The Listeners
By Walter de La Mare
‘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.
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.
But only a host of phantom listeners
That dwelt in the lone house then
Stood listening in the quiet of the moonlight
To that voice from the world of men:
Stood thronging the faint moonbeams on the dark stair,
That goes down to the empty hall,
Hearkening in an air stirred and shaken
By the lonely Traveller’s call.
And he felt in his heart their strangeness,
Their stillness answering his cry,
While his horse moved, cropping the dark turf,
’Neath the starred and leafy sky;
For he suddenly smote on the door, even
Louder, and lifted his head:—
‘Tell them I came, and no one answered,
That I kept my word,’ he said.
Never the least stir made the listeners,
Though every word he spake
Fell echoing through the shadowiness of the still house
From the one man left awake:
Ay, they heard his foot upon the stirrup,
And the sound of iron on stone,
And how the silence surged softly backward,
When the plunging hooves were gone.
Unlocking the Mystery: An Exploration of Walter de la Mare’s “The Listeners”
Prepare to journey into a world of profound mystery and haunting beauty as we delve into Walter de la Mare’s timeless poem, “The Listeners.” This captivating work has enchanted readers for generations, inviting them to ponder the unseen, the unspoken, and the echoes of the past. From its evocative imagery to its masterful use of sound, “The Listeners” offers a rich tapestry for exploration. Let us uncover the secrets held within its lines, exploring its compelling narrative, its central themes, and the brilliant poetic devices that bring its eerie atmosphere to life.
The Listeners Summary: A Glimpse into the Unknown
- A Solitary Summons: “The Listeners” unfolds the story of a lone Traveller who arrives at a deserted, moonlit house deep within a forest. He knocks repeatedly on the door, calling out, “’Is there anybody there?’”, seeking a human response. Yet, the only reply is the profound silence of the night, broken only by the sounds of his horse and a startled bird.
- The Unseen Audience: Despite the lack of a human presence, the Traveller is not truly alone. The poem reveals “a host of phantom listeners” dwelling within the house. These ethereal beings, unseen and unheard by conventional means, are stirred by the Traveller’s voice. They gather on the dark stair, silently absorbing his every word, creating a palpable sense of unseen observation.
- A Mysterious Pledge: Sensing their presence, the Traveller makes a final, louder declaration, “’Tell them I came, and no one answered, / That I kept my word,’ he said.” The identity of “them” and the nature of his “word” remain a profound mystery, adding to the poem’s enigmatic quality. He then departs, leaving the house and its phantom inhabitants to the silence that “surged softly backward.”
The Central Idea of “The Listeners”
At its heart, “The Listeners” explores profound themes of isolation, the enduring power of the past, and the mysterious connection between worlds. The poem suggests that certain places retain the imprint of those who once lived there, becoming vessels for memories or even the spirits of the departed. The Traveller’s call acts as a bridge, momentarily awakening these spectral echoes. It highlights the human desire for connection, even when faced with the impenetrable silence of the unknown, and the unsettling beauty of encountering presences that exist beyond our ordinary perception.
An In-Depth Analysis of “The Listeners”
Crafting the Atmosphere: Setting and Sensory Detail
Walter de la Mare masterfully establishes a mysterious and haunting atmosphere from the very first lines of “The Listeners.” The opening immediately immerses the reader in a scene of profound stillness and isolation:
‘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:
The phrase “moonlit door” immediately evokes a dreamlike, almost surreal quality, suggesting a threshold between the ordinary and the extraordinary. The image of the horse quietly “champed the grasses / Of the forest’s ferny floor” adds to the sense of deep remoteness and tranquility, a peace that is abruptly disturbed by the Traveller’s intrusion. De la Mare uses vivid sensory details, appealing to both sight and sound, to draw the reader into this captivating scene. The evocative description “forest’s ferny floor” is particularly rich, engaging our visual imagination and even suggesting the tactile sensation of soft, damp earth.
The Enigmatic Inhabitants: Understanding the Phantom Listeners
The core of the poem revolves around the unseen, yet profoundly felt, presence of the “listeners.” They are not presented as conventional ghosts, but rather as a more ambiguous and ethereal presence. The poem explicitly states their nature:
But only a host of phantom listeners
That dwelt in the lone house then
Stood listening in the quiet of the moonlight
To that voice from the world of men:
The word “phantom” hints at their insubstantial, almost dreamlike form, suggesting they exist on a different plane of reality. They are inhabitants of the house, yet they do not actively respond or interact with the Traveller. Instead, they “Stood listening,” passively observing and absorbing the sounds from the “world of men.” Their presence is further emphasized through striking imagery:
Stood thronging the faint moonbeams on the dark stair,
That goes down to the empty hall,
This image suggests that the listeners are almost made of light and shadow, blending seamlessly into the very fabric of the house. They are a silent, watchful audience, their collective stillness creating a powerful sense of unease and profound mystery.
The Traveller’s Intuitive Awareness
The Traveller’s experience is marked by a gradual shift from expectation to an intuitive awareness of the unseen. Initially, he anticipates a human response, but is met with an impenetrable silence:
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.
