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Out, Out -

In the poem “Out, Out -”, Frost creates a sense of danger throughout the poem by presenting the buzz saw, the setting and using special language features.

Firstly, Frost creates a sense of danger when presenting the buzz saw. The buzz saw is the thing that cut off the boy’s hand off. It is the main source of danger. The author indicates that the buzz saw is a potential danger, as in the beginning: “The buzz saw snarled and rattled in the yard.” People often snarled when they are angry, and a rattle is the sound of a snake before attacking. With the description of “snarled” and “rattled”, a sense of danger is created. Frost also build Tension indirectly by describing what it can do: “[the saw]amade dust and dropped stove-length sticks of wood”. This again shows that the saw is very powerful and dangerous.

Secondly, a sense of danger is created when the setting of the story is presented. “Five mountain ranges one behind the other, under the sunset far into Vermont”. This is significant as it includes several symbols: The “five mountains” remind the readers of fingers on one hand. “Sunset” often symbolizes the ephemerality of existence. With the description of the settings of the five mountains, it probably suggests that the five fingers are going to be cut off and a young life is about to end.

Thirdly, a sense of danger is created by Frost by his special language structure. “To tell them ‘supper’. At the word, the saw, [], leaped out at the boy’s hand, or seemed to leap—" The peaceful atmosphere of the evening was suddenly interrupted as the verses are separated into 2 or 3 parts with commas. This creates a fast rhythm which brings the poem to its climax, thus brings the sense of danger to the readers.

As a conclusion, Frost creates a sense of danger throughout the poem by presenting the buzz saw, the setting and using special language features.