“Out, Out” by Robert Frost

Robert Frost was an American poet who wrote many famous poems, including “The Road Not Taken” and “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” “Out, Out” is one of his most well-known works. The poem tells the story of a young boy who dies after accidentally cutting his hand with a saw. The poem uses simple language to create a powerful image of death.

Robert Frost’s “Out, Out” is about a young boy who dies after cutting his hand with a saw. To provide the reader with a clear image of this unusual event, Frost employs imagery, personification, blank verse, and variation in sentence length to convey various emotions and viewpoints throughout the poem. In addition to that, Shakespear’s play called Macbeth makes an allusion to events in “Out, Out”, which are somewhat similar.

The poem “Out, Out” by Robert Frost is a story about a young boy who dies as a result of cutting his hand using a saw. In order to give the reader a clear picture of this bizarre scenario, Frost utilizes Imagery, Personification, blank verse, and variation in sentence length to display various feelings and perceptions throughout the poem.

For example, the use of Imagery is seen when the author writes “the saw/In the act of stoking.” This allows readers to see the blood gushing out of the boy’s hand and feel his pain. The personification of the saw as an antagonist gives human-like qualities to an inanimate object which speaks to how fast and sudden the accident happened.

The use of blank verse adds to the overall eeriness of the poem as it creates a sense of uneasiness. The use of different sentence lengths also allows readers to see how the tragedy unfolded and how it affected those around the boy. Lastly, the reference to Macbeth’s speech in the play by Shakespeare called Macbeth is significant as it shows how the events in “Out, Out” are somewhat parallel to what occurs in the play.

The young boy’s hand is chopped by a “buzz-saw” in the first line of Frost’s poem. The story takes place in Vermont at the end of the day, and it is late afternoon. The sun has set, and his sister urges him and the other laborers to come for supper. Hearing dinner time, he becomes excited and accidentally cuts his hand on purpose. He asks his sister to ensure that the doctor does not amputate his hand immediately after realising that this might happen. 

She agrees, but the boy dies anyways from the loss of blood. Robert Frost was an American poet who is known for his realistic depictions of rural life and his use of ordinary speech in his poetry. “Out, Out” is one of his most famous poems. It tells the story of a young boy who dies after accidentally cutting his hand with a buzz saw. The poem raises questions about the meaning of life and death, and whether or not humans can truly control their own fate.

The doctor arrives too late, and the boy’s hand is already gone by the time he arrives. The doctor administers him anaesthetic, and he falls asleep and never regains consciousness again. “since they (the boys’ family and the doctor) were not the one who had died,” concludes the poem, implying that while the boys’ death is sad, individuals focus only on themselves in a way that implies that individuals care for others. This Robert Frost poem is dark and twisted, but ultimately carries a very powerful message.

Frost employs a range of stylistic methods in this poem. He is extremely descriptive, employing imagery and personification to express his ideas in the poem. When describing the location, Frost uses imagery. The boy is standing out on the porch, he says, by describing visible mountain ranges and establishing the time of day with words such as “sunset.” Using words like “pity” and “outcry,” Frost paints a picture of the boy succumbing to agony. 

 Frost also uses personification when he gives the saw blade human characteristics.  He says that the saw “cried” and that it was “weary” from all the work it had done.  Frost uses personification to make the saw blade seem more real and to make the reader feel more sympathy for the boy.

Robert Frost’s poem “Out, Out” is a heartbreaking poem about a young boy who dies after his hand is cut off by a saw. Frost uses different stylistic devices throughout this poem to express his intentions. He is very descriptive, using things such as imagery and personification to give readers a better understanding of what is happening.

Frost uses imagery when he describes the setting of the place. He tells his readers the boy is standing outside by describing the visible mountain ranges and sets the time of day by saying that the sun is setting. Frost gives his readers an image of the boy feeling pain by using contradicting words such as “rueful” and “laugh” and by using powerful words such as “outcry”.

Frost also uses personification when he gives the saw blade human characteristics. He says that the saw “cried” and that it was “weary” from all the work it had done. Frost uses personification to make the saw blade seem more real and to make the reader feel more sympathy for the boy.

The poem ends with a sense of finality, leaving readers with the feeling that this young boy’s life has ended too soon. Frost’s use of stylistic devices allows readers to connect with the boy on a personal level, making his death all the more tragic.

As a poem’s topic, the term saw is used across several lines. In terms of personification and repetition, Frost employs both. When he says that at times it might “run light,” for example, it sounds as if the saw were a personality who had to carry something. Repetition is employed to give a picture of the saw’s motions by using words like “snarled and clattered” multiple times throughout the poem to create an image of the tool moving back forth.  

Robert Frost’s “Out, Out-” is a poem about a young boy who dies as a result of an accident with a saw. The title of the poem, “Out, Out-“, refers to the boy’s life being cut short. The poem is written in iambic pentameter and is arranged in three stanzas, each containing eight lines.

The poem begins with the speaker describing a scene in which a young boy is working with a saw. The saw is personified in the poem, as it is said to be “snarling and rattling” at times, and “bearing a load” at others. The boy’s hand gets caught in the saw, and he bleeds to death. The speaker reflects on how the boy’s life has been cut short, and how he will never experience the joys and sorrows of adulthood.

The poem ends with the speaker noting how the boy’s sisters will never see him grow up, and how his mother will never see him get married. The poem is a tragedy, but it also serves as a reminder of how precious life is.

Leave a Comment