MENDING WALL- 1914ROBERT FROST

PG. 886

Robert Frost Background • Born: 1874 in California

• Died: 1963• Married Elinor White 1894 • Had 4 children• His first published poem happened in New

York 1894 • Moved to New Hampshire where he remained

till his death• His poems mainly deal with nature

Summary of Poem• Every 2 years the 2 neighbors come

and repair the stone that divides in their yard. Robert doesn’t understand why there is a wall separating the 2 neighbors from each other. He finally gets a response from his neighbor and is very confused and cant figure out why he or she said that. That is the basic summary of this complicated yet inquiring poem.

Meaning of Poem/Theme

• Meaning: I think the meaning of this poem is that your neighbors across the fence can be nice or mean and that also the American Dream and the American Life has a lot to do with this poem.

• Theme: Nature because, he talks about the green grass and the bunnies running across the yard. Property because, of the American Dream including, wealth, poverty, and control

Message Robert Frost is sending

• I think the message that Robert Frost is sending through this poem is that never look where the grass is greener, and never judge a book by its cover. Also ask yourself why you bury yourself and not talk to your neighbors. I think he is telling you to ask yourself why you have built a wall for yourself. Sometimes you don’t want to hear the truth so you get confused and you wonder why he or she said that

Literary Movements/Symbolism

• Contemporary• Modernist• 19th century Transcendentalist

• The wall: shining star of the poem, it unites Robert and his neighbor

Dedicated to: Mrs.

Brooks and Mrs.

Hausauer