Final answer:
Robert Frost's poem "Out, Out—" derives its title from Shakespeare's "Macbeth," referencing the play's contemplation on life's brevity. Thus the correct option is a.
Step-by-step explanation:
Robert Frost's poem "Out, Out—" takes its title from a line in William Shakespeare's play "Macbeth." The specific reference is to Macbeth's soliloquy in Act 5, Scene 5, where he reflects on the fleeting nature of life and compares it to a candle flame that is "out, out—brief candle."
Frost's choice of this title reflects the thematic resonance with the abruptness and fragility of life depicted in his poem, where a young boy's life is tragically cut short by a chainsaw accident. The connection to Shakespeare's iconic play aligns with Frost's exploration of mortality, emphasizing the suddenness and transience of existence, echoing the sentiment conveyed in "Macbeth."
The title "Out, Out—" serves as an allusion to the fatalistic outlook on life, drawing a parallel between the circumstances surrounding the young boy's untimely death in Frost's poem and the broader theme of mortality in Shakespeare's "Macbeth."
This connection underscores Frost's intention to evoke the tragic and fleeting nature of human life, using Shakespeare's poignant words to capture the essence of mortality and the abruptness of its cessation, echoing the profound impact of the chainsaw accident on the boy's life in the poem.
Therefore, the correct option is a.