Out, Out—

"Out, Out—" is a poem written by Robert Frost, first published in 1916 in Mountain Interval. The title itself is a direct quotation from Shakespeare's Macbeth, Act V, Scene V: "Out, out, brief candle!" a line spoken by Macbeth upon hearing of Lady Macbeth's death. Frost uses the title to foreshadow the tragic death of a young boy in the poem.

The poem depicts a rural scene where a boy is helping his family by using a buzz saw to cut wood. In a moment of inattention or exhaustion as evening approaches, the boy's hand comes into contact with the saw. The accident results in a severe injury, and despite attempts to save him, the boy dies.

"Out, Out—" explores themes of mortality, the fragility of life, the loss of innocence, and the indifference of nature. The use of the line from Macbeth emphasizes the sudden and senseless nature of the boy's death, comparing it to the extinguishing of a candle. The poem is known for its stark realism and its unsentimental portrayal of grief. The abrupt and seemingly unemotional reaction of the adults after the boy's death underscores the harsh realities of rural life and the acceptance of death as a part of the natural order.