The poem describes an encounter between an ant and a moth. It then switches focus to exploring ant society, depicting them as highly organized with distinct roles and processes for tasks like burial rituals. Throughout, there is an extended metaphor comparing ant behavior and organization to that of humans. The ants are portrayed as solely focused on their duties without emotion, in a "departmental" manner.

1. “Departmental”
by Robert Frost
Ellen Wilson

2. An ant on the tablecloth
Ran into a dormant moth
Of many times his size.
He showed not the least surprise.
His business wasn't with such.
He gave it scarcely a touch,
And was off on his duty run.
Yet if he encountered one
Of the hive's enquiry squad
Whose work is to find out God
And the nature of time and space,
He would put him onto the case.

3. Ants are a curious race;
One crossing with hurried tread
The body of one of their dead
Isn't given a moment's arrest-
Seems not even impressed.
But he no doubt reports to any
With whom he crosses antennae,
And they no doubt report
To the higher-up at court.

4. Then word goes forth in Formic:
"Death's come to Jerry McCormic,
Our selfless forager Jerry.
Will the special Janizary
Whose office it is to bury
The dead of the commissary
Go bring him home to his people.
Lay him in state on a sepal.
Wrap him for shroud in a petal.
Embalm him with ichor of nettle.
This is the word of your Queen."

5. And presently on the scene
Appears a solemn mortician;
And taking formal position,
With feelers calmly atwiddle,
Seizes the dead by the middle,
And heaving him high in air,
Carries him out of there.
No one stands round to stare.
It is nobody else's affair.
It couldn't be called ungentle.
But how thoroughly departmental.

6. Analysis of “Departmental”
 Summary
 The poem begins with focus on a single ant
and his encounter with a moth.
 The focus switches at the line “Ants are a
curious race” (13) to looking at the society of
the ants.
 Conceit
 There is an extended metaphor throughout
the poem comparing the ants to humans.

7.  Personification
 One ant is referred to as “He” (4).
 Another ant is named “Jerry McCormic” (23).
 There are some ants “Whose work is to find out
god/ And the nature of time and space” (10-
11).
 These are human-like interests.
 The ants have jobs.
 “His business wasn’t with such” (5).
 Ants have burial rituals.
 “Go bring him home to his people./Lay him in
state on a sepal./Wrap him for shroud in a
petal./Embalm him with ichor of nettle” (29-32).

8.  Jerry McCormic
 Called “Our selfless forager” (24).
 The ants sympathize, relate and care for Jerry.
 However, he is “nobody else’s affair” (42).
 The ants also appear to distance themselves
from Jerry.
 Little emotion appears to be involved.
 Theants focus only on themselves and
their duties.
 “Thebody of one of their dead/Isn't given a
moment's arrest-/Seems not even impressed”
(15-17).
 The ants seem unaffected by the death.
 They continue about their jobs without pausing
for even a moment.

9.  Work Diction
 “business” (5), “office” (6), “duty” (7), “work”
(10), “case” (12), “reports” (18).
 This emphasizes that the ants focus
completely on their jobs, and push
everything else to the side.
 Ants’ View of Death
 “Death’s come to Jerry McCormic” (23).
 Since death simply came, it is seen as inevitable
and as a normal occurrence.
 This description of Jerry’s death also lacks
emotion because of it’s simplicity.
 The mortician
 “solemn” (35), “formal” (36),“calmly” (37).
 The process of preparing Jerry for burial is very
orderly and occurs without emotion.

10.  Language
 The word choice is simple and to the point.
 This connects to the view of ants as simple
creatures, who just do their jobs.
 Rhyme
 There is an AABB rhyme scheme.
 This orderly, patterned rhyme scheme is
connected to the perspective of the ants as
departmental, simplistic, and organized.
 Punctuation
 There is normal punctuation at the completion
of each thought, creating normal breaks
throughout the poem.
 This can symbolize the everyday lives of the ants,
which also keep a regular pace.

11.  “It couldn't be called ungentle./But how
thoroughly departmental” (43-44).
 Couldn’t be called ungentle by whom?
 Humans?
 Humans may not call the ants’ actions ungentle because they
can relate to their viewpoint.
 Along with the ants, people can also distance themselves from
others and choose to focus solely on themselves and their duties.
 Ants?
 They would not consider their actions ungentle since this is normal
for them. This view of death and these reactions are part of their
lives, so they would not find issue with them.
 Couldn’t be called ungentle compared to what?
 Human view of life and death?
 The ants care and respect for their dead and give them proper
burials.
 There are many examples throughout history of humans not doing
the same for their own dead. Compared to humans, ants may be
seen as more gentle.

12. Definition of “Great Poetry”
“If I read a book and it makes my whole
body so cold no fire can warm me, I know
that is poetry. If I feel physically as if the top
of my head were taken off, I know that is
poetry. These are the only ways I know it. Is
there any other way?” -Emily Dickinson

13. Is “Departmental” great?
 It is a great poem.
 It allows one to experience a situation, and not just
read about it. The reader is able to understand the
point of view of an ant, while also learning about
the human race.
 This poem shines light on the fact that humans are
like ants and are insignificant in a wider
perspective.
 A total focus on oneself and work may be natural
to some people, but Frost’s criticism of it is definitely
justified since it can harm one’s attitude towards
other people.
 This poem, obviously, has a great deal of depth to
it, while using relatively straightforward language
and imagery, so I would certainly consider it great.