"The Listeners" by Walter De La Mare is a haunting and enigmatic poem that explores themes of loneliness, isolation, and the supernatural. The poem opens with a traveller riding through a forest at night, who comes across a deserted house and knocks on its door, ............................
The Listeners - My English Folder Coursebook - Class 7 - English
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Back Questions - The Listeners | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 7 Literature | English
And he smote upon the door again a second time;
And he smote upon the door again a second time;
a. Here, whom does he refer to?
b. Why does he smite against the door a second time?
c. What happened after he did so?
a. Here, 'he' refers to the Traveller.
b. The Traveller smites against the door a second time as his initial attempt to get a response fails. Despite knocking and asking "Is there anybody there?" the first time, he does not receive any kind of reply or reaction.
c. After the Traveller smites the door a second time, the poem tells us that still, "no one descended to the Traveller; No head from the leaf-fringed sill leaned over and looked into his grey eyes." This means that despite his repeated efforts, no one came to greet him or even recognize his presence.
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‘Tell them I came, and no one answer’d,
That I kept my word,’ he said.
a. Who is being addressed here?
b. Why do you think he says I kept my word?
c. Do you think this is the speaker’s first visit? Give reasons for your answer.
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Unlock now 🔓In ‘The Listeners’, the poet creates an atmosphere of mystery and fear. Support this statement with your own reasons, and examples from the text.
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Unlock now 🔓Do you think the title of the poem is appropriate? Give reasons for your answer.
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Unlock now 🔓Do you think the Traveller was aware of the Listeners’ presence? Pick lines from the poem to support your answer.
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Unlock now 🔓Back Exercises - The Listeners | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 7 Literature | English
Underline the alliterative words in the lines given below. Then, write down the consonant sound that has been used in each case.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing...
So he tore off his hair, And behaved like a bear
There was an Old Man of Melrose, Who walked on the tips of his toes
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing...
deep (d) | darkness (d)
So he tore off his hair, And behaved like a bear
he (h) | his (h) | hair (h)
behaved (b) | bear (b)
There was an Old Man of Melrose, Who walked on the tips of his toes
Man (m) | Melrose (m)
who (w) | walked (w)
tips (t) | toes (t)
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before
Doubting (d) | dreaming (d) | dreams (d)
dared (d) | dream (d)
Fill in the blanks with appropriate alliterative expressions for the box.
last laugh
mountain of a molehill
pleased as punch
neck and neck
busy as a bee
Ever since Jane joined her new job, she has been as ____________________.
The spectators sat captivated as the two teams raced ____________________ .
Everyone knows he makes a ____________________ all the time.
At the final event, the Blue Team had the ____________________ .
Our grandparents were ____________________ when we paid them a surprise visit.
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Unlock now 🔓Think of a short five line poem that shows alliteration in each line. Choose different letters for the alliterative words in each line. Your poem may be about anything you like: People, animals, sports, hobbies or yourself.
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Unlock now 🔓The Listener Quiz - The Listeners | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 7 Literature | English
Vocabulary - Flashcards - The Listeners | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 7 Literature | English
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About the Author - The Listeners | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 7 Literature | English
Walter De La Mare (1873-1956) was a British poet, novelist, and short-story writer. He is known for his imaginative and often mysterious works, which frequently explored themes of the supernatural and the unknown. De La Mare's poetry is characterized by its use of vivid and evocative imagery, as well as its lyrical and musical qualities. Some of his most famous poems include "The Listeners," "Silver," and "Mistletoe." In addition to his writing, De La Mare was also a noted anthologist and editor, and he published several influential collections of poetry for children. He was awarded the Order of Merit in 1948, and his legacy as a significant figure in English literature continues to be recognized to this day.
Summary - The Listeners | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 7 Literature | English
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Themes - The Listeners | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 7 Literature | English
I. Isolation and Loneliness
- The traveller is alone in the forest, seeking human contact.
- The house is empty and deserted, with no response to his calls for attention.
- The phantom listeners are present but remain silent and unresponsive, deepening the traveller's sense of isolation.
II. The Supernatural
- The phantom listeners are an enigmatic and mysterious....
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Unlock now 🔓Symbols - The Listeners | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 7 Literature | English
The House
The house in the poem is a powerful symbol, representing a threshold between the known and the unknown. It is described as "lone" and "leaf-fringed," suggesting a sense of isolation and mystery. The house represents a boundary between the traveller and the world of the phantom listeners.
The Phantom Listeners
The phantom listeners themselves....
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Unlock now 🔓Poetic Devices - The Listeners | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 7 Literature | English
Walter De La Mare uses a variety of poetic devices in "The Listeners" to create a haunting and memorable atmosphere. Some of the most prominent poetic devices used in the poem include:
- Rhyme: The poem features a consistent rhyme scheme, with the end words of each stanza following an ABCB pattern. The use of rhyme helps to create a sense of continuity and musicality throughout the poem.
- Imagery: De La Mare uses vivid and evocative imagery to create a sense of mystery and atmosphere in the poem. Examples of imagery include ...
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Unlock now 🔓Vocabulary - The Listeners | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 7 Literature | English
- Champed-ate noisily
- Turret—a small tower on top of a building or a wall
- Smote—hit something hard
- Thronging—(here) crowding
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