ENGL 91A

Challenging the Wall

We do not always think . In fact, it is impossible to always be thinking about the
things around us and the actions we perform . Sometimes, certain things become routine ,
and through the passage of time , they become tradition . Finally, at this point in modern day
time, we completely forget how things come to be and no longer ponder about whether
something is truly useful or not . For example, political philosopher , Friedrich Nietzsche,
questions the origins of morality and argues that virtues such as patience or forgiveness
may just be the glorification of the weak who cannot fight back . Although these morals are
thoroughly accepted today, in ancient Greek and Rome , the strong who could fight
ruthlessly were admired , while those who did not seek revenge were considered cowardly .
The main concept of these changing traditions is questioned by Robert Frost in Mending
Wall where the speaker considers why we must put up walls and fences between
neighbors, even though nature seeks to tear it down . He reminds the audience that even
though walls are so commonplace now , we do not expend the effort to really consider the
reasoning behind it. When the walls are examined though , they seem quite silly . Although
author Robert Frost starts off with a casual tone , he actually examines the fundamental
human nature to stick with traditional norm without considering the significance behind it .
For the purpose of the argument , the paper will first summarize the basic plotline of
the poem. The poem begins with the speaker observing and noting the natural phenomenon
of the spring season . With the thawing of the ground , the stones on the wall on the

boundary of his property topple . He then compares this natural phenomenon to that of
human destruction of the wall due to hunters selfish greed . The speaker then goes on to
describe his relationship with his neighbor as they both fix the wall together . As the
speaker is fixing the fence though , he is struck with the question of why there even is a
wall to begin with. Asking his neighbor about it , the neighbor only replies , Good fences
make good neighbors. This leads the speaker to assume that his neighbor is an old-stone
savage and is unwilling to stray away from the norm . To these comments, the neighbor
simply repeats his reply again , Good fences make good neighbors .
The first characteristic that strikes the audience is the casual sound which creates the
everyday setting for the poem . Rather than using poetic prose for the poem , Frost keeps the
poem extremely casual with everyday speech in the lines . The poem itself is written with
free form without any particular rhyme scheme . Frost is known for abandoning poetic
speech as a more contemporary poet , but this seems intentional to focus on mundane items
prevalent through everyday life . The usage of common language conveys the first
impression of a normal start , and really emphasizes an individuals non-observant trek
through life.
A main deviant from this faade of casualness would be the incorporation of an
imperfect iambic pentameter format . This specific form of meter represents two main
ideas. First, it represents how beyond the layer of common prose set by Frost , there is a
sort of pattern which suggests the layered aspect of traditions . Furthermore, the meter also

creates emphasis on the lines that deviate and have 11-syllables rather than just ten . These
deviations, not only serve to emphasize one of the major lines in the poem , He says again,
Good fences make good neighbors , but also show that people can deviate from tradition
when appropriate.
Another usage of sound that adds more depth to the poem is the usage of sounds
through consonances. In the first half of the poem , the author repeats several sounds such
as in wall, swell, spills, and hill in order to give a smoother quality . This
repetition of consonants is also shown by the usage of several -ing words as well.
However, the second half of the poem seems devoid of the smoothness evident in the first
section, except the very ending with will and well, as well as the imperfect rhyme of

me and trees. The middle near the end of the poem which has none of this smoothness
is where Frost deviates from tradition and questions the walls which are very accepted and
commonplace in society. When Frost does use these consonances , he is describing either
the mending of the walls or the neighbors firm and unbacked support of them . The usage
of consonance essentially is a parallel to tradition and the lack of it is the scrutinizing of it .
The progression of the speakers tone from casual to serious can be pinned to the
different persona that defines the speaker . At the beginning, the speaker seems to be
reflective and observant about nature and about walls . Frost writes how something there is
that doesnt love a wall , giving the impression that the speaker muses almost
sympathetically for whatever dislikes walls . The next few lines digresses to a tone of
criticism, specifically about how humans have a tendency to destroy in order to achieve

