Frost concludes the poem with the boy’s prompt, dreadful death. Following his “outcry,” the boy lets out a “rueful laugh” (19). This oxymoron demonstrates both the boy’s surprise about the accident as well as his sense of extreme remorse as he recognizes that his life will never be the same again. Frost then immediately conveys the overwhelming surge of emotions that the boy experiences. The boy desperately attempts to gain the others’ attention by swinging towards them while holding up his hand (20); Frost even emphasizes the severity of the injury by referring to the boy’s excessive amount of bleeding as his “life spilling” (22). The boy's helplessness and innocence become apparent here. Due to his young age, he has little control over his dire situation, but is
…show more content…
His description of the boy’s state of health quickly going from “little-less-nothing” (32) stresses not only the fragility of the boy’s life but also life in general; the simple statement “and that ended it,” reiterates this notion as well (32). Frost’s usage of shorter sentences and em dashes in the preceding sentences accentuates the accumulating sense of detachedness and lack of emotion. In fact, Frost mentions how after the boy died, there was nothing more left of him; nothing “more to build on” (33). As a result, his family quickly moves on and “turn[s] to their affairs,” for they were not the ones who just died (34). Frost highlights the coldness of humans here; he seems to criticize the common, natural behavior of readily proceeding with your life in the face of tragedy, albeit undoubtedly, it is a crucial, necessary skill. However, it is crucial to note that the boy’s family does not necessarily feel indifferent towards his accident. Rather, their lack of action is due to their sense of not knowing what more to do. What else can you do besides continue with your own life once somebody
His description of the boy’s state of health quickly going from “little-less-nothing” (32) stresses not only the fragility of the boy’s life but also life in general; the simple statement “and that ended it,” reiterates this notion as well (32). Frost’s usage of shorter sentences and em dashes in the preceding sentences accentuates the accumulating sense of detachedness and lack of emotion. In fact, Frost mentions how after the boy died, there was nothing more left of him; nothing “more to build on” (33). As a result, his family quickly moves on and “turn[s] to their affairs,” for they were not the ones who just died (34). Frost highlights the coldness of humans here; he seems to criticize the common, natural behavior of readily proceeding with your life in the face of tragedy, albeit undoubtedly, it is a crucial, necessary skill. However, it is crucial to note that the boy’s family does not necessarily feel indifferent towards his accident. Rather, their lack of action is due to their sense of not knowing what more to do. What else can you do besides continue with your own life once somebody