Robert Frost's "Mending Wall": Multimedia Lesson Plans
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A Poem With Many Levels of Meaning
Robert Frost's "Mending Wall" can be read as a simple 19th century nature poem, the tale of two neighbors who meet in early spring to repair the damage that the winter freeze has inflicted upon their shared wall. The poem can also be read as an allegory for those metaphorical walls we all build around us.
"Mending Wall" can be an effective poem for teaching kids about a poem's dual meanings: the literal and the symbolic. The poem is accessible yet may be related to many events in history, current events, and our own lives. It has been read in dramatic tones against a backdrop of the Berlin Wall... and narrated by modern storytellers dressed in 19th century garb.
One can find analysis and exploration of Frost's "Mending Wall" in both print and video form. Teaching options -- and opportunities for developing critical literacy skills -- abound. Some teachers like to introduce "Mending Wall" with a simulation, creating "walls" in the classroom and eliciting emotional responses from students. Others like to pair this classic poem with modern poetry and music. In this page, I will share multimedia resources as well as other "Mending Wall" lesson plans.
"Mending Wall" can be an effective poem for teaching kids about a poem's dual meanings: the literal and the symbolic. The poem is accessible yet may be related to many events in history, current events, and our own lives. It has been read in dramatic tones against a backdrop of the Berlin Wall... and narrated by modern storytellers dressed in 19th century garb.
One can find analysis and exploration of Frost's "Mending Wall" in both print and video form. Teaching options -- and opportunities for developing critical literacy skills -- abound. Some teachers like to introduce "Mending Wall" with a simulation, creating "walls" in the classroom and eliciting emotional responses from students. Others like to pair this classic poem with modern poetry and music. In this page, I will share multimedia resources as well as other "Mending Wall" lesson plans.
An Index of Resources
For Studying Mending Wall
- Video: A Modern Storyteller's Interpretation
- Setting the Stage
- Video: Mending Wall
- More Resources for Understanding Frost's "Mending Wall"
- Science Connection: States of Water
- An Alternative Interpretation
- Mending Wall: My Audio Recording
- More Robert Frost Teaching Ideas
- Contact Me
- Seattle Stone Wall
- Recitation Contest
- Robert Frost Statue -- Amherst
- Before I Built a Wall...
- Credit: Robert Frost Statue -- Amherst
- Guestbook
Video: A Modern Storyteller's Interpretation
Of "Mending Wall"
"Mending Wall" is one of those rare poems in which the literal interpretation may be as difficult -- or more difficult -- than the symbolic one. The reason is two-fold: Students will likely lack background information about the 19th century New England tradition of spring wall mending. Thus they may be quite puzzled about what it is these two neighbors are doing.
Moreover, some of the grammatical constructions in the poem may be difficult. Listening to the poem -- or watching it -- can make the literal meaning clear and accessible. In this video, a modern storyteller brings some context to Frost's "Mending Wall". His is just one of many interpretations.
Moreover, some of the grammatical constructions in the poem may be difficult. Listening to the poem -- or watching it -- can make the literal meaning clear and accessible. In this video, a modern storyteller brings some context to Frost's "Mending Wall". His is just one of many interpretations.
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Setting the Stage
For Analyzing "Mending Wall"
Some teachers like to have students delve into the issues and engage their emotions before they actually read the poem. Here are two lesson plans, designed for middle school and high school students, that do just that. (How about putting up some walls in your own classroom or home?)
- Analyzing Frost's "Mending Wall"
- This lesson plan is designed for sophomore English class, but can be adapted for other levels.
- "Masterpieces in the Making" Lesson Plan
- This lesson was created for a middle school writing workshop.
Video: Mending Wall
Against a Backdrop of Pictures from the Berlin wall
Here Robert Frost's reading of "Mending Wall" is set to a backdrop of historical pictures. What do our students know of the divisions that came to Germany, and the world, in the wake of World War II? Live footage can make the learning so much more vivid. This video can be a springboard for a history lesson.
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More Resources for Understanding Frost's "Mending Wall"
- Skoool Interactive Learning
- Here is a fairly comprehensive fact sheet: background information and line-by-line interpretation.
