Key facts
1. Writer: Robert Frost (1874-1963)
2. Published date: 1914
3. Applied Literary device: Blank Verse
4. Genre: Dramatic Monologue
5. Topic of Discussion: Conversation between two neighbors regarding mending a wall. One is young and the other is old.
6. Most important quotes:
- There is something that doesn’t like the wall
- Good fences make good neighbors.
7. Poet’s position: The poet stands by the side of the young neighbors who do not like the wall. But it is logical that mending the Wall is very essential in some situations.
8. Themes:
- Border
- Traditionality
- Modernity
9. Symbols
Fence: The fence symbolizes national, religious, political, and economic conflict and discrimination which separate man from man. It hinders mutual understanding and relationships.
Summary
In this poem, the poet has highlighted the necessity of walls. Here the poet refers to two types of walls.
- Physical – Visible.
- Emotions – which can only be felt.
At the beginning of the poem, a young man and an old neighbor are talking about repairing a wall. The old neighbor thinks that there is something in nature that does not like this wall. The old neighbor preserves the old mentality and the young neighbor the modern mentality. According to the young neighbor, there is really no need for this wall to divide their property. He has an apple orchard. On the other hand, the elderly neighbor has a pine garden. Since there is no chance of apples and pines mixing. So, this wall is not really necessary. But old and experienced neighbors think the wall is definitely needed. Every spring they actually repair this wall. As the years go by, this wall crumbles. So the youth thinks that there is no need for this wall. But the old neighbor says A good wall is necessary to maintain good relations with the neighbors. Here he says like that, “Good fences make good neighbors”.
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