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Out Out
Robert Frost

Ideas

The poem (published in 1916) is about a boy who has an accident in the woods. He accidentally cuts his
hand and he begins to fear for his life. He does not want the hand to be removed. He eventually loses his
life to the incident.

Context

Robert Frost was an American poet, who was born on 26th March 1874. He grew up in San Francisco, but
moved to Massachusetts after his father died of tuberculosis. Frost was inspired by many of the English
poets, after going to England. He died in 1963. Frost understood New England, where the poem is set, as his
grandfather had a farm there.

Author’s Purpose

Frost was a father; however, sadly: Elliot died of Cholera; Carol committed suicide; Irma developed mental
illness; Marjorie died after giving birth to her child and Elinor died in early infancy. Perhaps this explains the
sadness of the child’s death in the poem.

Language

Personification

‘The buzz saw snarled and rattled in the yard’

It is almost as though the saw is an animal, or creature that will devour the boy. The creature ‘snarled’
showing how angry and vicious the saw might be. It is almost as though the saw is another character in the
story, ‘and nothing happened: day was all but done.’ It eventually ‘Leaped out at the boy’s hand, or seemed
to leap,’ showing almost a determination to do harm.

Alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of a consonant sound. If the alliteration begins with an ‘s’, then this is called
sibilance. There are two types of sound: hard sounds (plosives) or soft sounds. It is extremely important to
consider which sort of sound is being repeated, as this will determine the impact.

‘Sweet-scented stuff’ has a soft ambience and directly contrasts to the harsh events that will unfold.

__Foreshadowing __

Foreshadowing is the clues that are provided within a story, poem or play of the events that will unfold. It is
used by the author to create a sense of tension or looming danger.

Throughout the first half of the poem, there are repetitive mentions of endings, with the ‘sunset’, ‘day was
all but done’ and ‘supper’. The ‘supper’ could be a religious reference to the Last Supper, which was eaten
before Jesus’ death. It could reflect the innocence and purity of the young child.

Fear

‘The boy’s first outcry was a rueful laugh’

The first response of the child is to laugh, which can often occur in times of fear and uncertainty. There is a
naivety at this point of the child that quickly disappears.
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‘holding up the hand

Half in appeal, but half as if to keep

The life from spilling’

By this stage of the poem, ‘blood’ is no longer mentioned. Instead, it is replaced with ‘life’, showing the
severity of the incident. The reader now understands that the ‘child’ could die from the accident. The ‘boy’
has suddenly become a ‘child’ and the modern-day audience are not accustomed to such harsh conditions.
It would be unusual for a young child to be allowed near a saw.

Structure

Rhyme Scheme and Blank Verse

The poem is written almost as a story. It contains no stanzas (paragraph) and it has very little rhyme. It
could be suggested that this emphasises the shocking nature of the incident that occurs.

By the final lines, there is a complete emotional detachment from the incident:

‘No more to build on there. And they, since they

We’re not the one dead, turned to their affairs.’

It is almost as though the narrator is indifferent to the incident, which is shocking, as the boy has died.

Exam practice
Within the exam, you will be asked to compare one text to another of your choice. Here are 3 example
essays that you could practice. You must consider the use of language and structure in your answer:

Compare the sense of loss in ‘Out Out’ to …

How is loss presented in ‘Out Out’?

In "Out, Out—" by Robert Frost, the theme of loss is presented through the tragic death of a young boy who
is fatally injured while working with a buzz saw. Frost vividly depicts the abruptness and finality of the boy's
death, emphasizing the suddenness and brutality of the accident. The poem captures the fleeting nature of
life and the harsh reality of mortality.

Loss is conveyed through various elements in the poem:

1. Title: The title itself, "Out, Out—," suggests an abrupt ending or extinguishing, which foreshadows
the tragic outcome of the poem.

2. Narrative Tone: Frost adopts a detached and matter-of-fact narrative tone, which contrasts sharply
with the emotional weight of the subject matter. This tone underscores the inevitability of the boy's
fate and accentuates the sense of loss.

3. Description of the Accident: The poem describes the boy's injury in vivid detail, highlighting the
suddenness and violence of the accident. Phrases such as "snarled and rattled" and "leaped out at
the boy's hand" evoke a sense of chaos and danger, intensifying the impact of the loss.

4. Reactions of the Characters: The reactions of the characters in the poem, particularly the boy's
family members and the bystanders, further emphasize the sense of loss and grief. Their stunned
silence and futile attempts to save the boy reflect the overwhelming despair and helplessness in the
face of tragedy.
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5. Final Lines: The poem concludes with the image of the buzz saw continuing its work "since they
were not the one dead," implying the indifference of the natural world to human suffering. This
final image underscores the harsh reality of loss and the inevitability of death.

Overall, "Out, Out—" presents loss as a sudden and irreversible event, highlighting the fragility of life and
the profound impact of unexpected tragedy.

Compare the sense of helplessness in ‘Out Out’ to …

The sense of helplessness in "Out, Out—" by Robert Frost is palpable throughout the poem, conveyed
through various elements:

1. Narrative Distance: Frost employs a detached narrative tone, creating a sense of distance between
the reader and the events of the poem. This narrative detachment emphasizes the inability of the
characters to control or alter the course of events, enhancing the feeling of helplessness.

2. Description of the Accident: The poem vividly describes the boy's fatal injury with a sense of
inevitability and powerlessness. Phrases such as "snarled and rattled" and "the saw, / As if to prove
saws knew what supper meant" evoke the idea of machinery acting independently of human will,
reinforcing the sense of helplessness in the face of external forces.

3. Reactions of the Characters: The reactions of the characters in the poem highlight their sense of
helplessness and inability to intervene effectively. The boy's sister's hysterical plea, "Don't let him
cut my hand off— / The doctor, when he comes. Don't let him, sister!" underscores her desperation
and the futility of her request. Similarly, the adults' stunned silence and frantic attempts to save the
boy underscore their sense of helplessness in the face of tragedy.

4. Final Image: The poem concludes with the image of the buzz saw continuing its work "since they
were not the one dead," suggesting the indifference of the natural world to human suffering. This
final image reinforces the sense of helplessness and underscores the harsh reality of mortality.

Overall, Frost's skilful use of language, imagery, and narrative technique effectively conveys the
overwhelming sense of helplessness experienced by the characters in "Out, Out—," emphasizing the
fragility of human existence and the inevitability of tragedy.

How is youth presented in ‘Out Out’? Compare it to …

In Robert Frost's poem "Out, Out," youth is presented in a rather poignant and sobering manner. The poem
tells the story of a young boy who is doing a man's work, cutting wood with a saw. Throughout the poem,
there's a sense of innocence and vulnerability associated with the boy, highlighting his youthfulness.

The boy's youth is emphasized by the fact that he is engaged in physically demanding labour typically
associated with adults. He is described as "a boy doing a man's work," which underscores his tender age
and the responsibilities placed upon him. This juxtaposition of childhood and adult responsibilities serves to
underscore the theme of innocence juxtaposed with the harshness of life and work.

Furthermore, the sudden and tragic accident that befalls the boy emphasizes the fragility of youth. Despite
his strength and vitality, the boy's life is extinguished in an instant, reminding the reader of the fleeting
nature of youth and the vulnerability of human life.

Overall, youth in "Out, Out" is portrayed as fragile, innocent, and vulnerable in the face of life's harsh
realities. The poem serves as a reminder of the transient nature of youth and the suddenness with which it
can be extinguished.