Listen To The MUSTN’TS
By Shel Silverstein
Listen to the MUSTN’TS, child,
Listen to the DON’TS
Listen to the SHOULDN’TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WONT’S
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me-
Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be.
Summary of Listen To The MUSTN’TS
- Popularity of “Listen To The MUSTN’TS”: This beautiful and unique poem by Shel Silverstein, the great American poetic innovator, first appeared in 1974 in his collection, The Sidewalk Ends. The poet not only presents highly precise and pithy quotations about what to do and what not to do, but also how to write and how to put things concisely. That is why the poem has won popularity across the globe and brought Silverstein to center stage in the world of poetry.
- “Listen To The MUSTN’TS” As a Representative of Advice to Children: Shel Silverstein seems to be sitting with a child and advising him what to do and what not to do. First, he addresses the child, saying that he should listen to three major things; these are what he must not do, then what he should not do, and then what he cannot do. These three things are included in the impossibilities and improbabilities of life. After this, Silverstein states he should be highly careful as there is no certainty in the world and anything can happen.
- Major Themes in “Listen To The MUSTN’TS”: Advice, suggestions, and care are three major themes of this poem. Although Shel Silverstein has put the most important things in capital letters, it shows his sanguine approach to giving advice to children. He knows that the children must be stopped from what they do freely and what harms them. He has classified them into pieces of advice, suggestions, and cares. He is of the view that children must not do certain things, should not do many things, and should take care of not doing the rest. This classification makes the behavior of children superb and good. That is why his capitalization has worked more than he thought, as they show the important things that the children must not do.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in Listen to the MUSTN’TS
Shel Silverstein has used various literary devices to enhance the intended impact of his poem. Some of the major literary devices he uses are as follows.
- Anaphora: It means to use repetitions of words, phrases, or clauses in the beginning of successive verses, such as “Listen to” in this poem.
- Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /a/ in “Anything can happen, child” and the sound of /o/ in “The IMPOSSIBLES, the WONT’S.”
- Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /t/ in “Listen to the MUSTN’TS, child” and the sound of /s/ in “Then listen close to me.”
- Enjambment: It is a device in which the meanings of verse roll over to the next without having any pause or punctuation mark. This poem shows the use of enjambment, such as;
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WONT’S
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me-
Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be.
- Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. Shel Silverstein used imagery in this poem, such as “Then listen close to me”, “Anything can happen, child” and Listen to the SHOULDN’TS.”
- Neologism: It is the invention of new words. The poet used all capitalized improvisations in new words. For example, WONT’S, MUSTN’TS and SHOULDN’TS are neologisms.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Listen To The MUSTN’TS
Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is an analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.
- Diction: It means the type of language. The poem shows good use of formal and poetic diction.
- Free Verse: It means to use free verse that has no rhyme scheme, rhythm, or meter. This poem is a free verse poem.
- Stanza: A stanza is a poetic form of some lines. This is a single-stanza poem having eight verses.
- Tone: It means the voice of the text. The poem shows a simple, advisory, and suggestive tone.
Quotes to be Used
The following lines are useful to quote when teaching teenagers what to do and what not to do.
Listen to the MUSTN’TS, child,
Listen to the DON’TS
Listen to the SHOULDN’TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WONT’S