“The Storyteller” by Mark van Doren
He talked, and as he talked
Wallpaper came alive;
Suddenly ghosts walked,
And four doors were five;
Calenders ran backward,
And maps had mouths;
Ships went tackward
In a great drowse;
Trains climbed trees,
And soon dripped down
Like honey of bees
On the cold brick town.
He had wakened a worm
In the world’s brain,
And nothing stood firm
Until day again.
RECALLING:
1. According to the first stanza, what happened as the story teller talked?
2. Based on stanzas 2 and 3, what impossible things happened as the story-teller talked?
3. According to stanza 4, what had wakened?
4. When did things stand firm again?
INTERPRETING:
5. What images suggest that the story-teller gives life to things that do not have life? BE SPECIFIC
6. What image suggests that the story-teller has power over time itself? How is this possible?
7. What does the story-teller cause people to do what they probably would not do without him?
8. Why is the title of the poem necessary to understand the meaning of the poem?
EXTENDING:
9. What do you think is the greatest power of the imagination?
Sometimes the theme of a work in implied. In other words, instead of coming right out and stating the theme, the author uses devices of poetry to suggest theme. The author expects us to read carefully enough to let the theme come through the language, the sound, and the images of the poem.
If you want to identify the theme of a poem, look first at its images. What do they have in common? For example, the images in this poem all suggest actions or events that are impossible in the real world.
Next, look at the language in the poem. What overall sound effect is the poet trying to create?
10. What do you think is the theme of this poem? Using examples from the poem, tell why.