Robert Frost’s poem ‘Mending Wall’ is about intangible barriers between people and how, at times, those barriers can hinder understanding and connection. The poem is set in the rural countryside, with two neighbours divided by the intervening wall. Frost’s juxtaposition of the two protagonists to show the differences in their attitudes towards the wall and ultimately their wider relationship. The narrator is questioning why the wall is necessary to keep the two neighbours apart, as there is a metaphor of the wall between them representing the deeper divisions of misunderstanding and a lack of common understanding.
Robert Frost uses a variety of poetic techniques to make the poem more effective, such as imagery and symbolism. He paints a vivid picture of the relationship between the two neighbours, describing both the physical barrier of the wall and the emotional barrier between them. He also uses imagery to emphasise the idea that in order to rebuild the wall, the two men have to come together and work together, symbolising their need to overcome the barriers between them.
The poem contains several important themes, such as isolation, communication and mutual understanding. Frost is suggesting that even in rural settings, communication and understanding is necessary for relationships to flourish. The poem can also be seen as an allegory for the current state of modern relationships and how technology and other things can create division and misunderstanding, even between those who are close.
The poem is written from a first-person perspective, giving insight into the narrator’s opinion and thoughts. The language used is simple and direct, with Frost using phrases like ‘no one ever sees him’ in order to paint a vivid picture of the lack of connection between the two neighbours. Frost also uses similes to help convey his message, such as when he compares the wall to an invisible hand between the two men, suggesting that even though they are close by, there is still an intangible distance between them.
Robert Frost’s ‘Mending Wall’ is a masterful poem that conveys a powerful message about the importance of communication, understanding and cooperation. It is a powerful and thought-provoking way of conveying the idea that even in a close relationship, division and misunderstanding can exist. The poem is a reminder that we must strive for understanding and connection, and work towards mending and rebuilding any walls that exist between us.
Roadblocks in Communication
Robert Frost’s ‘Mending Wall’ is a complex poem that highlights the roadblocks that can come in the way of effective communication. The poem describes two neighbours who are separated by an unspecified wall, which appears to represent their emotional divide. Frost cleverly juxtaposes the two neighbours’ attitudes towards the wall, with the narrator questioning why it is there in the first place. Through his use of imagery, symbolism and simile, Frost conveys the message that communication and mutual understanding is necessary in order to overcome hardships and repair harmful walls. The poem serves as an ongoing reminder that we must strive towards understanding and tear down any walls that exist between people.
Frost’s poem shows how a lack of communication can impede the development of relationships, and how distance can manifest unintentionally. By painting a vivid picture of the narrator’s thoughts, the poem illuminates the idea that both sides of a relationship must make the effort to try and understand one another, in order to make any kind of progress. The poem encapsulates a sense of longing for companionship and connection, and highlights the loneliness and frustration that can result from maintaining an emotional distance from those we care about.
Frost’s poem also outlines the importance of using language as a tool for communication. Through his careful choice of words, Frost’s poem emphasises the significance of expressing oneself openly and honestly, in order to better bridge the gap between two people. He suggests that communication is important in any relationship, as it can help to create a meaningful connection between people, and enable understanding to develop over time.
By utilising a variety of poetic techniques, Frost manages to effectively express his message about the importance of communication and tearing down the walls that exist between us. ‘Mending Wall’ serves as a timely reminder of the need for continuing efforts to reach out and build relationships, despite sometimes insurmountable barriers.
The Significance of Walls in Frost’s Poem
The wall which serves as the main metaphor for ‘Mending Wall’ is a significant symbol of the barriers to understanding and connection between two people. The wall is a physical manifestation of the lack of communication between the two protagonists, and serves as a stark reminder of the loneliness that can come from failing to try and reach out to one another. The poem explores the idea that sometimes a physical space between two people can represent a far greater emotional distance.
Robert Frost’s use of language and imagery in ‘Mending Wall’ serves to highlight the idea of a figurative wall existing between two individuals, and the need to constantly strive towards understanding in order to overcome it. By referencing the actions of the two neighbours, Frost conveys the idea that it takes two to build a wall and repair any broken bridges, reinforcing the idea of the need for mutual effort and understanding in order to further relationships.
The poem also emphasises the importance of self-expression in relationships and how language can be used as a powerful tool for creating understanding and connection. Frost’s choice of words such as ‘no one ever sees him’ highlights the narrator’s inner loneliness and longing for companionship, conveying the sense of isolation which can occur from lack of communication, and ultimately comes from the presence of the wall between the two men.
The poem is a powerful reminder of the importance of connection and communication within relationships. Frost’s ‘Mending Wall’ can be seen as an allegory for the hardships that come with the pursuit of mutual understanding, and serves a timely warning of the kind of loneliness and division that can be caused by a lack of effort in trying to bridge an emotional distance between two people.
The Use of Imagery to Convey Meaning
Robert Frost’s ‘Mending Wall’ is propelled by the use of imagery to effectively convey his message regarding the importance of communication and understanding inside relationships. His use of vivid imagery to describe both the physical and emotional divides between the two neighbours serves as a strong metaphor for how an intangible wall can hinder understanding, even between those close by.
Frost also utilises symbolism to further emphasise his message, such as through his reference to the two men’s labour in order to rebuild the wall, which can be seen as a subtle allegory for the need for mutual understanding and effort in order to bridge any divides. His description of the wall-mending being ‘just another kind of out-door game,’ digs deep into the idea of how complex relationships can be, and how effort must be made in order to make progress.
Frost’s use of similes is also a significant tool in helping highlight the idea of the wall existing between the two neighbours, such as when he compares it to an invisible hand, emphasising the fact that despite the physical proximity, the two men remain divided. These moments of imagery throughout the poem effectively demonstrate the notion of a lack of communication and understanding, and provide an alternate perspective to the narrator’s thoughts.
Frost’s poetic techniques are a powerful and thought-provoking way of conveying the idea that even in close relationships, division and misunderstanding can be present. His masterful use of symbolism, imagery and similes helps to demonstrate the notion of necessary mutual understanding in order to make progress, and provides readers with an insightful reminder that repairing the walls of misunderstanding can be difficult and challenging.
The Role of Cooperation
Robert Frost’s ‘Mending Wall’ revolves heavily around the idea of two people working together in order to tear down the walls of misunderstanding that come between them. The poem explores the notion of two people needing to cooperate in order to build any kind of meaningful connection and understanding. This is emphasised through the narrator’s questioning of the necessity of a wall between the two neighbours, and his contemplative musings on the complexity of the relationship at hand.
The poem also outlines the need to have open conversations in order to break down barriers. The narrator’s questioning works as an invitation to understanding, and his open dialogue encourages the exploration of his own inner thoughts and those of the other protagonists. This idea of communication as a tool for tearing down walls is a significant theme throughout the poem, and serves as an invitation for reflection.
Frost’s poem is also a reminder that in order to create lasting connections one must put in effort on both sides. His symbolism of the wall-mending, as an ‘out-doors game’ alludes to the idea of a necessity for collaboration in order to achieve a common understanding. This dual need for effort which Frost hints at throughout the poem, serves as a timely reminder of the power of cooperation and the role it plays in forming new relationships and keeping existing ones strong.
Robert Frost’s ‘Mending Wall’ is a powerful poem that conveys the idea of collaboration and communication being inevitable parts of relationships. The poem demonstrates the difficulties of trying to bridge the gap between two people and also highlights the importance of open dialogue and common understanding in order to make progress. Through his masterful use of imagery, symbolism and similes, Frost manages to accurately capture the complexity of relationships, and how two people must come together to overcome any barriers that exist between them.
