Question

In the context of the poem, which image most fully reflects the speaker’s disapproval of the neighbor’s attitudes?

Answer 1

This question is missing the options. I've found the complete question online. It is the following:

In the context of the poem, which image most fully reflects the speaker's disapproval of the neighbor's attitudes?

A. "gaps even two can pass abreast" (line 4)

B. "the boulders that have fallen" (line 16)

C. "He is all pine" (line 24)

D. "He moves in darkness" (line 41)

E. "the shade of trees" (line 42)

Answer:

I  believe the image which most fully reflects the speaker's disapproval of the neighbor's attitudes is:

D. "He moves in darkness" (line 41)

Explanation:

The speaker in the poem "Mending Wall", by Robert Frost, is rebuilding a wall with his neighbor. However, he does not see the need for the wall. He believes the wall creates a separation and an isolation that are unnecessary. He wishes he could convey such thoughts to his neighbor, but that seems to be impossible. His neighbor believes "Good fences make good neighbors." The speaker does not like this saying nor the neighbor's attitude. He would much rather at least consider what he is " walling in or walling out." That is why he sees the neighbor as if he is moving in darkness. His neighbor is not as enlightened as he is. He is close-minded; a repeater of old patterns:

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.’