Textbook Activities & Answers
Think and Write
- Why does the poet say that there is something that doesn’t love a wall?
→ The poet believes that nature does not like barriers. Natural forces like the ground swell, animals, and weather continuously break down the wall, showing that boundaries are unnatural. - Why does the poet meet his neighbour beyond the hill at spring?
→ Every spring, they meet to repair the damaged wall between their properties. It has become a yearly tradition for them. - How do the poet and his neighbour mend the gaps in the wall?
→ They walk along the wall, lifting fallen stones and setting them back in place. Some stones are tricky to balance, and they joke about using a magic spell to keep them in place. - Why does the poet argue that there is no need for a wall between their estates?
→ The poet grows apples and the neighbour grows pine trees. Since there are no animals or threats, the poet feels there’s no need for a wall to separate them. - How does the neighbour justify the need for walls or fences?
→ The neighbour simply repeats what his father told him: “Good fences make good neighbours.” He believes fences prevent disputes and maintain respect. - Why does the poet consider the spring season mischievous?
→ Spring makes the speaker playful and thoughtful. It inspires him to question old traditions and challenge the neighbour’s belief. - What are the contrasting views presented in the poem?
→ The poet believes that walls are unnecessary and cause separation, while the neighbour believes they are important for maintaining good relationships.
Activity I – Paragraph Writing
Elaborate the idea: “Good fences make good neighbours.”
This phrase means that boundaries help maintain peaceful relationships. By respecting each other’s space, people can avoid arguments. However, the poet questions this belief. He feels that fences may keep people apart unnecessarily. In his case, the wall serves no real purpose, and he wonders why people continue to follow such traditions blindly. The phrase reflects the neighbour’s attitude — he believes in old sayings without thinking deeply. The poem invites us to question whether walls truly build harmony or just create distance.
Thank you. Below is the expanded and complete version of Activity II and Activity III from Chapter 1: Mending Wall by Robert Frost, Class 12 English – Unit II.
All responses are accurate, written in clear and thoughtful English, and suitable for academic use and your educational website.
Activity II – Note of Appreciation
Robert Frost’s poem Mending Wall is a reflective and symbolic narrative that explores the idea of boundaries in human relationships. Through a simple annual activity — two neighbours meeting each spring to mend a broken wall — the poet presents a deeper question about the purpose and value of walls, both physical and emotional.
The narrator questions the necessity of the wall, especially since there are no animals to fence in or threats to keep out. In contrast, the neighbour insists on tradition, repeating the old saying, “Good fences make good neighbours.” This difference in thought represents two worldviews — one that is open-minded and questioning, and another that clings to customs without analysis.
The poem uses symbolism (the wall as a barrier), metaphor, personification, and visual imagery to express its ideas. The language is simple, yet the meaning is deep. The poet skillfully raises a philosophical question through an everyday activity, making the poem both relatable and meaningful.
In essence, Mending Wall challenges the idea that separation leads to harmony. It urges us to think about how and why we build walls between people, and whether those walls help or harm relationships. The poem remains relevant today as it speaks about human tendencies to divide rather than unite.
Activity III – Comparison of Robert Frost’s Poem with Tagore’s Gitanjali
Both Robert Frost’s Mending Wall and Rabindranath Tagore’s Gitanjali use the image of a wall to convey profound philosophical ideas — but in different ways and tones.
In Mending Wall, Frost presents a literal wall built between two neighbours, which becomes a symbol of human divisions — whether social, emotional, or cultural. The speaker questions the logic of maintaining such a barrier, especially when there is no real need. His neighbour, however, insists that tradition must be followed. The poem highlights the conflict between tradition and individual reasoning.
In contrast, Tagore in Gitanjali uses the wall as a spiritual metaphor — a wall built by human pride and ego that separates the individual from God and truth. Tagore expresses regret and longing for unity with the Divine. He prays for the wall to be broken so that the soul can be free and connected to the eternal.
While Frost’s tone is quietly ironic and observational, Tagore’s tone is devotional and emotional. Both poets use the wall as a symbol of separation, but Frost focuses on human relationships and societal customs, while Tagore focuses on inner spiritual barriers.
In conclusion, both poems encourage us to break unnecessary boundaries — whether between people or between the self and the Divine — and promote openness, understanding, and connection.