The Summary of “A Minor Bird” by Robert Frost

Robert Frost's "A Minor Bird" opens with a title which reflects man's inability to

appreciate nature. The use of the word "minor" in the title shows the insignificance with

which man regards nature.

The speaker begins with the thoughts that he or she wishes the bird will fly away.

The constant singing all day seems to really bother the speaker. The speaker has even

tried to drive the bird away with the sound of clapping hands.

At one point, the speaker realizes the bird singing was not the fault of the bird;

instead, it was the fault of the speaker. Closing the poem, the speaker recognizes the fact

that there is really something wrong with wanting to silence the bird's song. This speaks

to a realization by the speaker that the fault lies in him or her and not in nature's desire to

do what it was put on earth to do.

The poem certainly speaks to mankind's desire to control nature. People do not

appreciate nature. In the end, the poem itself speak man's inability to appreciate nature

(through the title, the irritation of the bird's song, and the question of why the song should

be stopped). Also, the poem's speaker is singular. Therefore, as the poet is not assuming

that all of mankind fails to appreciate nature; instead, he is only referring to a small

number of people who find the song of a bird irritating.

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 Questions

1. What is the speaker's tone in the first two stanzas of "A Minor Bird"?
a) annoyed b) friendly c) nature-loving d) accepting

2. In the last two stanzas of "A Minor Bird", the speaker's tone is ___________
a) hateful toward the bird.
b) aggravated at himself/herself for not liking the bird's singing.
c) accepting of the birds and their song.
d) helpful to the birds.

3. What does the speaker admit in "A Minor Bird"?

a) His negative reaction to the bird is his own fault.
b) He does not know how to make the bird leave.
c) He does not appreciate music.
d) He often criticizes others.

4. Which of the following words bests describes the speaker of "A Minor Bird"?
a) stubborn b) cruel c) thoughtful d) lonely

5. Each couplet in "A Minor Bird" _____________

a) expresses a complete thought.
b) lists a series of related things.
c) shows how the speaker has changed.
d) praises the bird.

6. Which of the following best describes the speaker’s reaction to the bird that
sings outside his house?
a) He is irritated by the bird’s singing.
b) He finds the bird’s singing soothing.
c) The bird’s singing fills him with joy.
d) He is so used to the bird’s singing that he hardly notices it.

7. Why does the speaker clap his hands at the bird (line 3)?
a) to applaud the bird’s singing.
b) to scare it away.
c) to warn it that there is a cat nearby.
d) to make it sing something else.

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8. Which of the following sentences uses bear in the same way that it is used in line 4?
a) I’m not sure this little chair can bear my weight.
b) That tree does not bear fruit.
c) We saw a bear in the woods.
d) I cannot bear another day in this horrible place!

9. Which of the following best describes how the speaker feels about having shooed
away the singing bird?
a) victorious b) unconcerned c) regretful d) relieved

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 ANSWERS

1. a
2. b
3. a
4. c
5. a
6. a
7. b
8. d
9. c

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