Mending wall
1. Introduction
"Mending Wall" is a famous poem by the American poet Robert Frost.
It describes the annual ritual of two neighbors meeting in the spring
to repair a stone wall that separates their farms. While the poem
describes a simple physical task, it explores the deeper idea of why
humans build barriers between themselves.
2. The Two Conflicting Views
The poem is built on a conversation between two characters with
opposite mindsets:
• The Speaker (The Poet): He is modern and rational. He believes the
wall is unnecessary because there are no cows to keep in—only apple
and pine trees. He famously says, "Something there is that doesn't love
a wall," suggesting that Nature itself wants the wall down.
• The Neighbor: He represents tradition and old-fashioned thinking.
He does not question the past and simply repeats his father’s proverb:
"Good fences make good neighbors."
3. Nature vs. The Wall
Frost shows that nature constantly tries to destroy the wall.
1. Introduction
"Mending Wall" is a famous poem by the American poet Robert Frost.
It describes the annual ritual of two neighbors meeting in the spring
to repair a stone wall that separates their farms. While the poem
describes a simple physical task, it explores the deeper idea of why
humans build barriers between themselves.
2. The Two Conflicting Views
The poem is built on a conversation between two characters with
opposite mindsets:
• The Speaker (The Poet): He is modern and rational. He believes the
wall is unnecessary because there are no cows to keep in—only apple
and pine trees. He famously says, "Something there is that doesn't love
a wall," suggesting that Nature itself wants the wall down.
• The Neighbor: He represents tradition and old-fashioned thinking.
He does not question the past and simply repeats his father’s proverb:
"Good fences make good neighbors."
3. Nature vs. The Wall
Frost shows that nature constantly tries to destroy the wall.
