Question

What is the cumulative impact of the author's use of the phrases "old-stone savage," "moves in darkness," and "father's saying"?

a) They express that the two neighbors need the wall to protect themselves from dangerous outsiders.
b) They create a sense that the neighbor is like a father to the speaker.
c) They help convey the idea that the two neighbors are like family.
d) They suggest that the neighbor's ideas are outdated.

Answer 1

The phrases "old-stone savage", "moves in darkness", and "father's saying" in Robert Frost's "Mending Wall" suggest the neighbor's adherence to tradition, hinting at an outdated mindset. They contribute to the poem's themes of tradition versus change, forming a psychological barrier to modernization represented by the neighbor, in contrast with the speaker's openness to new ideas.

Step-by-step explanation:

The cumulative impact of the author's use of phrases such as "old-stone savage," "moves in darkness," and "father's saying" is profound in understanding the underlying themes of tradition and resistance to change in the poem "Mending Wall" by Robert Frost. These phrases reflect the neighbor's adherence to an old tradition without questioning its relevance in the present day, thereby suggesting that the neighbor's ideas are outdated (option d).

The phrase "old-stone savage" contributes to this interpretation by painting a picture of the neighbor as primitive in his thinking, holding onto the past steadfastly. Similarly, "moves in darkness" conveys a sense of the neighbor's obscurity and possible ignorance, reinforcing his outdated mindset. The mention of "father's saying" connects to the neighbor's unwillingness to think independently and break away from inherited beliefs, especially the adage that "Good fences make good neighbors."

This approach to the wall between the properties is not just a physical barrier but represents a psychological barrier as well, preventing the growth and modernization of thought. Each term progressively builds on the idea that the neighbor is trapped by tradition.

Contrastingly, the speaker in the poem questions the necessity of the wall, offering a more open and inquisitive perspective. This is evident through lines such as "Something there is that doesn't love a wall," where the speaker allows for the possibility of new ideas and the breaking down of unnecessary barriers. The poem itself then becomes a meditation on the tension between tradition (represented by the neighbor) and the possibility of change and progression (embodied by the speaker).