Write an essay. Required topic is Discuss how Frosts Mending Wall deals with the theme of communication. Include quotations from the poem an...
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What topicDiscuss how Frosts Mending Wall deals with the theme of communication. Include quotations from the poem and discuss the poets use of linguistic devices
Which subjectMathematics
What age groupDoesn't matter
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Robert Frost's poem "Mending Wall" is a meditation on the nature of communication between individuals. The poem uses different linguistic devices to illustrate the challenges we face when attempting to connect with others, even with those with whom we share a common language or culture.

The Theme of Communication

The poem highlights a struggle between the speaker and his neighbor, who is committed to maintaining a physical barrier between their properties. While the speaker sees no benefit in the wall, his neighbor persists in its maintenance, declaring that "good fences make good neighbors" (line 27).

There is a clear sense throughout the poem that the wall represents more than just a physical boundary. Rather, it symbolizes the barriers that exist between people that prevent them from forging meaningful connections. Frost, in this way, uses the wall as a metaphor for the communication gaps that plague interpersonal relationships.

Linguistic Devices

Frost employs various linguistic devices in the poem to emphasize the fragmentation and distance that mark the speaker's relationship with his neighbor. One of the most striking is the repetition of the phrase "something," which reappears multiple times throughout the poem. The use of this vague term underscores the lack of clarity and understanding that exists between the two men.

Another example of Frost's use of language is his repetition of the phrase "good fences make good neighbors." This repetition reinforces the idea that the neighbor is unyielding in his view that the wall is necessary, whether or not the speaker agrees. The fact that the neighbor is always the one to utter this phrase highlights the distance between the two men.

Finally, Frost uses imagery to emphasize both the physical and emotional distance that characterizes the speaker's relationship with his neighbor. For example, the poem begins with the speaker musing on the phenomenon of walls that "spring up" in the landscape, suggesting a kind of naturalness to the very act of dividing and separating. Moreover, the speaker notes that the stones they use to maintain the wall already seem to have their own "bent" nature, suggesting that an inherent resistance exists to the creation of such partitions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Mending Wall" is a powerful poem that illustrates the challenges we face when trying to connect with other people. Frost uses language to emphasize the distance that exists between the speaker and his neighbor, highlighting the lack of understanding and communication that makes the wall a necessity. Ultimately, this poem is a call to action, asking us to think critically about the ways in which we build walls, both literal and metaphorical, that prevent us from forging strong bonds with others.