Module 1/1
Honeycomb: Textbook in English for class VII
Poem: The Shed
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Introduction: The poem “The Shed” by Frank Flynn is about the speaker’s
(a child’s) fear and curiosity about the ‘Shed’ which is at the end of his/her
garden. The poem deals with the psychology of a child to think over the
information received from his/her brother. It also shows playful rivalry
between siblings.
What is shed?
A shed is a temporary structure build to shelter something. There are many
types of shed. (Refer slide 2: Different Sheds)
Explanation of stanzas and its characteristics:
The poem opens with the description of the ‘Shed’ which is at the end of
the speaker’s garden.
Stanza 1 – “There’s a shed at the bottom of our garden
With a spider’s web hanging across the door,
The hinges are rusty and creak in the wind.
When I’m in bed I lie and I listen,
I’ll open that door one day.”
The above stanza beautifully describes the spider’s web and rusty hinges and
creaking sound when wind passes through it. The speaker thinks about the
scary things at the bed time. He /she has a strong desire to open the door and
peep into it.
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Imagery: The poet is really successful in bringing the image of the
abandoned ‘Shed’ in front of the eyes of the readers through selected words
like rusty hinges, spider’s web, dusty old window and Cracked window
panes. (Refer slide 5: Visual Imagery)
Stanza 2- “There’s a dusty old window around at the side
With three cracked panes of glass.
I often think there’s someone staring at me
Each time that I pass,
I’ll peep through that window one day.”
The abandoned ‘Shed’ has old dusty windows and cracked panes. The stanza
is an extension of the description of the Shed. How uncared, dilapidated it
was! The speaker thinks someone is staring at him/her each time he/she
passes by it. That was the fear in his/her mind.
Stanza 3 – “My Brother says there’s a ghost in the shed
Who hides under the rotten floorboards,
And if I ever dare to set foot inside
He’ll jump out and chop off my head
But, I’ll take a peek one day.”
The 3rd stanza clearly says how these fearful things went into the mind of the
speaker. His/her brother told him/her about the ghost who hides under the
rotten floorboard. He/she was also told that if he/she dared to peep into it the
ghost would jump out and would chop his/her head.
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Atmosphere: There is spooky, scary atmosphere in the poem. It is brilliantly
described with the help of presence of ghost under rotten floor board, and its
action of chopping off the head if someone enters into it. (Refer slide 6:
Atmosphere)
Stanza 4- “I know that there isn’t really a ghost,
My brother tells lies to keep the shed for his den;
There isn’t anyone staring or making strange noises
And the spider has been gone from his web
Since I don’t know when,
I’ll go into that shed one day soon,
But not just yet….”
The concluding part says that the speaker knows there is no ghost in it.
He/she convinces himself/herself that his/her brother told his/her a lie to
keep the ‘Shed’ for his own hiding place (i.e. den) when they are at play,
perhaps hide and seek.
The speaker also knows that nobody makes strange noises and spiders have
gone from his web.
The speaker seems determined to go into that shed one day. The speaker was
not ready to go into it right now but one day he/she would certainly go into
it.This shows his/her fear and curiosity.
Conflict /Tension: There is clear conflict in the mind of the speaker between
what he/she thinks, what he/she wants and what his/her brother told him/her
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about the Shed and the ghost. This is psychology of a child to try to
understand, analyse the information received and create one’s own world.
Vocabulary:
Rusty - corroded by rust
Creak – make a sharp sound
Hinges – jointed device to pivot the door
Staring – looking constantly
Peek – look in
Dusty – covered with dust
Cracked – broken
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