Topic > Literature Review of 'Out, Out' by Robert Frost

'Out, out' is a poem by Robert Frost that tells the story of a young boy who lost his life in an unfortunate circumstance. In comparison, Wilfred Owen's “Disabled” portrays a man who left part of his being in battle. Both poems assert ideas that insinuate the brevity along with the fragility of both characters in the poem, as well as the essence that life will go on, that a life as singular as that of the characters is insignificant on a universal scale as when the young soldier in “Disabled ” returning from the war he is shunned and forgotten and is the boy from 'Out, out' where the people around him were carrying on even when he had just died. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay "Out, Out, Short Candle!" Life is but a walking shadow, a poor actor who struts and frets for his hour on the stage, and then is heard no more.” This is undeniably a reference to Shakespeare's Macbeth which illustrates the image of a flickering, fragile and short candle. It also recalls the spirit of life, which at the same time is equally short and easily tearable. Unlike "Disabled", "Out, Out". The desperation induced in the reader by the child's unexpected death and the soldier's mistaken belief that glorious war is a main feature of both "Disabled" and "Out, Out." The soldier had believed that war would be magnificent, but he, nevertheless, returns home unheroic and shunned by other "whole" people. His perception of life and his view of war have been radically affected by his poor choice. The young soldier had initially been caught up in an elaborate dream of 'jeweled dagger hilts in plaid socks' and of 'intelligent salutes and care of weapons; and going away, and paying arrears.' Yet, as he understands, these are all illusions that he has managed to deceive and commit even himself. The wonderful image of war that he had formed in his childhood is soon changed and his high hopes contrast with the brief and blunt reality in which. “he will spend a few sick years in the Institutes and do what the rules deem wise.”We, as the audience, feel pity and sympathy for him as his expectation is dashed and he is ultimately disappointed what he had believed to be true as a child when he "liked to have a bloodstain on his leg" and "thought it would be better to join" is proven wrong by his experiences and the reader feels the need to give him some comfort of which he is now deprived because of his deformities and "he noticed how the eyes of women passed from him to those of strong men who were whole." Keep in mind: this is just one example. Get a custom card now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay Similarly, in “Out, Out” the reader feels anguish over the painful manner in which the child must have died. The saw "as if to prove that he knew what dinner meant, sprang out of the boy's hand." This is an example of vivid imagery that allows us to feel the events unfolding and understand all the feelings and sensory overload in the scene, and therefore we grieve along with the child. Some warning of his death is evident with the repetition of "growled and rattled" alluding to impending death and the pain that will likely be experienced, which produces a more powerful reaction from the reader, who feels some measure of grief and empathy when they realize that something is about to happen while, ironically, the boy is still unknowingly completing the".