Mending Wall Analysis and Explanation by Robert Frost

Описание: Hello Everyone and Welcome to this video on Beaming Notes, where we take a look at the poem Analysis of Mending Wall by Robert Frost.

Voice-Over and Narration : Anushree Sen

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
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Most of Frost’s poems are simple at the surface and have a deeper layer of meaning beneath. “Mending Wall” is no exception. While the poet seems to be relating a simple tale of rebuilding a broken wall between the lands of two farmers, he is talking about a much larger and more profound subject – that of division between human beings. Writing as he did at the beginning of the 20th century, he was witness to the drawing of borders between nations. He knows that such borders are drawn to keep out immigrants, and for the security of the citizens of the respective nations. However, Frost believes that such reasons have no basis. Cultural intermixing is a good thing, according to Frost, and all nations should strive to acquaint themselves with the cultures of their neighbouring countries, he feels. Only then can cultural synthesis happen and great art be created. Art does not follow any borders or boundaries. The same issues are dealt with in American poetry, English poetry and European poetry as well. In a world of increasing division, Frost feels a kind of camaraderie with all those poets who are writing about the union of the human species all over the world. Like his neighbour, there are people who would do anything to keep out so-called intruders, and to protect their property with all their might, but Frost wants to convince all of them to demolish the walls they put up between themselves. He wants there to be an open dialogue between such people so that problems can be solved in unison to make the world a better place.

POETIC DEVICES:
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Rhetorical devices:

Apostrophe: This rhetorical device is used when a poet addresses his or her words to an absent audience or even a non-living entity. In this poem, the poet uses the device of the apostrophe in line 19 when he and his neighbor tell the boulders to stay balanced even after they have turned around after completing the job of mending the wall made of those boulders. He again uses it in lines 30 – 35 when he speaks to his neighbour about the dispensability of the wall.

Personification: This rhetorical device is used to bestow human qualities on something that is not human. In this poem, the poet uses the device of personification in lines 25 – 26 with respect to the apple trees in his orchard. He gives the apple trees the human abilities to walk and eat.

Epigram: This rhetorical device is used to make a brief, interesting, memorable, and sometimes satirical statement. In this poem, the poet uses the device of epigram in lines 29 and 46 when he reports his neighbor’s saying that good fences make good neighbors. This means that there is harmony in non-interference.

Simile: This rhetorical device is used when an overt comparison is made between two different things. In this poem, the poet uses the device of simile in lines 39 – 41 when he compares his neighbour to a savage from the stone-age and also uses the word “like” while making this comparison.

THEME:
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Hints about the perpetrator: Though Frost never names the person or thing that breaks down the wall repeatedly, he does leave ample hints about the true identity of the perpetrator. The culprit in question is the poet himself. The first hint about this is given in line 2 when he uses the phrase “frozen-ground-swell”. Another term for this phenomenon is frost heave. Frost is also the poet’s own surname. Again, towards the end of the poem, he talks about elves. Now elves are known to be mischievous in nature. The poet also says that springtime has brought about the mischief in himself. So he has become elf-like. However, he isn’t exactly an elf; he doesn’t have their pointy ears or their supernatural powers. He is a mere mortal and he doesn’t actually have the courage to admit that it was he who broke down the wall. That is why he would prefer it if his neighbour would come forward and accuse him of the same. If the neighbour were to do so, Frost would openly admit to his crime. Until the neighbour asks though, the poet will only try to convince him that the wall is unnecessary and hope he will agree not to rebuild it.

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