Summary:
“Out, Out—” is a narrative poem by Robert Frost, first published in 1916. The poem is based on a tragic accident where a young boy, while cutting wood with a buzz saw, loses his hand and dies due to excessive bleeding.
The poem takes its title from Shakespeare’s Macbeth, where Macbeth laments the fragility of life:
“Out, out, brief candle!”
The buzz saw is personified, as it seems to “leap” and claim the boy’s hand. Despite the severity of the accident, the boy’s death is met with indifference by the people around him, as they return to their daily lives. The poem highlights the harsh realities of life, death, and the fleeting nature of existence.
Frost’s use of blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter) gives the poem a natural, storytelling rhythm while maintaining a cold, detached tone to emphasize the cruelty of fate.
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| Question | Answer |
| Poem Name | Out, Out— |
| Poet | Robert Frost |
| Year Published | 1916 |
| Main Themes | Death, Fate, Indifference of Life, Human Fragility |
| Symbolism | Buzz Saw = Fate and Death, Work = Harsh Reality of Life |
| Tone | Cold, Detached, Tragic |
| Poetic Form | Blank Verse (Unrhymed Iambic Pentameter) |
| Famous Lines | “And they, since they were not the one dead, turned to their affairs.” |