Out, Out

Jan 21, 2025

Lecture Notes on Robert Frost's Poem "Out, Out"

Overview

  • Title: Out, Out
  • Author: Robert Frost
  • Published on: Poetry Foundation website

Summary of the Poem

  • The poem describes a tragic incident involving a boy and a buzz saw.
  • The setting is a rural area with a view of "Five mountain ranges one behind the other."
  • The saw is personified as snarling and rattling while it cuts wood.
  • As the day ends, the boy is eager for supper, a break from his work.
  • His sister calls him for supper, but at that moment, the saw "leaped out at the boy's hand."
  • The boy loses his hand in the accident, and despite immediate medical intervention, he dies.
  • The poem ends with a somber note as others return to their daily affairs.

Themes and Analysis

  • Innocence and Experience: The boy's transition from child to laborer highlights loss of innocence.
  • Man vs. Machine: The saw's personification represents the danger of machinery.
  • Mortality: The poem starkly portrays the fragility of life and suddenness of death.
  • Indifference of the World: The ending conveys the world's apathy towards individual suffering.

Poetic Devices

  • Personification: The saw is given human-like qualities, enhancing its menacing presence.
  • Imagery: Vivid descriptions of the setting and the accident create a powerful visual effect.
  • Irony: The boy's laugh amidst his injury reflects the tragic irony of the situation.
  • Alliteration: Repeated sounds emphasize the mechanical, relentless nature of the saw.

Context and Background

  • Robert Frost often explores rural life, human endurance, and nature’s indifference in his works.
  • "Out, Out" references Macbeth's soliloquy, highlighting the brevity and unpredictability of life.

Additional Resources

Related Links

Poetry Foundation Information

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