Analysis of Robert Frost's "Mending Wall"

Symbolism of Two Men and a Wall Robert Frost's poem "The Mending Wall" uses the wall to symbolize the human relationship between the speaker and his neighbor. In this poem, the wall has gradually collapsed by natural force, causing the speaker and his neighbor to meet every spring to repair it together. Because the wall separates the two men, this mending work is an annual event for them to meet with each other. However, there …

…and ethnic---separate us, but also enable us to live together by defining our boundaries. The wall in this poem represents the symbolic barriers that keep us apart yet define who we are. Works Cited Andrews, Terry L. Master Plots II (poetry series) Vol.4 Cliffs, New Jersey, Salem Press Englewood. 1992 Beacham, Walter, Critical Survey of Poetry Vol.4. Cliffs, New Jersey, Salem Press. 1982 Cuddon, JA, A Dictionary of Literary Terms. Garden City, New York, Doubleday & CO. 1997