Mending Wall Reading Questions Answer Key (1) 3a533

Name: Teacher: Class:

“Mending Wall”

Date:

Reading Questions 1. What two causes of gaps in the wall does the speaker of the poem identify? winter and hunters 2. Who initiates the annual fixing of the wall? the speaker of the poem 3. How do the two characters go about fixing the wall? (What do they do to fix it?) they walk along together and put the stones that have fallen down back into the gaps left in the wall 4. Does the wall serve a practical purpose? (Use examples from the text to explain your answer.) No, the speaker explains that the wall doesn’t serve to keep cows on one side or another The speaker also says the wall isn’t needed to identify the boundary, as the trees are so obviously different 5. What does the saying “Good fences make good neighbors” mean? Good neighbors respect each other’s privacy and differences. They don’t invade their neighbor’s space and they politely keep their neighbor on his own land, as well.

6. How does the speaker of the poem feel about the wall? (Use examples from the text to explain your answer.) The speaker believes the wall is unnecessary. He mentions how walls are used to separate livestock and land, but explains that neither of those reasons are valid in this particular situation.

7. What the speaker want to say to his neighbor? Why doesn’t he say it? The speaker wants to talk about elves and make up far-fetched stories for how the wall has fallen apart, but he doesn’t think the neighbor ill appreciate it. Instead, he hopes the neighbor will come up with the ideas himself. 8. Does the wall separate the two neighbors or bring them closer together? (Use examples from the text to explain your answer.)

Answers will vary, but should include examples to justify the opinion.

9. What thematic issues does this poem explore? (Choose at least two from below.) a. family

d. love

g. betrayal

j.

b. death

e.

equality

h. friendship

k. responsibility

c.

f.

tradition

i.

l.

nature

alienation

individualism communication

10. Explain the poem’s message about the above thematic issues. a. What does the poem seem to say about ______________________________? (Choose one from above.) Answers will vary.

b. What does the poem seem to say about ______________________________? (Choose one from above.)

Answers will vary.