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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 Audio
: "Poetry Goes Back to School" - a resource on teaching Frost's poetry.
More About Robert Frost
:
Poets Section on Poetry Foundation
Related Links
Poem Guides
Poem of the Day
All Poems and Poets
Poetry Foundation Information
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: 61 West Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60654
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View note source
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/53087/out-out