Question

Home Burial Compare and contrast the wife and husband's ways of grieving. How are they similar, and how are they different? Cite evidence from the text.

Answer 1

Answer:

1. The couple are similar because they are both frustrated in the course of grieving for their late son.

2. They are different because the man is emotionally strong in his grieving and is ready to move on with his life, while the wife is stuck in her grief and even accuses the husband of not feeling the death of their son because of his role in digging his grave.

Explanation:

The poem, "Home Burial", by Robert Frost begins with a description of a woman who stares at a distance from her stairs. She appears lost in thoughts and in her grief of losing her first child. Her husband tries to comfort her but she refuses to accept his consolation because he dug the grave of their child.

The woman believes her husband does not feel the impact of the loss. The man, however, equally feels the loss of their son and is frustrated at his wife's inability to move on from the loss.

Textual evidence:

a. The man expressing his frustration;

He said twice over before he knew himself:

‘Can’t a man speak of his own child he’s lost?’

b. The woman overtaken by grief

She was starting down,

Looking back over her shoulder at some fear.

She took a doubtful step and then undid it

To raise herself and look again.