Out-, Out- by Robert Frost

Opening

The poet's main idea he tries to express through his depiction of emotion and events is that life is a very delicate thing; it can end at the least expected and most ironic moments. However, the world keeps progressing forward and life moves on, so you just keep living despite your loss, however tragic it may be.

Thesis Statement

In the poem, "Out-Out" the poet has a sombre, serious, regretful attitude, an ironic tone, and a vivid descriptive voice towards the events occurring throughout the poem. He (the poet) is shown as a witness to the story that takes place. Frost benefits this spectacular take on a chain of events to direct you through a series of strong feelings as the verse develops.

Theme

Out-Out, is a short poem which deals with a tragic death. In this essay I intend to show how the poet conveys feelings through his choice of language, imagery and versification.

Introduction

The poem was the calm and serene atmosphere that the poet was describing. "The buzz glimpsed snarled and rattled" in the first line depicts ferocity as if he was endeavouring to foreshadow the saw's function in the poem. The poet goes on to describe a nostalgic, happy scene in the country, on a homestead in the mountains of Vermont. He creates this mood by using words and phrases such as "sweet-scented stuff" and "breeze drew across it". "Five mountain ranges...." and "Under the sunset far into Vermont" depicts the location as in the wilderness up in the mountains of Vermont at dusk, where he (the poet) and the boy were about to call it a day.

Tool box Element

The poem is set on an isolated farm in Vermont far from any urban areas in the first half of the twentieth century. 'Out-Out...' tells the story of a teenage boy doing a man's work whose life comes to an abrupt end when he has a tragic accident with a 'buzz saw' whilst working on the farm. The rest of the characters are shocked but the soon turn back to their affairs as it is not them that is dead.

Analysis

At the beginning of the poem the poet is very descriptive of the setting. This helps to set a picture of the setting in the mind of the reader. "Five hills varieties one behind the other Under the sunset far into Vermont". This also leaves the reader seeing a scenic place in their minds which makes them think that the poem may be a happy one unaware of the death which is to happen. The use of visual imagery helps to engage the senses of sound and smell for example, "Made dust and dropped stove-length sticks". This also helps to loll the reader into a false sense of security. A more deliberate attempt of this made through the poets use of alliteration. He uses soft sounds to make the reader believe there is a calm environment and a happy mood. "Sweet-scented stuff when the breeze drew ...