Homework for Thursday

Okay, I found that poem, told you I would. "Mending Walls" I want you to read it, even though it will be diffficult. The proverb comes from line 26. After reading this, i want you to consider the reasoning behind the proverb. What do you think is the justification, or logic behind the statement? Why would someone thing fences make good neighbors? Then decide if you agree. I will ask you about this in class, if we are able to have a conversation about it, there will be no further assignment, if we can't have a conversation, there will be a writing. I realize this is not an easy poem, but I think you are a smart group of students, and if you spend a half-hour, to an hour reading and re-reading (not translating every word, but reading and looking for the overall meaning) you will be able to do okay with this.

Here I will help with the first sentence (four lines)

SOMETHING there is that doesn't love a wall,
That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it,
And spills the upper boulders in the sun;
And makes gaps even two can pass abreast.

This shows the writer wondering about why his walls keep falling down. He says there is some unknown force that seems to hate his perfect walls, and this force is always trying to tear it down. I think he means nature, since he discusses that the winter season makes the ground move and cause the wall to break and how the weather creates huge holes in the wall. Basically he is complaining, in a semi-joking way that he has to go out and fix his fence.

I hope that helps. Good luck.