Robert Frost: Poems

An Explication of Mending Wall By Robert Frost

The poem "Mending Wall" by the prominent American poet Robert Frost has often been viewed as one of his favorite pieces of verse. The basic context of this poem concerns the construction of a stone wall between two neighbors and their individual houses, yet with closer examination into the meaning behind "Mending Wall," several scenarios can be found which center around "a special paradigm regarding the boundaries between reality and the subjective viewpoint" (Montiero 134) which may reflect the poet's personal history, due to his love of nature and his desire to share his inner poetical beauty with the world.

Out of all the poems written by Frost, "Mending Wall" best illustrates his poetic manner and his intentions as a storyteller. "Mending Wall," among other things, appears to be built around the tone of mischief which creates an oral barrier between the neighbors. Yet this mischief is defensively countered by the weaker neighbor, for "he reaches into the past for support and comes up with his father's proverb--"Good fences make good neighbors" ( Kearns 176).

The two neighbors in "Mending Wall" seem to be concerned with nothing more than...

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