Out, Out Comments

STAY

Odd that American readers must find a political culprit for this utterly non-political (and quite magnificent) poem. Our denial of death is surely at the heart of it. There must always be someone or something to blame. Sorry. Death is part of life, life is part of death. This poem speaks for the way it is. Events have no meaning in themselves. Meaning is a matter of interpretation.

way back then everybody work...nice poem

One of which, at least, must have been the funeral. I mean, even ants....

@miley: I don't think this takes place in a factory. His sister is there. It is more likely a rural family enterprise. Also he is not a small child, but a 'big boy, Doing a man's work'. I suggest you consult the text, rather than anachronistic prejudices.

I think that the fault is with the people who try to make small children work in factories. The poem blames the people who take children for work. And since they are not the ones dead, They didn't care at all.

The title actually has quotation marks on it: 'Out, Out'. This is significant to me and is among my favorites because I see a link to Shakespeare: 'Out, out, brief candle. Life is but a walking shadow An actor that struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more.' While one is living, our very existence, regardless of the role we play, has its significance. However, upon death, the curtain falls for that person alone, and everyone remaining must resume our performances.

For my part the story is one of shock, not just that the boy died from shock, but the shock of those around him at his sudden passing....from a harmless distraction; 'supper'

I had to memorize a poem in 7th grade and I chose this one bc of the darkness of it, but still Frost takes the boy's death so nonchalantly. When I recited it to the class I heard many gasps lol. Good stuff...

Holy crap. He's dead?