Ask a New Question
Menu

Read the lines from "Mending Wall."

The work of hunters is another thing:
I have come after them and made repair
Where they have left not one stone on a stone,
But they would have the rabbit out of hiding,
To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean,
No one has seen them made or heard them made,
But at spring mending-time we find them there.

How does the structure of "Mending Wall" affect the poem?

The poem is in multiple rhyming stanzas to break up the conversation between the speaker and his neighbor into different time periods.
The poem is in multiple rhyming stanzas to break up the conversation between the speaker and his neighbor into different time periods.

The poem is in multiple unrhymed stanzas to show that the conversation between the speaker and his neighbor is fragmented.
The poem is in multiple unrhymed stanzas to show that the conversation between the speaker and his neighbor is fragmented.

The poem is in one unrhymed stanza, which enforces the idea that this is an ongoing conversation between the speaker and his neighbor.
The poem is in one unrhymed stanza, which enforces the idea that this is an ongoing conversation between the speaker and his neighbor.

The poem is in one rhyming stanza to show how important it is for the speaker to convince his neighbor about his opinion on borders.

1 answer

The structure of "Mending Wall" significantly contributes to its themes and the nature of the conversation between the speaker and his neighbor.

The correct interpretation would be "The poem is in multiple unrhymed stanzas to show that the conversation between the speaker and his neighbor is fragmented." Unrhymed stanzas reflect the fractured and often tense nature of their dialogue, illustrating differing perspectives on boundaries and relationships. The lack of a rigid rhyme scheme can enhance the sense of spontaneity and reflection in their conversations, allowing the speaker's voice to flow freely as he contemplates the meaning of walls and barriers. This structure emphasizes the ongoing, unresolved nature of their discussion about personal and social boundaries.