This emphasizes his isolation and the complete absence of any tangible, human presence. However, the Traveller soon begins to perceive the listeners on a deeper, non-verbal level:
And he felt in his heart their strangeness,
Their stillness answering his cry,
This line is pivotal, revealing that the listeners communicate with him not through words, but through a profound sense of their presence, a resonance within his own being. His initial perplexity transforms into an intuitive understanding, a recognition of the unseen world around him.
The Poignant Farewell and Enduring Mystery
The Traveller’s final act and declaration are both deeply poignant and enigmatic. He strikes the door even louder, then lifts his head to deliver a message to his unseen audience:
‘Tell them I came, and no one answered,
That I kept my word,’ he said.
The identity of “them” and the nature of the “word” he promised to keep remain unanswered, leaving the reader to ponder the Traveller’s purpose. Was he fulfilling a long-forgotten obligation, a promise made to those who once inhabited the house, or perhaps to the listeners themselves? The poem offers no explicit answers, allowing the mystery to deepen.
The ending of the poem is particularly haunting, capturing the lingering impact of the encounter:
And how the silence surged softly backward,
When the plunging hooves were gone.
This suggests that as the Traveller departs, the listeners retreat back into the shadows, and the profound silence of the forest reclaims its dominion. Yet, this silence is not empty; it is now imbued with the memory of his visit, the echo of his voice, and the enduring mystery of the unseen world.
Literary Devices in “The Listeners”: A Masterclass in Poetic Craft
Walter de la Mare employs a rich array of poetic devices to create the poem’s unique atmosphere and profound impact. Understanding these elements enhances our appreciation for his artistry.
Sound Devices: The Musicality of Language
De la Mare skillfully uses sound to create a lyrical and evocative effect, drawing the reader deeper into the poem’s sonic landscape.
- Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds adds a subtle musicality and emphasis. Consider the phrase “forest’s ferny floor,” which creates a soft, rustling sound, or “silence surged softly backward,” mimicking the gentle return of quiet.
- Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds within words creates internal rhymes and a sense of flow. Notice the repeated “o” sound in “Knocking on the moonlit door,” which contributes to the hushed, echoing quality of the scene.
- Consonance: The repetition of consonant sounds, often at the end of words, adds texture. An example is “The sound of iron on stone,” where the repeated ‘n’ sound creates a sense of solidity and finality.
Imagery: Painting Pictures with Words
Imagery is a cornerstone of “The Listeners,” allowing de la Mare to create vivid mental pictures and evoke strong emotions. The poem is rich with sensory details:
- Visual Imagery: “moonlit door,” “leaf‑fringed sill,” “faint moonbeams on the dark stair,” “starred and leafy sky.” These images contribute to the poem’s dreamlike, mysterious, and often melancholic atmosphere.
- Auditory Imagery: “Knocking on the moonlit door,” “horse in the silence champed the grasses,” “bird flew up,” “sound of iron on stone.” These sounds punctuate the pervasive silence, highlighting the Traveller’s intrusion and the listeners’ quiet observation.
Symbolism: Layers of Deeper Meaning
Several elements in the poem carry symbolic weight, inviting deeper interpretation:
- The House: The lone, deserted house can symbolize the past, memory, a forgotten world, or even the human mind itself, holding unseen thoughts and experiences. It is a place where time seems to stand still.
- The Traveller: The Traveller can be seen as a seeker of truth, a messenger from the living world, or a representation of humanity’s eternal quest for meaning and connection with what lies beyond. His journey is one of profound introspection.
- The Listeners: These phantom figures symbolize the unseen forces of the past, the echoes of those who came before, or perhaps the very essence of silence and mystery. They represent the unknown, the spiritual, and the enduring presence of memory.
- The Door: The door acts as a potent symbol of a threshold, a barrier between two worlds: the tangible world of the Traveller and the ethereal realm of the listeners. It represents the boundary between life and death, presence and absence, knowledge and mystery.
Structure and Form: The Poem’s Architecture
The poem’s structure contributes significantly to its controlled yet mysterious feel.
- Quatrains: “The Listeners” is composed of eleven quatrains, or four-line stanzas. This consistent structure provides a sense of order and rhythm, even as the narrative explores themes of the unknown and the unsettling.
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem largely follows an ABCB rhyme scheme, where the second and fourth lines of each stanza rhyme. For example, “door” and “floor,” “head” and “said.” This subtle musicality enhances the poem’s lyrical quality without being overly rigid, allowing the narrative to flow naturally.
- Enjambment: De la Mare frequently uses enjambment, the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next without a pause. This technique creates a sense of fluidity and momentum, drawing the reader forward and mirroring the continuous flow of the Traveller’s experience. An example is:
Hearkening in an air stirred and shaken
By the lonely Traveller’s call.This allows the thought to extend, creating a natural, conversational rhythm that belies the poem’s profound mystery.
The Enduring Echoes of “The Listeners”
“The Listeners” stands as a masterful example of atmospheric poetry, a testament to Walter de la Mare’s ability to evoke deep emotion and profound wonder. Its haunting imagery, evocative language, and ambiguous narrative create a lasting impression, inviting readers to return again and again to its quiet mystery. The poem’s exploration of isolation, the power of the past, and the unseen presences that inhabit our world resonates deeply, leaving us to ponder the silent conversations that might occur just beyond our perception. It reminds us that sometimes, the most profound answers are found not in what is spoken, but in the stillness that listens.