https://padlet.com/michael_diciaccio/mendingwall_g1 Q7: The use of language such as 'Spell' and 'elves' brings a humorous quality to the poem. Is this Frost's intention or is there a level of cynicism present that we should be aware of? en-us 2016-10-27 01:10:14 UTC 2017-05-17 02:07:28 UTC hello@padlet.com aidan_ho https://padlet.com/michael_diciaccio/mendingwall_g1/wish/133798104 The use of language, such as the words and 'elves' bring a humorous quality to the poem, as it shows his passive aggressive reaction to the wall being there. This is seen from how he believes that the wall, being relationships, is not needed. As the wall is symbolic of the barrier between people in society and that it is uselessly 'blocking' elves which are non-existent. Accentuating how useless he believes the wall is being. Furthermore, the use of the word 'spell' in "We have to use a spell to make them balance"  shows the likelihood of being able to mend the wall as being close to impossible, since spells are fantastical and are unrealistic. Therefore, the unstable and broken wall shows a weak relationship and a lack of trust between the neighbours. ]]> 2016-10-28 01:22:04 UTC https://padlet.com/michael_diciaccio/mendingwall_g1/wish/133798104 joshua_blancato https://padlet.com/michael_diciaccio/mendingwall_g1/wish/133798124 The language used in "I could say 'Elves' to him" serves to mock the irrationality of the neighbour. Frost uses a mocking and sarcastic tone to demonstrate his frustration in being unable to  convince the neighbour of what he views as a logical argument. He likens the keeping of the wall as unrealistic and ignorant as believing in the presence of 'Elves', combining cynicism with humour to convey his neighbours oblivious and illogical objection. The wall is reflective of barriers within humanity and his cynicism towards their existence being fantastical accentuates his opinion of futility within the human condition.]]> 2016-10-28 01:22:18 UTC https://padlet.com/michael_diciaccio/mendingwall_g1/wish/133798124 mitchell_devine https://padlet.com/michael_diciaccio/mendingwall_g1/wish/133798203 The inclusion of transcendental language in the line ''use a spell to make them balance'' alludes to the dubious ambition to keep the wall, tradition, upright. Through the fact that ''spells'' are esoteric, Frost uses this absurdist humour as a metaphor for the need for preternatural forces to keep tradition alive. This idea is further carried forward in the word ''elves'' , which symbolises the intangible aspect of society that is allowing the wall to still stand. The idea that he ''could say elves'' alludes to how he 'could' conform to the intangible foundation or tradition of the wall, but chooses to confront and challenge the constructs of society and the perceptions within it. ]]> 2016-10-28 01:22:58 UTC https://padlet.com/michael_diciaccio/mendingwall_g1/wish/133798203 anthony_bejjani https://padlet.com/michael_diciaccio/mendingwall_g1/wish/133798368 Throughout the poem, Frost employs sarcasm to highlight the individual's cynical view on the need for walls. The sarcasm employed through the rhetorical question of "Where  there are cows?"  as the man's response to the question of the relevance of walls, sheds light on his ideology he is intellectually superior as he can see that there is no need for a fence whilst his neighbour is still caught up in traditin. This is further reinforced by the sentence, "But here there are no cows.". He then continues to mock his neighbour through the pun "What I was walling in or walling out And to whom i would give offense."]]> 2016-10-28 01:24:13 UTC https://padlet.com/michael_diciaccio/mendingwall_g1/wish/133798368 james_harrison3 https://padlet.com/michael_diciaccio/mendingwall_g1/wish/133798574 The allusion to elves, though meaningful to the persona, would never appeal to the traditional farmer; it is such a hopeless suggestion that it leads to a kind of surrender, a comical attempt that would never achieve what he intends to. ]]> 2016-10-28 01:25:58 UTC https://padlet.com/michael_diciaccio/mendingwall_g1/wish/133798574 james_harrison3 https://padlet.com/michael_diciaccio/mendingwall_g1/wish/133800730 It is frosts intention to include a level of cynicism in the poem as he]]> 2016-10-28 01:47:20 UTC https://padlet.com/michael_diciaccio/mendingwall_g1/wish/133800730