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‘Mending Wall’ is a 45-line poem by American poet, Robert Frost (1874–1963). It was first published in the book, North of Boston (1914).

In this poem, the speaker (a farmer) asks why humans build walls between themselves. It seems to him a waste of effort. Despite his doubt, once each year he meets his neighbor (another farmer) to mend the wall between their farms.

His neighbor believes that walls are important for the health of human relationships. He also believes that because walls are part of local tradition, it is important to continue mending them.

If you choose this lesson, you will have a chance to talk about these topics:

(1)   What is your opinion of walls and fences that separate people and property?

(2)   How important is it to follow the traditions of our ancestors?

If you request this lesson, I will send you a pdf with the text of the poem. The language is quite simple, and you will easily find the meaning of the words in a good dictionary. However, please make a note of any words or phrases that you don’t fully understand and mention them to me during the lesson.

Optional reading exercise:

(1): If you would like me to give you feedback on your reading during the lesson, please practice before the lesson to read part of the poem. I can help to show you ways to improve your pronunciation, phrasing, and intonation.

(2): If you prefer to send me an audio file (MP3 format) in which you read about 20 lines of the poem, I will send you brief feedback at no extra charge. (Please be patient: You may have to wait up to 24 hours to receive this feedback.)

This lession is designed for intermediate and advanced students of English. It should also appeal to university students who are interested in English Literature. In rare cases, high school students might also enjoy the lesson.