Robert Frost’s Poem, Out, Out

Robert Frost’s poem “Out, Out” is narrated in a way that readers can learn the story of a boy who does as a result of accidentally cutting off his own hand with a buzz saw. This poem is set apart from others because Frost makes the entire thirty-nine-line poem into a one verse paragraph containing no stanzas. On the other hand, Linkin Park’s song “Waiting for the End” is a pop rock song, performed by an American rock band, which seems very unlike when compared to Frost’s poem. Although the creations of these pieces of art are created at different periods of time, they are similar in many ways. Robert Frost’s poem “Out, Out” and “Waiting for the End” by the band Linkin Park are similar in terms of theme, title, and imagery – yet these similarities can also set the differences between the two pieces.

First, the themes of loss and caring are persistent throughout both pieces. However, “Out, Out” refers to the loss of a limb, and eventually life, is very unlike “Waiting for the End” in which there is a loss of presence of a significant other. In the poem, the protagonist is working on his regular labor intensive day job – and is required to saw some wood using an electric buzz saw. The conflict arises when his sister comes out of the house in order to tell the working boy that supper is ready. The crisis is the reaction,” As if to prove saws know what supper meant, [the saw] Leaped out at the boy’s hand” (Frost 385) and landed upon his other? hand, severing it. The theme of loss carries on to “Waiting for the End” but in a somewhat different fashion. The main character is losing himself in his own thoughts by immersing himself into the thoughts of letting his significant other go, thusly breaking the relationship. Mike, the lead s...

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... that life is being put out while “Waiting for the End” gives light to the protagonist literally waiting until the end of the relationship. Both works use personification to a minor level, but both prominently feature the use of imagery as symbolism which is displayed in the poem by the elements of nature placing the location of the story and in the poem by using realism in the imagery to portray emotions. The two pieces, although showing vast differences, but can be viewed as similar.

Works Cited

Cyrus, Ryan. "Linkin Park Lyrics - Waiting for the End." A-Z Lyrics Universe.

AZLyrics.com, n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2014. .

Frost, Robert. “Out, Out.” Backpack Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. Ed. X.J. Kennedy Dana Gioia. 4th ed. New York: Longman, 2012. 385-386. Print.