When readers describe the literature, it is summarized. One might think that each person's summary is the same, but that is far from true. A summary differs by interpretation, style and other stamps of personalization. No two summarizes are ever the same because no two people ever see the same things in a piece of literature.
Every summary leaves out a great deal, yet no true summary is false. A summary makes an assertion and thus implicitly is an argument. One must offer evidence to support one's views when summarizing. It doesn't mean that the statements in a summary are proven, but it means that they are supported by evidence.
In describing (summarizing) a poem, in addition to giving a brief statement of what happens in the poem, generally the meter and the pattern are mentioned. (It is not necessary in this case to mention meter and pattern.)
The analysis of literature cannot be completely separated from the summary because when one summarizes one naturally analyzes what is read. However, analysis draws attention to various parts of the writing., asking why? what? and how are the actions related to one another? (Can you now understand how summary is related to analysis? In part, to summarize one must analyze.) (To analyze, you ask yourself why?, what? and how are the various parts related?)
Interpreting a piece of literature is telling what the piece means, asking oneself what does that mean? Many times, probably most of the time, there are many meanings, some the author intended and some not intended by the writer, yet perceived by the reader.
Evaluations (judgments) are always based upon assumptions. The point is in evaluation of a piece of literature the reader must know why you value (evaluate) the material as you do. It is not enough to say, "This is a good work." You must say why. You must tell the reader why you value (judge) the work as great, good, etc. Example: You might say, "Lincoln was a great president. Andrew Jackson was a strong president, but he is never categorized by scholars as having been a great president." Now, you must have supporting evidence to back your evaluation, your judgment.
Theorizing is answering, or attempting to answer, such questions about the work as "What is truth, anyway?" Does this have a meaning in itself or is the meaning whatever we say it is? Example: A three legged stool never stands or does it? Is the stool an accident by the craftsman?
Now, with all that explanation, Please read the following poem and describe it (summarize), analyze (In this case, just answer the question, how are the the lines in the poem related to each other?), interpret (what does it mean to you), judge (evaluate it good or bad and why), and theorize (Does this have meaning in itself or is the meaning of the poem whatever we say it is?) (You will need 5 paragraphs of approximately 5 - 7 sentences each. Punctuate correctly. Watch the grammar!!)
In this blog only, do NOT answer the three questions that were listed on the syllabus. I have decided to cut those from this blog. Just answer the 5 questions that are above.. ..
Mending Wall
by Robert Frost
Something there is that doesn't love a wall,
That sends the frozen -ground-swell under it
And spills the upper boulders in the sun,
And makes gaps even two can pass abreast.
The work of hunters is another thing:
I have come after them and make repair
Where they have left not one stone on a stone,
But they would have the rabbit out of hiding.
To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean,
No one has seen them made or heard them made.
But at spring mending-time we find them there.
I let my neighbor know beyond the hill;
And on a day we meet to walk the line
And set the wall between us once again
We keep the wall between us as we go.
To each the boulders that have fallen to each.
And some are loaves and some so nearly balls
We have to use a spell to make them balance:
"Stay where you are until our backs are turned!"
We wear our fingers rough with handling them.
Oh, just another kind of outdoor game,
One on a side. It comes to little more:
There where it is we do not need the wall:
He is all pine and I am apple orchard.
My apple trees will never get across
And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him
He only says, "Good fences make good neighbors."
Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonder
If I could put a notion in his head:
"Why do they make good neighbors? Isn't it
Where there are cows? But here there are no cows.
Before I built a wall I'd ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out.
And to whom I was like to give offense.
Something there is that doesn't love a wall,
That wants it down." I could say "Elves" to him,
But it's not elves exactly, and I'd rather
He said it for himself. I see him there,
Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top
In each hand, Like an old-stone savage armed.
He moves in darkness as it seems to me,
Not of woods only and the shade of trees.
He will not go behind his father's saying,
And he likes having thought of it so well
He says again, "Good fences make good neighbors."
Test Comment
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ReplyDeleteThe theme in this poem appears to be fences. There are neighbors and a fence divides them. This fence at times is either broken down by the natural elements or by the force of those that do not live there. The neighbors get along, so at times they work together to mend the fence, because at least one them knows that the fence is necessary. The one neighbor does not see the necessity of the fence, however, the response is good fences make good neighbors, indicates the need for fence. In the end, the fence remains, even to future generations.
ReplyDeleteWhen reading this poem, I think of boundaries. Some people do not see the necessity for boundaries as stated in the poem, where he asked what he was walling in or walling out. One of the characteristics I saw was friendship. If they did not get along at all, they probably could not have gotten together to mend the fence. Even though they had differences, the fence was still established and maintained. At times, you may need to mend or reestablish a boundary because of circumstances out of your control. Good boundaries keep evil out and good in.
