An Appreciation of the poem 'The Toys' by Coventry Patmore

What should be our attitude to our neighbours for a harmonious living?
 

Human beings should shed their selfishness and realise that the earth is not our property.  As Rachel Carson says, we belong to the earth.  The earth does not belong to us.  We have to live in harmony with everything else around us.  This includes our neighbours.

When we build a wall around our property, we get a false feeling that whatever is within that boundary belongs to us.  But as social beings we are called to be broadminded to include other people also in to our lives.  In an ideal world there should be no need for artificial boundaries. It is against nature.  That is why Robert Frost doubts that there is some force behind the destruction of walls every year.  There is something in nature that doesn't love a wall.

Walls are temporary solutions to avoid disputes between neighbours.  For those who have not grown mature enough to think beyond walls, it may be necessary.  But we have to grow mature and understand the futility of divisions between people.  Be it political, economic, religious, or any other, we as human beings should rise above narrow divisive attitudes.

 

Write a note on the title of the poem 'Mending Wall'.

The title of the poem "Mending Wall" by Robert Frost can be interpreted in a few different ways. On one level, it refers to the literal act of repairing a wall that has been damaged or broken down. This could be seen as a metaphor for the process of rebuilding relationships or fixing problems in one's personal life.

However, the title could also be interpreted more symbolically. A wall can be seen as a barrier that separates people or groups, and the act of "mending" it could be seen as an attempt to maintain or reinforce that separation. In this context, the title could be interpreted as a commentary on the divisions and conflicts that exist within society, and the ways in which people try to maintain or repair those divisions.

Overall, the title "Mending Wall" is a powerful and thought-provoking one that invites readers to consider the many different meanings and connotations associated with the idea of a wall, and the ways in which it can be both a source of separation and a means of repair and reconciliation.

 

Appreciation / Review of Mending Wall

Comparison of the poem with "Neighbour" by Ian Crichton Smith