Summary Of Poem: Haunted Houses
- Stanza 1:
The speaker begins with a simple but surprising statement that all houses in which men have lived and died are haunted, i.e., they are visited by the ghosts or spirits of earlier occupants. The poet has dispelled the conventional image of ghosts by describing them as 'harmless phantoms' who are busy with errands and move purposefully around the house as they did when they were living. Further, they come and go without making any sound.
- Stanza 2:
The speaker says that these ghosts are 'impressions on the air' that cannot be felt (by touch). They can be present anywhere in the house: at the doorway, on the stairs or along the passage when they come and go. Though they cannot be seen, their presence is felt as a 'sense of something' moving to and fro.
- Stanza 3:
Their presence can be perceived when they join the guests at the dining table and make the number of guests more than those invited by the hosts. In fact, the brightly lit hall appears crowded by these uninvited guests, who remain as silent as the pictures or portraits hung on the wall.
- Stanza 4:
The speaker then goes on to say that a stranger or guest, sitting with the speaker by the fireplace, is unable to perceive their presence as the speaker does. The speaker is the one, who can see their form (i.e., the impression of their presence) and hear their sounds. He believes that the stranger can only see what is happening in the present, but he can see everything clearly from the past to the present. This is perhaps suggestive of the fact that the stranger is the present occupant of the house.
- Stanza 5:
The speaker asserts that we (living human beings) do not have any permanent 'title-deeds' for our houses and lands. This is because those who were the owners and occupants earlier spread their soiled hands from the forgotten graves to claim the inalienable ownership of the properties once owned by them. In other words, the earlier occupants dug their way out of their graves that were unattended and neglected to return to their homes.
- Stanza 6:
The world of spirits floats around the human world of 'senses' (or reality) like the air of the atmosphere envelops the earth. This world (i.e., the spirit world) passes through everything like earthly mists and dense vapours. It is like the vital breath of delicate air from the other world.
- Stanza 7:
The speaker here talks about human lives. He says that human lives are short and are kept in balance by maintaining 'opposite attractions and desires'. There are two types of instincts – base instincts, that seek worldly pleasures and enjoyment and noble instincts, that aspire for higher and noble goals and spiritual aims. Human beings have to learn to deal with these contradictory impulses to achieve equipoise or balance in life.
- Stanza 8:
The speaker describes the cause of anxiety and fears in human beings. According to the speaker, mental disturbances, anxieties, and fears of human beings are the result of their earthly needs and high aspirations. These are not the creation of human beings but are shaped by some unknown forces from a remote planet in the universe.
- Stanza 9:
The speaker says that as the moon comes out of the dark clouds, its light falls on the sea waves and forms a floating bridge of light. Human imagination travels across the planks of this 'trembling' bridge into a dark and mysterious world. This bridge connects us (humans) to the spirits of our loved ones, who have gone long ago.
- Stanza 10:
The speaker says that there is a bridge of light that connects the 'world of spirits' to the floating bridge created by the moonlight on the surface of the seas. Only spirits are able to cross this bridge. Our thoughts, i.e., our memories float on the unsteady floor of this bridge that is above a dark abyss. The memories of our loved ones keep us connected to them long after they are gone. These memories keep the living from falling into deep sorrow that is like a dark abyss. The poem thus ends on a comforting and reassuring note.
Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
Choose the correct answers to the questions from the given options.
1. Who enters through the open doors of houses?
(a) Ancestors
(b) Phantoms
(c) Ethereal air
(d) Thoughts
Ans: b) Phantoms
2. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Longfellow's 'phantoms'?
(a) Harmless
(b) Inoffensive
(c) Inpalpable
(d) Scary
Ans: d) Scary
3. When the ghosts cannot be seen or heard, how are they perceived in the house?
(a) A gust of wind
(b) A gleam of light
(c) A sense of something
(d) A shadow on the wall
Ans: c) A sense of something
4. According to the narrator, who are the owners and occupants of the house or lands?
(a) Unknown forces
(b) Spirits of ancestors
(c) Aliens from other planets
(d) None of the above
Ans: b) Spirits of ancestors
5. Which figure of speech is used in the title of the poem by H.W. Longfellow?
(a) Personification
(b) Metaphor
(c) Simile
(d) Alliteration
Ans: b) Metaphor
6. What is suggested by the phrase, 'hold in mortmain'?
(a) Possession on rent
(b) Inherited possession
(c) Inalienable possession
(d) Temporary ownership
Ans: c) Inalienable possession
7. Which of the following is NOT true about the 'haunted houses'?
(a) They are visited by spirits
(b) They are visited by guests
(c) They are deserted
(d) Strangers are entertained.
Ans: c) They are deserted
8. Which of the following is NOT associated with the spirits in the poem?
(a) They glide
(b) They throng
(c) They waft
(d) They wail
Ans: d) They wail
9. According to the narrator, the world of the spirits is
(a) fragile
(b) delicate
(c) sensitive
(d) bright and beautiful
Ans: b) delicate
10. What are needed to be kept in balance in 'our little lives'?
(a) Divine justice
(b) The presence of the spirits of ancestors
(c) Opposite attractions and desires
(d) None of the above.
Ans: c) Opposite attractions and desires
11. Which figure of speech is used in the lines given below?
And as the moon from some dark gate of cloud
Throws O'er the sea a floating bridge of light.
(a) Simile
(b) Personification
(c) Alliteration
(d) None of the above
Ans: b) Personification
12. Who among the following can cross the 'bridge of light'?
(a) Earthly beings
(b) The spirits
(c) The Holy Men
(d) None of the above
Ans: b) The spirits
13. Which of the following lines contains the same literary device as, 'From graves forgotten stretch their dusty hands.'
