If there's one thing Robert Frost works on constantly, it's the theme of masculinity. He works on it from a different perspective of a Thoreau or a Whitman, but there are still those basic, meaty questions of work, mortality, loss, and man in nature. Hefty stuff, but Frost chooses to tackle these issues through his own experiences in New England. Man's role here is always a contested one—trying to stay warm, finding your path, building relationships with neighbors, working on your mustache, that kind of stuff. In "Out, Out," it's not a man, but a young boy doing man's work—with tragic consequences.
Questions About Men and Masculinity
- How does the boy relate to the only female character? Whom is this poem meant for? How do you know?
- Is the boy's adolescence or boyhood a factor in the accident? Is he just a klutz? Why do you think so?
- How do we reconcile the boy's work with his environment? That is, does the boy need to be doing work? Why or why not?
- What does it mean that the boy dies? Does it mean anything? Why do you think so?
Chew on This
The boy's lack of maturity probably caused the accident—don't do work too late at night, y'all.
The boy's value as a worker makes his family only feel the loss of his work potential when he dies. Bummer.