotional distance we keep, which prevents others from getting to close to us on a personal level. Frost as the speaker has his opinion. The reader, you, have been given the question as to what side, or rather, what kind of person are you? Are you like Robert Frost, open to the idea of friendship? Or, are you more like the antagonist who, "Moves in the darkness as it seems" remains closed to the idea of breaking down barriers. Maybe it's just the elves, that could consider this on a global scale considering one nations right to interfere with another nation, or maybe not.

| Posted on 2009-07-29 | by a guest

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the hell is with that poem! is totally fcking stupid!
grrr!!! i hate robert frost!!! he is so dumb!! keep up the fcking work..

| Posted on 2009-07-26 | by a guest

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Connection to Fences: The good times with neighbor/friend Jim Bono seem strained now. Out in the yard on Saturday morning, working on Rose’s fence, Jim Bono suggests that Rose wants the fence to hold on, protect, the one’s she loves; keep her family together in her loving embrace. Bono’s comment challenges Troy’s recent actions with Alberta. Jim leaves saying “I want to see you put that fence up by yourself” which might suggest that Troy must right whatever wrongs he’s caused.
Frost’s poem relates a scene of two neighbors working on a fence (wall) as well, but is somewhat ambiguous. The poem presents opposing views about the wall. Which mindset does the poet seem to favor: the neighbor’s view or the speaker’s view? Furthermore, if the speaker dislikes walls, why does he initiate mending the wall each spring? Quote the poem and provide commentary explaining how the quoted material helps show that your assertion (opinion, interpretation) is well-supported by the text.
????
Thats what I have to write about at summer school help!!!

| Posted on 2009-07-24 | by a guest

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Connection to Fences: The good times with neighbor/friend Jim Bono seem strained now. Out in the yard on Saturday morning, working on Rose’s fence, Jim Bono suggests that Rose wants the fence to hold on, protect, the one’s she loves; keep her family together in her loving embrace. Bono’s comment challenges Troy’s recent actions with Alberta. Jim leaves saying “I want to see you put that fence up by yourself” which might suggest that Troy must right whatever wrongs he’s caused.
Frost’s poem relates a scene of two neighbors working on a fence (wall) as well, but is somewhat ambiguous. The poem presents opposing views about the wall. Which mindset does the poet seem to favor: the neighbor’s view or the speaker’s view? Furthermore, if the speaker dislikes walls, why does he initiate mending the wall each spring? Quote the poem and provide commentary explaining how the quoted material helps show that your assertion (opinion, interpretation) is well-supported by the text.
????
Thats what I have to write about at summer school help!!!

| Posted on 2009-07-24 | by a guest

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This
may only be an analysis of the writing. No requests for explanation or
general short comments allowed. Due to Spam Posts are moderated before
posted.

| Posted on 2009-07-24 | by a guest

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u r guyz fckin serious, what is wrong with ppl nowadayz

| Posted on 2009-07-07 | by a guest

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will matthews has a massive willie hanging off his forehead

| Posted on 2009-06-24 | by a guest

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I am daniel Tsoi....and i love WOW and men..yay me
Robert Frost

| Posted on 2009-06-24 | by a guest

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U guys have no life will mathews lik banging horses
robert frost

| Posted on 2009-06-24 | by a guest

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danial tsoi likes playing wow
with robert frost

| Posted on 2009-06-24 | by a guest

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Ok?? give as a call when u get further than me
Robert Frost

| Posted on 2009-06-24 | by a guest

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Robert Frost (code for liam) is a noob. He likes to read poetry and occaisionly play with it (poetry = ...) Last but not least you are a fieces like person that

| Posted on 2009-06-24 | by a guest

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srsly though liam does get it off with men i mean that is fair rank
thankyou liam and robert frost

| Posted on 2009-06-24 | by a guest

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Mate when is the new prono being released i heard all the horses are so excited.
Robert Frost

| Posted on 2009-06-24 | by a guest

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srsly though liam does get it off with men i mean that is fair rank
thankyou liam and robert frost

| Posted on 2009-06-24 | by a guest

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This Will Matthews kid is a red head noob that gets it off with horses!!!
Thank You robert frost for leting us express our feelings

| Posted on 2009-06-24 | by a guest

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Robert Frost is a very talented poet. Little does he know his poems smell. The ideas and themes can be closely analyzed by simply yet constructively looking at Liam. Your class room teacher, such as M P may be able to assist in the help with analysing this.
Finally i would like to state that Robert Frost is a noob and i dislike his poetry... ALOT
:)

| Posted on 2009-06-24 | by a guest

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Robert frost is an exceptionally talented man. His poetry expresses deap and meaningful explanations of Liam Keniry's sexuality.
The relationshi here is grand. Homosexuality is a huge theme in liams life but he cant help it.
Poetry is important in todays society.