I had to read this poem several times out loud, copy and paste into a word document and then separate the sentences until it made some sense to me. I still do not understand some the analogy such as the “elves” and the use of the phrase to “use a spell” and how they relate to theme of fences. However, I am able to interpret to the best of my knowledge what the poet is trying to convey. For me, the poem’s common thread was fences and fences to me mean boundaries. I can see how each neighbor tended to his own yard and only mended the fence when it was necessary.
The interpretation of any poem can mean whatever we want, however this may not be what the author intended. Because we are not all pine or apple, I think we will all see it from a different angle. In this poem, I believe the author wanted us to be able to see from both sides of the fence. It will be interesting to see how my other classmates interpreted this poem. If the author truly wanted us to get the same thing from his poem, I believe we will have similar interpretations.
Susan Maxwell
I researched some other poems that were written by Robert Frost. Of the poems I reviewed, he seems to use objects of nature in comparison to human nature. They are very complex and you can not grasp the meaning by reading through them one time. He enjoyed nature and compared its affect on the human race, and he seems to use inanimate objects throughout his writings. You have to spend time on his readings and possibly know the era of the time that they were written. We can interpret based on our current surroundings; however, in his time there were not as many distractions, and his meaning may have been completely opposite of what we are thinking.
ReplyDeleteI think the author of this poem is trying to cause you to think of others and how they affect your life. The author reveals there are several different things that can tear down the wall, whether seen or unseen. Types of trees are used to represent humans to compare the contrast of differences in each neighbor. There is a definite enemy that is trying to invade his privacy and he is doing his best to keep up his wall. A wall is solid with no way in or out, however, he only mentions fences in the saying, “good fences make good neighbors”. So maybe the neighbor was wanting the fence and he was keeping up the wall?
Susan Maxwell
This poem is about a wall between two neighbors. One neighbor doesn’t understand why there has to be a wall between them when one neighbor has apple trees and the other has pine trees. The one neighbor wants a relationship and he can’t wait to have to mend the wall so he can commune with his neighbor. The other neighbor is doing only what he is told and taught to do. Although the two men are conversing and interacting there is some distance between them at all times.
ReplyDeleteI think the wall, trees, and the neighbors relate various parts of this poem. They are working together to keep this wall mended. They are keeping this wall mended to keep separation between them as neighbors and the trees. One neighbor wants to build a relationship and the other one is brain washed by his father that the only relationship is with a wall. So therefore, he works even at night and diligently to keep this wall fixed.
There is this ideal of separation or segregation between these two neighbors. This wall is keeping them apart. The one gentleman wants to have a relationship with his neighbor. He notifies his neighbor in the springtime that it is time to mend the wall. He tries to talk to his neighbor, but his neighbor states “Good fences make good neighbors.” It is mention that one has apple trees and the other has pine trees. This shows different race and the one neighbor is taught by his father to be prejudice.
This poem is very well written. Riddles are fun to try and figure out. I like mysteries. This is one writing that you have to read between the lines and interpret. It had a story line and very imaginable.
My interpretation of the meaning of this poem will be different from everyone else. That is the great part about this poem is that it is imaginable. We can imagine the meaning to be what we want it to be. Besides we all have different interpretations because we are special and unique. If the author wanted this poem to have meaning in itself, he should have not been so discrete with his words.
Melissia Mace
Robert Frost's poem, Mending Walls, illustrates the routines of two neighbors who are always mending the fence, or wall, that separates their land. If something is wrong with the fence, the two are out there fixing it. They meet to make repairs and to walk the wall. Skeptical of the tradition, the narrator is unable to understand why there’s a need for a wall when there are no cows, only trees. He does not believe that the walls should be there just to be walls.
ReplyDeleteThe narrator notices that nature does not seem to like the wall any more than he does. He notices how boulders fall for no reason and how gaps mysteriously appear. The neighbor seems to believe the old saying: “Good fences make good neighbors.” He believes the wall is vital to maintaining their friendship. Over the mending process, the narrator attempts to convince the neighbor differently and accuses him of being old fashion. No matter what, the neighbor stands his ground and repeats: “Good fences make good neighbors.”
Frost points out that the narrator is actually more active than his neighbor, even though he resents the repairing of the wall. The narrator believes that the wall is needed else where. He believes the wall is needed where there are cows. He must assume some use or satisfaction from the exercise of building the wall because he initiated it here. There must be something in him that loves the wall or the act of making it.
