How does the structure of "Mending Wall" affect the poem?

A. The poem is in one unrhymed stanza, enforcing an ongoing conversation.
B. The poem is in multiple unrhymed stanzas, showing fragmented conversation.
C. The poem is in one rhyming stanza, emphasizing the speaker's opinion on borders.
D. The poem is in multiple rhyming stanzas, representing different time periods.

The structure of 'Mending Wall' consists of a single unrhymed stanza, reflecting an ongoing conversation and emphasizing the poem's themes of boundary maintenance in human relationships.

Explanation:

Robert Frost's Mending Wall is structured in blank verse, which uses unrhymed iambic pentameter. To answer the question, how does the structure of "Mending Wall" affect the poem, option (a) is correct. The poem unfolds in a single unrhymed stanza, contributing to a sense of continuous, uninterrupted conversation between the speaker and the neighbor. This structure supports the poem’s exploration of themes like boundaries in human relationships and the cycle of decay and maintenance.

The structure allows for a natural read, mimicking the flow of regular speech. The deliberate choice to not divide the poem into rhymed or unrhymed multiple stanzas avoids breaking this flow, underlining the ongoing, cyclical task of rebuilding the wall and possibly, by extension, the ongoing effort needed to maintain relationships. The poem's structure, therefore, reinforces its central themes and the conversational tone employed by Frost's speaker.