The Mending Wall Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the name of the poem?

The Mending Wall

Who wrote the poem The Mending Wall?

Robert Frost

What years did Robert Frost live?

1874-1963

How does the speaker feel towards the wall?

Something in him doesn't love it Signup and view all the answers

What causes the rocks to fall out? (Select all that apply)

They shrink from the heat Signup and view all the answers

How big are the holes?

So big two people can pass abreast (holding hands) Signup and view all the answers

Who picks up the holes the hunters make?

The speakers Signup and view all the answers

What do the hunters bring out?

The rabbits from hiding Signup and view all the answers

Why do they hunt the rabbits and dig through the wall?

To please their dog Signup and view all the answers

Who sees or hears the holes being made?

No one Signup and view all the answers

When do they find the holes?

At spring mending time Signup and view all the answers

What happens when spring comes around?

The speaker calls his neighbor and they set the wall between them again Signup and view all the answers

How do they set the wall?

They walk on either side and pick up the boulders that fall on their side Signup and view all the answers

What does the author imply when he says 'the work of hunters is another thing'?

Another way the wall is breached Signup and view all the answers

What does the author mean by 'I have come after them and made repair'?

The author is forced to pick up the mess the hunters make Signup and view all the answers

What does the speaker suggest about the hunters' intentions?

They want to please their yelping dogs Signup and view all the answers

What do they find when mending the wall?

No one has seen them made or heard them made, but at spring mending-time we find them there Signup and view all the answers

What is the speaker's view on the necessity of the wall?

The author does not think the wall is needed; they are too different for it to be necessary Signup and view all the answers

What does the neighbor say that reflects his belief about walls?

'Good fences make good neighbors' Signup and view all the answers

What does the speaker wonder regarding good fences?

Isn't it where there are cows? Signup and view all the answers

What does the speaker express about his neighbor's beliefs?

He will not go behind his father's saying Signup and view all the answers

How does the speaker describe his neighbor?

Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top in each hand, like an old-stone savage armed Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Poem Overview

Title: "The Mending Wall"
Author: Robert Frost, an influential American poet
Lifespan: 1874-1963

Speaker’s Perspective

The speaker expresses discomfort with the wall, feeling that "something in him doesn't love it."
Neighbors meet during “spring mending time” to repair the wall separating their properties.

Wall Dynamics

Holes in the wall are created by natural forces: freezing and thawing causing stones to expand and contract.
Hunters contribute to the wall’s deterioration by digging through it to retrieve rabbits, which they hunt to please their dogs.
Holes are large enough for two people to pass side by side.

Maintenance of the Wall

The speaker takes the initiative to repair the wall after hunters leave it in disarray.
Repair involves both neighbors walking along the wall, collecting boulders that have fallen on their respective sides.
The task of mending the wall is likened to a game, emphasizing its futility and the physical effort involved.

Philosophical Reflection

The speaker questions the necessity of the wall, highlighting the differences between the pine trees of one neighbor and the apple orchard of the other.
The neighbor's belief that “good fences make good neighbors” stems from tradition, suggesting a reluctance to modernize or reconsider its necessity.
The speaker desires to instill doubt in the neighbor's traditional views, pondering on the reasons for maintaining boundaries.

Symbolism and Themes

The wall symbolizes division and separation, as well as the conflict between tradition and change.
Speaker's reflection on “something there is that doesn't love a wall” represents innate human inclinations towards connection and openness.
The recurring image of the speaker's neighbor as an “old-stone savage” symbolizes a clinging to outdated beliefs and practices.

Conclusion

The poem navigates the complexity of human relationships and the inherent tensions between individual desires for connection versus societal norms that favor separation.
The idea that boundaries may not always serve a purpose resonates throughout the narrative, inviting readers to question their own perceptions of barriers in relationships.

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Description

Test your knowledge of Robert Frost's poem 'The Mending Wall' with these flashcards. Explore key themes, the poet's life, and the speaker's feelings towards the wall. Perfect for students studying poetry and literature.