The wall being between the properties ensures a quality friendship between the two. The narrator and the neighbor are able to maintain their individuality and personal identity as farmers. One is a farmer of apples and the other a farmer of pine trees. I don’t really understand that part. An event that may not occur in a rural environment, the act of mending the wall also gives them an opportunity to communicate and interact with one another. The act of meeting together to repair the wall allows the men to develop their friendship more than if each maintained their own isolation on their own property.
At first I did not like this poem. I didn’t really understand it. Then a friend who loves it and knows it very well pointed out to me that fences (walls) are very important. Walls and fences can keep friends for a lifetime. If there are no fences, sometimes people trod down your life and are not friends at all. Now I understand it better and I like it.
Angel Mattar
This poem is about a wall built to separate property. The wall is in shambles by the cold winter and the work of hunters. The neighbors get together every spring to rebuild the wall. One neighbor disagrees with the necessity of the wall when there is not livestock to contain, only apple and pine trees. The other neighbor thinks the wall is crucial to maintian their relationship, stating, "Good fences make good neighbors,"
ReplyDeleteFigurative expressions are used to describe the relationship between the neighbors. The phrase " to walk the line and set the wall between us" refers to the building of a tangible wall. These phrases are also figurative and represent the setting of a barrier in their friendship. When they meet to repair that wall, could be interpreted as repairing their friendship and reslovling disputes. The comparing of size of boulders as loaves and balls lead us to believe some of the disputes are small and some are large.
I believe the wall represents barriers created by man through miscommunication and disagreements between people. We may let our guard down from time time and let people in until we find it necessary to put them back up. We cannot see the heart of man, so we are not always aware that barriers are in place. One neighbor is trying to get rid of the barriers while the other refuses to change his view. I feel as if he is saying,"Stay out of my business and I will stay out of yours."
The poem in and of itself is good. The meaning I perceive from the poem is bad. You have one neighbor who wants to solve things. He does not want barriers between him and his neighbor. The other neighbor is determined to keep barriers between them. It is almost as if he is holding a grudge that started with his father. It is impossible to build relationships while we still possess hatred and discrimation.
Frost leaves the reader to decide for himself what deductions he is to make. Depending on how you read it and the tone with which you read, it could render different interpretations. We all see things differently depending on our background and experience. This poem leaves a lot to the imagination.
1. Descriptive Summary:
ReplyDeleteThis poem causes us to consider two sides of a wall. On one hand we see the protection, peace and blessing of good boundaries which enhance neighborly conduct. On the other hand we see limitations along with the effort and determinations which are required to maintain the walls. The implied impact of this effort is a picture of peace, safety and provision. As these two neighbors walked the same fence line, working together, they only saw their own side of the wall. The most valuable interaction is the time and communication developed from working on this task together. As our neighbor said, “Good fences make good neighbors.” Is giving time for developing relationships!
2. Analysis: How are the lines in the poem related to each other?
The first, ten lines we have a speculation on what caused the gaps in the wall, making mending necessary. The next five lines are an invitation extended to a neighbor to join in playing the mending game. In six more lines we learn how the laborious task is accomplished and we experience the bone weary exhaustion of repairing the wall. Rewarded by a task completed, contemplation sets in for fourteen lines and questions abound! Why do we go through this time after time? Will there be strength for the next time? What is the validity of this mending wall game, is it needed or just a tradition. Needs have changed, there are no cows, what shall we do now? Keep up relationships – keep on mending the fences!
3. Interpret: what does it mean to me?
This poem brought a flood of memories. Growing up in farming country, we were surrounded by walls. Originally, walls surrounded fields for grazing livestock which moved from field to field, allowing the grass to be replenished. Walls kept neighbors livestock separated. As the ground thawed in the spring, rocks come to the surface. Farmers walk the newly turned soil, pick up rocks, and add them to the walls. As farming changed, demand for land increased and many walls have been removed to use the land for crops. I remember the men laboriously working together to remove the walls – a huge project. From my experience I might say up or down, walls still give neighbors a reason to work together.
4. Judge: evaluate, good, bad and why?
Because of the style of writing, I read the poem a few times before I caught a meaning for myself. Then, I enjoyed the poem because my own memories got caught between the lines of the poem! Today, I would venture to say, many young people who read this poem may need an interpretation of the times, land and dialect in order to draw meaning from the poem. Like understanding the Holy Bible, it is best to have an teacher with an understanding of the life and times of the Bible. It is worth the effort!
5. Theorize: does this have meaning in itself or is the meaning of the poem whatever we say?
For myself, the poem had meaning in itself and applicable to any area of life! Life is a team effort and we can enjoy working together. We will improve our world as we learn to be good neighbors for each other. Depending on the reader, this poem has both obvious and hidden nuggets of truth, ready for the digging!!