Comprehension I.Mending Wall

Question 1.
What does “something” in line 1 refer to?
a. Natural causes
b. Supernatural causes
c. Man-made causes
Answer:
(b) Supernatural causes

Question 2.
How does nature disturb the stones on the wall?
Answer:
Wind, snow, and rain cause the stones to fall by disturbing the wall.

Question 3.
How do hunters disturb the stones on the wall?
Answer:
The hunters disturb the stones to drive the rabbit out of its hiding place.

Question 4.
Who does “they” in line 7 refer to?
Answer:
“They” refers to the hunters.

Question 5.
Who are the two characters in the poem? (Note: The speaker is not the poet)
Answer:
The two characters are the speaker and his neighbour.

Question 6.
When does the mending of the wall take place?
Answer:
The wall is mended during spring.

Question 7.
When the poet says, “We have to use a spell to make them balance,” what does he mean?
a. They need a magic spell to make the stones balance.
b. It is a humorous statement.
c. He regrets not knowing a magic spell.
Answer:
(b) It is a humorous statement.

Question 8.
“I let my neighbour know…” (line 12) What did the speaker let the neighbour know?
Answer:
The speaker informs his neighbour that they should repair the wall together.

Question 9.
a) What is referred to as just another outdoor game?
Answer:
Arranging stones one above the other.

b) Why does the speaker call it a game?
Answer:
The speaker sees no meaningful purpose in the wall’s existence, thus considering it a game.

Question 10.
What argument does the speaker give to convince his neighbour that they do not need the wall?
Answer:
The speaker argues that the fields are different: the neighbour has pine trees while he has apple trees. He believes the trees will not cross over to each other’s side, so the wall is unnecessary.

Question 11.
What is the neighbour’s stock reply?
Answer:
“Good fences make good neighbours.”

Question 12.
By building a wall between neighbours, what are we ‘walling in’ and what are we ‘walling out’?
Answer:
We ‘wall in’ our property, claiming it as our own, and ‘wall out’ others, excluding them from entering or claiming it.

Question 13.
The speaker says, “I rather / he said it for himself”
a) What does “it” refer to here?
Answer:
“It” refers to whatever is causing the wall to be destroyed each time they repair it.

b) What does the speaker mean by this statement?
Answer:
The speaker avoids directly accusing anyone of destroying the wall. He implies that the wall is being undermined because it is not necessary.

Question 14.
How does the neighbour carrying a stone in each hand appear to the poet?
Answer:
The speaker perceives the neighbour as resembling a primitive person from the Stone Age.

Question 15.
What does “darkness” in line 41 refer to?
a. Darkness in the woods under the shade of a tree.
b. Mental darkness, ignorance
c. His ‘blindness’ to see the light in the speaker’s arguments.
Answer:
(b) Mental darkness, ignorance.

Question 16.
Frost says that his poem is a metaphor, saying one thing and meaning another. What is the metaphorical meaning of the wall?
Answer:
The wall represents an emotional barrier that people build between themselves and others, often due to ignorance or fear.

Question 17.
Why do you think the speaker presents the wall? What does he want?
Answer:
The speaker is opposed to the idea of a wall between neighbours who have no reason to distrust one another. He finds it pointless since the wall is often destroyed each spring, and there are no animals to keep apart. He seeks to challenge the necessity of maintaining such barriers.

Comprehension II. Mending Wall

Question 1.
“He moves in darkness as it seems to me, Not of woods only and the shade of trees.”
a) Who does ‘he’ in the first line refer to?
Answer:
The neighbour.

b) What does ‘darkness’ mean here?
Answer:
It symbolizes ignorance.

c) Why does the speaker say that ‘he’ moves in darkness?
Answer:
The neighbour blindly follows what his father said without questioning or understanding the point of repairing the wall, thus showing ignorance about the need for it.

Question 2.
“Stay where you are until our backs are turned.”
a) Who are these words said to?
Answer:
To the boulders that form the wall.

b) Who does “our” refer to?
Answer:
The speaker and his neighbour.

c) What is the tone of the speaker?
Answer:
The tone is humorous.

Comprehension III. Mending Wall

Question 1.
If you had the chance to live with one of the characters in the poem, who would you choose and why?

Answer:
I would choose to live with the speaker. He is logical, reasonable, and possesses a good sense of humour. Unlike the neighbour, who follows tradition blindly, the speaker questions everything and seeks harmony between people. He doesn’t believe in creating barriers, whether between people or through the wall. The speaker’s approach to life is one of open-mindedness and understanding, which would create a peaceful and thoughtful environment to live in.

Paragraph:
The speaker’s logical and reasonable nature stands out, complemented by his sense of humor. He humorously compares his neighbour to an ancient savage when he silently carries stones to rebuild the wall. The neighbour, repeating the phrase “good fences make good neighbours” without questioning it, contrasts sharply with the speaker’s progressive mindset. The speaker’s desire for harmony among people and his rejection of unnecessary barriers, even those caused by nature, reflects his belief in unity over separation.

IV. Activities. Mending Wall

Question 1.
The speaker and the neighbour hold opposing views on the wall between their fields. The following statements describe either the speaker or the neighbour. Identify who each one applies to. The first two are provided as examples:

1. something there is that doesn’t love a wall.
Answer:
Speaker

2. good fences make good neighbours.
Answer:
Neighbour

3. very conservative
Answer:
Neighbour

4. logical and reasonable
Answer:
Speaker

5. light-hearted, humorous
Answer:
Speaker

6. playing safe
Answer:
Neighbour

7. respects tradition
Answer:
Neighbour

8. even God and nature seem to be against a wall between men
Answer:
Speaker

9. apple orchard
Answer:
Speaker

10.living beyond the hills
Answer:
Neighbour

11.an old stone savage
Answer:
Neighbour

12.cosmopolitan in outlook
Answer:
Speaker

Question 2.
Group Discussion:
Man has created numerous walls (barriers) separating individuals from one another. These barriers come in many forms: social, cultural, religious, political, and regional.
a) Identify five such man-made barriers.

Answer:
1. Religious spaces that restrict entry to people of the same faith.
2. Lack of interaction between people from different social backgrounds.
3. People from different political parties avoiding each other.
4. Exclusion of transgenders from certain workplaces or social settings.
5. Regional prejudice where people from one area are not easily accepted by those from another.

b) Are these barriers necessary for good and peaceful co-existence?
Answer:
No, these barriers are not necessary.

c) Why are these barriers harmful?
Answer:
They limit free interaction, creating divisions among people. This hinders personal growth and societal progress, ultimately affecting the quality of life.

d) What can you do to break these barriers?
Answer:
We can raise awareness about the negative impact of such barriers and encourage others to break down these walls by promoting inclusivity and understanding.

e) Imagine a life without barriers. What would it be like?
Answer:
A life without barriers would be vibrant and dynamic, filled with diverse interactions. It would encourage learning, cooperation, and mutual respect among people from all walks of life.

Mending Wall Poem Summary