* "Something there is that doesn't love a wall" (Line 1): This opening line immediately establishes the central conflict of the poem: the tension between the speaker's desire for openness and his neighbor's insistence on maintaining boundaries. The word "something" is vague and mysterious, hinting at a force beyond human control.
* "Good fences make good neighbors" (Line 27): This famous line summarizes the neighbor's belief, which is based on tradition and a sense of security. The word "good" is repeated, emphasizing the neighbor's conviction.
* "He will not go behind his father's saying, / And he likes having thought of it so well / He says again, 'Good fences make good neighbors.'" (Lines 44-46): This passage highlights the neighbor's stubbornness and his reliance on the past. The repetition of "good" and "saying" underscores the rigidity of his thinking.
* "But I could swear I heard him say / 'Good fences make good neighbors.' / Then to himself, 'He always makes good neighbors.'" (Lines 49-51): These lines reveal the neighbor's hypocrisy. He claims to believe in good fences, but his true motivation is to keep himself isolated. The repetition of "good" again emphasizes the ironic nature of his belief.
* "Something there is that doesn't love a wall" (Line 1, repeated): The poem ends with the same line as the beginning, suggesting that the speaker's desire for openness remains despite the neighbor's resistance. The repetition of this line reinforces the central theme of the poem and suggests that the conflict will continue.
Overall, Frost uses a combination of simple, direct language and more evocative, figurative language to explore the themes of tradition, individuality, and the nature of boundaries. The poem's diction contributes to its sense of ambiguity and invites the reader to consider the complexities of human relationships.