Collections Grade 11 Guiding Questions

Collection 6

“Mending Wall”
“The Death of the Hired Man”
by Robert Frost

Read the poems “Mending Wall” and “The Death of the Hired Man by Robert Frost.”
Then, reread the lines indicated with each question below. Answer each question,
citing text evidence.

“Mending Wall”
1. Lines 1–4: Explain two possible opposing
interpretations for these lines and tell which one you
support. The weather affects the wall particularly
winter weather where there is contracting and
expanding of the ground and surroundings. The
author may also be implying that nature knows better
whether there should be a wall.

2. Lines 5–12: What is the setting of “Mending Wall”?

Which details from the poem reveal the setting? The
setting is a field in the country, a rural setting. Details:
beyond the hill, walk the line, rabbit out of hiding,
hunters.
3. Lines 23–26: What are two possible interpretations of
these lines? Which one do you think is most likely
Frost’s intended meaning? The speaker does not
believe there is a need for the wall, their land has
different trees that represent their ownership. Or,
he’s saying they are very different (as represented by
the different types of trees) and they are not likely to
become friends so maybe the wall is a good idea.

4. Lines 27–45: What difference between the two

characters is revealed through the use of dialogue?
What evidence from the poem supports your answer?
The speaker does not see the need for a wall. He
believes that forming friendships can overcome
differences. The other man believes “Good fences
make good neighbors,” meaning that the wall will
keep the peace.

“The Death of the Hired Man”

5. Lines 17–41: Who are the three characters in the
poem? What do you know about each character’s
personality so far? How are their traits revealed in the
poem? Cite evidence to support your conclusions.
Warren, Mary and Silas. Warren is hard headed, angry.
Mary is sweet, open-minded, compassionate. Silas is
lazy, old, seems to be sick, unreliable.
6. Lines 17–41: Explain two conflicts that exist between
characters. Mary and Warren disagree on Silas and
whether he should be there and his intentions.
Warren and Silas conflict on work and pay.

7. Lines 54–57: What does Mary’s dialogue reveal about

Silas’s current condition? Silas talks in sleep, jumbles
his words, he’s weak.

8. Lines 76–87: How do Mary’s descriptions of the way

Silas argued with Harold during the summer four years
ago contribute to the plot of the narrative? Mary
remembers all the time spent with Silas and the bond
they formed.

9. Lines 103–110: Why might these lines be considered

figurative language? Explain how this figurative
language affects meaning in the poem.

10. Lines 113–120: Why might these lines be considered

ambiguous? Warren is not sure whether Silas has the
right to call their farm his home.
11.Lines 135–145: Explain what you learn about Silas’s
character in this part of the poem, and how.

12. Line 146: What does this line of dialogue suggest

about Warren? Warren is conflicted in how he feels
toward Silas. He is a poor worker but Warren knows
he is a good man.

13. Lines 153–154: What are two possible

interpretations of what Warren means when he says,
in response to Mary’s comment that Silas’s working
days are done, “I’d not be in a hurry to say that”?

14. Lines
164–167: Explain how the conflict in this poem is
resolved, using text evidence to support your
interpretations.