1. New term – new poem We have a new poem to play with today.
We shall read the poem twice, Mr. Dunne first with his magnificent pictures and then the class shall speak in unison.
We have a worksheet to help us understand what is in the poem and what certain words mean.
Then we have two questions to get us thinking about the story.

2. The Listeners
By Walter de la Mere

40. Worksheet
To help you understand what is in the poem and what certain words mean.

41. First impressions
The poem is one big chunk of writing with no stanzas. Can we all put a coloured line under every fourth line of the poem and number the sections.
‘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 floor:
And a bird flew 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. 1 2

42. Understanding – two questions
It’s a nice story with a clear beginning, middle and end. Could you now summarise the story? What is going on? (10 marks)
Create a story whereby you are in the same situation as the man in the poem. Give a reason why you are there, why this is happening and what you do at the end. (10 marks)