- Edsitement Lesson Plans
- This is a high school level lesson plan, with links to many resources -- including a picture of Frost's own stone wall.
- Lesson plan from Web English Teacher
- Lyrics are poetry, and secondary students often relate to them more easily than other forms of poetry. Explore connections between Frost's poem and Pink Floyd's "the Wall".
- Printable Poem
- This is a printable Poem from EdHelper. (More resources available to members.)
- Suite 101 Poetry
- Irony, compromise, the American dream... there are many issues to consider when studying "Mending Wall".
- Analysis
- Analysis from Associated Content
- Mending Wall Forum Discussion
- Do you agree with the speaker in Mending Wall? Share your thoughts.
- Interpretive Essay
- This is a lengthy discussion of Mending Wall, posted on Blogspot.
Science Connection: States of Water
Integrating poetry and science/ geography with Frost's "Mending Wall"
If you teach elementary school, or homeschooled students, you may want to explore the science and geography connections. Why were there cracks in the wall at the end of winter? How might this relate to the unusual behavior of water (expanding instead of contracting when in a solid state)?
Spring wall mending was a ritual in Frost's New England. Why might it be more necessary (speaking literally here!) to mend walls in New England than in certain other areas of the United States?
An Alternative Interpretation
Of Robert Frost's "Mending Wall"
Poems can be interpreted in multiple ways. Some interpretations put the narrator on the side of the 'right' -- and possibly of love. Some readers believe the narrator is deliberately ambiguous about the issue of walls. Some suggest he enjoys the ritual of wall building even if the wall itself seems to have no purpose and that he wishes his neighbor would engage a bit more in debate and a bit more in whimsy.`
What do you think of this alternative interpretation, which puts the taciturn neighbor clearly on the side of love?
What do you think of this alternative interpretation, which puts the taciturn neighbor clearly on the side of love?
curated content from YouTube
Does Your Student Want to Record Her Own Poetry Interp?
Poetry interpretation can be a great learning experience, and technology can make the process more fun.
Mending Wall: My Audio Recording
More Robert Frost Teaching Ideas
Contact Me
I coach "poetry and verse" among other literacy subjects.
- Online Writing and Literature Tutoring
- Contact me about tutoring and classes for adolescents and adults: test prep, writing, prose and verse.
Seattle Stone Wall
Recitation Contest
- Recitation Contest
- Recite Mending Wall in the Poetry Out Loud Contest -- or organize a poetry recitation contest of your own.
Robert Frost Statue -- Amherst
Before I Built a Wall...
Tote Your Books
"Before I built a wall I'd ask to know what I was walling in or walling out."
Frost's Wall Tote Bag
Price: 
Across Borders, and Oceans, and Walls...
What are you thinking?
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Graceonline
Aug 15, 2011 @ 11:22 am | delete
- Having grown up with the Berlin wall and all it meant, and having witnessed it coming down, the video with that interpretation of the poem was especially stirring and moving. Thank you for including it.
What I liked best on this page was the Xoax interpretation, though, especially the illustration regarding the dividing line of the poem itself, and how the choices of words reflected the before and after aspects. It is such depth in design and construction that makes poetry more than just a story told in verse. Thank you!
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LizMac60 May 29, 2011 @ 4:39 pm | delete
- Learnt this poem when I was a teenager, long ago, and always loved Frost's poems.
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puzzlemaker
May 3, 2011 @ 8:50 am | delete
- Back again for a good dose of Robert Frost and something to think about today :-).
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Scribble1
Mar 29, 2011 @ 10:55 pm | delete
- I taught English and have some multi media plans. This page is great and has lots of ideas. Thanks!
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HarmonyArtMom
Mar 17, 2011 @ 12:34 pm | delete
- We just finished the study of Robert Frost and now I am going to go back with my son and have him read your lens. Thank you so much for putting this together. Adding to my favorites and adding a blessing.
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by KarenTBTEN
KarenTBTEN
I enjoy public audio poetry, and Robert Frost is a particular favorite. One of my passions is stringing words together -- and another is reading them... more »
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