personal triumph. The speaker has seen many hunters come through and destroy the wall ,
leaving not one stone on a stone and forcing the farmer to go out and make repairs .
However, this critical tone is short-lived and the farmer returns to the rebuilding and
wall. Instead the tone evolves to show a persona of carefree playfulness as rebuilding the
wall is another kind of outdoor game . This one phrase can be interpreted as the two
farmers building the wall playing against those who destroy it , such as the hunters and or
the frozen-ground-swell. This pins the farmers together as a team in opposition and
competition, ultimately bringing them together to overcome the challenge . However, this
persona tone leads the farmers imagination to wander and question to mere existence of
the wall. When questioning the neighbor , he simply responds with Good fences make
good neighbors, a simple yet powerful line that sets the tone for the remainder of the
poem.
Although the previous lines have generally been observations and the development
of persona for the speaker and the speakers thoughts , the succeeding lines establishes a
tone of ridicule and antagonism toward the speakers neighbor . The speaker openly attacks
the neighbor, assuming that he lacks open-mindedness and moves in darkness. Despite
the demand for a legitimate reason for a wall , the neighbor bluntly responds with the same
line as before, that Good fences make good neighbors . The tone is set by the end of the
poem, as the speaker sees his neighbor as not a neighbor or associate , but as an alien that
he criticizes and reflects upon while maintaining distance .

Throughout the poem, the use of rhetoric is emphasized in order to ridicule the idea
of rebuilding walls and to emphasize the theme of questioning traditions . To begin, Frost
utilizes figurative language in the form of a personification and simile to show the
speakers disapproval of the wall . He mentions how there is no reason for the wall because
all they have in their lawns are apple trees and pine trees . He personifies the apple trees by
saying My apple trees will never get across / And eat the cones under his pines which
creates a ridiculous image for the audience . This absurd example represents how absurd the
speaker thinks that the wall is , because there is no necessity for it . In addition, the speaker
describes the neighbors rebuilding of the wall like an old-stone savage armed . This
simile indicates that the construction of walls comes from far back in history , where people
found necessity for the walls . It also suggests the speakers distaste for the constant work
on the wall.
When questioned about the reasoning behind the wall , the neighbor consistently
uses the idiom, Good fences make good neighbors . This idiom dates back to the 17 th
century and means that people should respect others privacy and property , and that it is
easier to be on good terms with someone if they do so . Yet, this quote also brings up an
issue of whether one is stopping oneself or the other person from causing harm . Frost
questions the goodness of human nature through this line , adding more antagonistic
emphasis to the speakers point of view . However, from the neighbors perspective he is
relying on the wisdom passed down from his father and taken as pure fact to him . The
neighbor realizes that there is nothing that can be gained through having open

communication with the speaker , almost as if closeness is not desired . The wall serves as a
both a physical and emotional barrier between the two farmers and may be reason the
neighbor believes that it is a good fence.
In the poem, there is a sense of irony between the interactions the speaker has with
his neighbor that brings a new perspective . The speaker clearly is upset with his neighbors
unwillingness to change his opinions about the meaning of the fence . However, it was the
speaker who originally instigated the rebuilding of the wall in the first place . Even though
he later questions the mere existence of the wall , it shows that the speaker initially is
naturally drawn to following along to the norm . To him, the wall represents something that
is limiting and separates the two farmers from each other . He takes the walls symbolism
too seriously and makes his judgments based off of that overwhelming thought .
Contrastingly, the neighbor sees none of the symbolism that the speaker sees and just sees
the wall as a regular fence . This leads him to be unwilling to debate about the status of the
wall and resorting to simply using the phrase his father passed down as not to give
offense.
Through the multiple utilization of sound , persona, and rhetoric, Frost provides a
new perspective on how human nature tends to stray toward the norm rather than resolve
with change. The repetition of the idiom Good fences make good neighbors holds a new
meaning each time it is repeated . At first, it seems to make sense and to be accepted that
the wall is a necessary fence in order to maintain good relations between the two
farmers. However, by the end it seems insignificant and stupid due to the revolutionary

ideas presented by the speakers questions of tradition . Ultimately, Frost makes a statement
about human nature and society on how it perceives what it has taken for granted .