| Posted on 2009-06-24 | by a guest

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Robert Frosts Mending walls is fair grouse. I mean he is an absoloute genius for writing his whole poem as one stanza. Seriously it made me go, wow! Amazing. He is really creative. He is fully man but fully god. He is jesus

| Posted on 2009-06-24 | by a guest

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Robert Frost...can't write a poem if he tried, i mean please this peom is child's play.
I dont want to boast but i am currently studying a english degree at cambridge, and i am writing better poems on a regular basis!!!!

| Posted on 2009-06-24 | by a guest

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The poem Mending Wall by Robert Frost reflects people's attitudes towards others. In this case the phrase “mending wall” refers to barriers that separate the neighbors’ friendship. People build barriers to provide a sense of personal security or comfort. They believe that barriers are a source of protection. Robert Frost questions him self on wetter or not there should be a wall separating the properties because he does not understand what is the problem with not having one.
plz explain bish

| Posted on 2009-06-23 | by a guest

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i do not get this poem it does't make any sense . i think the man needs too write a poem that everyone will understand ? .

| Posted on 2009-06-15 | by a guest

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this is wrong. this poem is about people talking to a wall. duh.

| Posted on 2009-05-27 | by a guest

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As is quite common in Frost's work, this poem seems to primarily concern itself with barriers and divisions between people. For instance, the speaker tells us that they have to mend their wall at 'spring mending time' Frost's reference to the season here is common in other poems and gives the poem a cyclical feel. When the speaker continues to add that it is 'some kind of out-door game' it underlines the pointlessness he feels at having to labor each year to rebuild a wall. Especially as it is clear 'something there is that doesn't love a wall / that sends the frozen ground swell under it' this ground swell could represent the force of nature, which asserts nature's dominance over men, as they can build on the land, but only nature remains permanent, the wall is broken. This relates to 'Birches' where a boy 'bends' trees, but the ice storms caused by the change of seasons can 'break' them. This again shows the transience of human constructions in comparison with the eternity of nature.
The speaker of the poem uses a conversational register and blank verse, which gives a calm aura to the poem. Frosts often uses this technique in his more idealistic poems a certain aquiescence about the speaker, and he exhibits playful thoughts that are almost dreamlike, entertaining a belief in 'elves'. This is similar to 'After Apple Picking' where blank verse is used to show the speaker talking in a dreamlike state.

| Posted on 2009-05-17 | by a guest

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Mending wall themes:Teretoriality of humans
The intangable forces of nature
Pesemistic view of man's nyevity

| Posted on 2009-05-15 | by a guest

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In actuallity this poem may be a representaion of Robert Frost's life, in multiple biographys of Frost authors talk about how he was a secluded person. The wall may be a metaphor for how Robert Frost put walls up around himself internally to prevent from being hurt again because he lost a lot of close family in his lifetime(As any biography states). He seems to not want the wall in the poem but everytime he has a chance to have a relationship (represented by spring- a sign of rebirth) he still puts the wall up regardless. The neighbor may be who Robert Frost feared to become, a man stuck in tradition and therefore refuses to not fix the wall.

| Posted on 2009-04-30 | by a guest

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Politics... 'the wall' is a barrier in communication. While the wall impeads progress, it also creates a 'mutual resepct' "Good fences make good neighbors" beucase once established, it is a way of avoiding issues. I believe this was read with political reasoning at one point in time...

| Posted on 2009-04-29 | by a guest

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this is not about aroused mimes. but however its about the life of someone sitting in a courtyard full of babboonn scented candlesticks waiting for his molasses to stick to his armpits and calling out "I LOVEE YOU JENNAYYYY!!!!" until his lungs pop out of his eyeballs and fall into a glass of milk :)

| Posted on 2009-04-19 | by a guest

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this poem is obviously about aroused mimes in a courtyard full of baboon scented candles. It shows the blahddy dahddidah of the fliffity do wap and teaches us about the rittle tittle floof of life.

| Posted on 2009-04-15 | by a guest

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I'm thinking that maybe the other neighbour, who seems to be stuck in his ways and traditions, maybe realises that without the wall, he wouldn't have the opportunity to spend the day talking with his neighbour, the speaker. perhaps it's just the speaker in the poem that doesn't have the maturity to see this, and finds the task of repairing the wall tedious? in the end, the wall is SHARED, and therefore not really a barrier, but merely a social structure.

| Posted on 2009-04-11 | by a guest