go along with the old mans tradition. However, he respects the old man enough, he does not say anything to his face but contemplates his ideas in his mind. As you know, silence is golden and a true sign of respect, even though the youth is frustrated and calling the old man names inside his head; he does not say it a load and make the old man uncomfortable in front of him. Wise Resignation (lines 43-45) The youth is getting smarter as time goes on because he knows it is a useless cause. It will be a waste of breath to the youth because he will not be able to change the old mans senile attitude. The old man is set in his ways and will not break tradition when the youth says, He will not go behind his fathers saying. (line 43) This line states even though there is no meaning behind, Good fences make good neighbors, it is like an unwritten rule and he expects to go through this ritual every year during spring-mending time. Paradoxical (Carson Gibbs, 1962) This poem can be seen as being negative, but it can also be viewed as a positive to many readers eyes. Even though the wall divides the neighbors, it also unites them once a year. In lines 13-14, And on a day we meet to walk the line/ And set the wall between us once again, we notice that this is the only reason they see each other- to mend the wall that keeps them apart. This is ironic because without a wall, both neighbors would be separated naturally because one lives, beyond the hill, and in the darknessnot of woods only.(Liu,Tam) Argumentative Throughout the entirety of the poem seven reasons were presented by the youth in order to explain how the wall was superfluous. Those reasons included nature, the hunters and their dogs, the youth himself, the pine trees vs. apple orchards, the scarcity of cows, and the elves. There is no concrete reason for why there should be a wall, except for the old mans fathers clich, which belittles the purpose of the wall. Language: Vocabulary Some of ...
