This famous poem tells the story of a man arriving on horseback by night at a house in a forest. It seems that he has some important reason for being there. He knocks and shouts out that he has kept his word. He senses that someone is listening, but no one replies.
‘The Listeners’ is a narrative poem – it tells a story. Watch out for the great imagery in this poem. Feel the mysterious atmosphere. Notice the dramatic sounds that break the silence and how the poet creates an eerie tone.
REMEMBER:
Imagery is when a writer uses very descriptive
language to appeal to your senses. Tone is the mood of the poem, created by the poem’s vocabulary, rhythm and rhyme.
What I will learn:
imagery, tone, sound eff ects
‘The Listeners’ BY WALTER DE LA MARE
a striking image of a moonlit door
a sudden, dramatic moment
anxious, fearful tone
The start of the mystery: The Traveller has come to a house in a forest. Why is he here? Why is he alone? A spooky tone is instantly created.
‘Is there anybody there?’ said the Traveller, Knocking on the moonlit door; And his horse in the silence champed the grasses Of the forest’s ferny fl oor: And a bird fl ew up out of the turret, Above the Traveller’s head: And he smote upon the door again a second time; ‘Is there anybody there?’ he said. But no one descended to the Traveller; No head from the leaf-fringed sill Leaned over and looked into his grey eyes, Where he stood perplexed and still.
Setting: Night-time in a forest
Alliteration and image: ‘forest’s ferny fl oor’
a sense of dread and expectation is created in the stillness of the scene
