Question

Re-read the lines from "Mending Wall": "Oh, just another kind of out-door game, One on a side" How does the metaphor of mending the wall being like a game impact our understanding of the speaker's view of this activity?

Answer 1

Answer:

It impacts our understanding of his view of this activity by showing us he does not take it seriously.

Explanation:

"Mending Wall" is a poem by Robert Frost. The speaker of the poem and his neighbor are rebuilding a wall that has been torn down. However, the way they perceive this activity is quite distinct. They both find it enjoyable, though. The neighbor likes it because he takes the wall seriously. He finds having a wall important, and believes that "Good fences make good neighbors."

For the speaker, on the other hand, there is no need to have a wall. The separation between the properties - and the people - is, to him, unnecessary. So he sees it all as a game, as if he and his neighbor are just two boys playing together. And the speaker is quite imaginative. He thinks of provoking his neighbor by saying the wall was torn down by elves. He imagines they need to use magic for the stones to stay put on top of each other. The speaker does not take the wall or its mending seriously, but he does it out of respect for his neighbor and for the fun he has.