'Out Out' by Robert Frost Model Answer
'Out Out' by Robert Frost Model Answer
'Out Out' by Robert Frost Model Answer
Task: Show how Robert Frost effectively reveals the fragility of life
in the poem, Out, Out. You may wish to consider setting,
imagery, tone and the ending.
In his poem, Out, Out, Robert Frost effectively reveals the fragility of life.
The themes of sudden death and child labour help to make this a very sad
and shocking narrative poem. The title alludes to Macbeths poignant
speech on hearing of the unexpected passing of his wife, with the
metaphor, Out, out, brief candle. This reflects the tragedy of the
accidental death of a child doing a mans job. Frosts use of setting,
imagery, and tone create a moving poem with a shocking ending.
The theme of the fragility of life emerges as the tone becomes frightening
with the transformation from the image of the saw as a working tool, to a
monstrous, calculating, predatory beast in search of its food:
At the word, the saw,
As if to prove saws knew what supper meant,
Leaped out at the boys hand, or seemed to leap
Here the saw is personified as a well-trained animal responding to its
masters signal. This is a very aggressive tone and effective animal image
which becomes even more shocking as the poet adds in a matter of fact
way, He must have given the handNeither refused the meeting.
Perhaps the boy lost concentration due to fatigue. However, his reaction,
a rueful laugh is painful to read and reflects his state of shock.
Furthermore we sense his fear in his dialogue, Dont let him cut my hand
off - Dont let him, sister!
The structure here is effective as the brevity reflects the boys life and
alludes back to Macbeths speech about life as a candle burning out, just
as the boys life has so sadly ended.
Despite this poignant tone, the poet leaves us feeling shocked and
amazed at the reaction of the people around him:
And they, since they
Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs.
The tone here is very detached and surprising given the lack of grief
expressed at this fatal accident. In contrast, I believe the poets
sympathy lies with the victim and his critical tone shows this: big boy/
Doing a mans work, though a child at heart he saw all spoiled.
Robert Frosts poem Out, Out is very moving and effectively reveals
the fragility of life. His use of setting, changes in tone and images of
animals and death help me to empathise with the boys situation. The
ending startled me as I realised the workers around the boy were
hardened in the face of death, even in the case of that of a child. Indeed
a memorable poem.