Robert Frost's poem "Mending Wall" is an exposition on the maxim, "Good fences make good neighbors." The poem is about barriers and boundaries. The wall dividing the narrator's property from the neighbors is a metaphor for the boundaries people establish in their personal lives. A good fence ensures privacy, although too good of a wall between neighbors also prevents intimacy and friendship from developing. Frost uses a healthy dose of humor and sarcasm in the poem, such as when the narrator states, "My apple trees will never get across / And eat the cones under his pines." In other words, it's the narrator who has apple trees yet the neighbor is worried about erecting a strong barrier between their properties.
Each spring after winter wreaks havoc on the wall, the two neighbors playfully bicker about the importance of the wall. The narrator does not mind if there are gaps in the wall or if the wall is unfinished but the neighbor insists "Good fences make good neighbors." The narrator longs for more fluid boundaries, whereas the old neighbor prefers a more rigid separation.
When incorporating Robert Frost's poem into a lesson with young adults, educators can discuss both theme and poetic devices. The poem can become a springboard for discussion about privacy, personal boundaries, land ownership, and cultural differences regarding privacy. Students can share their own views over how strong the walls are between them and their friends or family members. The discussion may be especially fruitful in diverse classrooms, where students will have vastly different points-of-view and experiences regarding walls, neighbors, and privacy.
"Mending Wall" can also be studied as a poem, to analyze its literary devices. Metaphor is the main lesson to be learned from "Mending Wall," although Frost's free verse style can help students understand different forms of poetry too. Frost's use of diction and humor are unique, as the narrator speculates as to the relevance of the saying "Good fences make good neighbors." Inspired by Robert Frost, young adults may be asked to write their own poems that focus on cultural maxims or specific social norms.