(a) Ten thousand saw I at a glance
Tossing their heads in springhtly dance
(b) Last week in someone's place we saw
A dozen eyeballs on the floor.
(c) Lustrous tokens of radian lives
For happy daughters and happy wives
(d) In triumphs, people have dropped down dead.
Ans: a) Ten thousand saw I at a glance
Tossing their heads in springhtly dance
Section B: Context Questions
I. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
All houses wherein men have lived and died
Are haunted houses. Through the open doors
The harmless phantoms on their errands glide,
With feet that make no sound upon the floors.
(i) According to the narrator of the poem, why are all the houses haunted? What kind of houses are these?
Ans: According to the narrator, all houses are haunted because people have lived and died in them. The houses are visited by the harmless phantoms (spirits) of the earlier occupants. These are ordinary, lived-in houses, not abandoned or frightening places. The spirits quietly move through them without making any sound and do not harm anyone.
(ii) Who are the 'harmless phantoms'? How are these phantoms different from the usual image of the phantoms?
Ans: The 'harmless phantoms' are the spirits of people who once lived in the houses and later died. They represent the memories and presence of past occupants. These phantoms are different from the usual image of ghosts because they are not frightening, evil, or destructive. Unlike traditional ghosts, they do not make noise, do not harm anyone, and do not create fear. Instead, they move quietly, remain inoffensive, and peacefully share the living space with the present occupants.
(iii) What 'errands' are done by these phantoms? Are their errands different from the known errands of phantoms? How?
Ans: The Term "errands" used in the poem refers metaphorically to the movements or activities of the spirits within the Haunted Houses. They join the occupants at the dining table, glide, throng, float, and waft in the house. Unlike traditional ghostly depictions of haunting and fear, these phantoms are portrayed as benign entities, suggesting their errands involve gentle presence and perhaps a quiet continuation of their past lives within the homes.
(iv) At what places in the houses are these phantoms found as described later in the poem? How do they enter the house?
Ans: The phantoms are found at the doorway, on the stairs, along the passages, at the dining table, and by the fireside. They quietly move through all parts of the house, sharing the living spaces with the present occupants. They enter the house through the open doors, gliding in silently without making any sound.
(v) Explain briefly how this extract suggests the title of the poem.
Ans: This extract clearly suggests the title "Haunted Houses" because it states that all houses where people have lived and died are haunted. The presence of harmless phantoms entering through open doors and moving silently inside the house shows that these houses are visited by the spirits of past occupants. Thus, the extract directly explains why such houses are called haunted.
II. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
There are more guests at table than the hosts
Invited; the illuminated hall
Is thronged with quiet, inoffensive ghosts,
As silent as the pictures on the wall.
(i) Why are there more guests at the table? How do these uninvited guests behave at the table?
Ans: There are more guests at the table because, along with the invited guests, the spirits of the former occupants are also present. These uninvited guests behave in a quiet and inoffensive manner. They remain completely silent, "as silent as the pictures on the wall," and do not disturb anyone at the table.
(ii) Why are they described as 'quiet' and 'inoffensive'? State two other traits of the ghosts described in the poem.
Ans: The ghosts are described as "quiet" and "inoffensive" to show that they are peaceful and non-threatening. They do not disturb or frighten the living in any way. One other trait of the ghosts is that they are silent, as they are compared to the pictures on the wall. Another trait is that they are impalpable, meaning they cannot be seen or touched and are only felt as a presence.
(iii) Why are they 'as silent as the pictures on the wall'? Whose 'pictures' are they?
Ans: They are described as "as silent as the pictures on the wall" because the ghosts do not make any sound or movement. Their presence is completely quiet and unobtrusive, just like pictures that hang silently on the wall and observe everything without speaking. The "pictures" refer to the portraits of people who once lived in the house, that is, the earlier occupants.
(iv) Which figure of speech is used in this extract? Explain this figure of speech.
Ans: The figure of speech used in this extract is a simile. A simile is a figure of speech in which a comparison between two different things is made explicitly using the words "as" or "like." In the line "As silent as the pictures on the wall," the ghosts are compared to pictures to emphasise their complete silence and harmless presence.
(v) In this extract, there is a reference to 'more guests'. What is said in the extract that shows that they are uninvited?
Ans: The extract shows that the guests are uninvited because it says "more guests at table than the hosts invited." This clearly indicates that these additional guests—the spirits—were not invited by the hosts, yet they are present in the hall.
III. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
We have no title-deeds to house or lands;
Owners and occupants of earlier dates
From graves forgotten stretch their dusty hands,
And hold in mortmain still their old estates.
(i) Who are 'We' referred to in this extract? Why they do not have 'title-deeds to house or lands'?
Ans: The word 'We' refers to the living human beings, that is, the present occupants of houses and lands. They do not have 'title-deeds to house or lands' because human ownership is temporary. According to the poet, the earlier owners, who have died, still claim permanent ownership (mortmain) of their property through their spirits. This shows that material possessions do not truly belong to the living forever.
(ii) Who are the Owners and Occupants of earlier dates?
Ans: The "Owners and occupants of earlier dates" are the people who lived in the houses earlier and have now died. They are the spirits of the former owners and residents, who, according to the poet, still retain a spiritual connection and permanent claim over the houses and lands they once lived in.
(iii) Explain the line -'From graves forgotten stretch their dusty hands' with reference to the poem.
Ans: The line "From graves forgotten stretch their dusty hands" means that the spirits of the dead rise symbolically from their neglected and forgotten graves to claim their former houses and lands. The phrase "dusty hands" suggests death and decay, while "stretch their hands" shows their continued connection with the property they once owned.
(iv) Who 'hold in mortmain still their old estates'? Why?
Ans: The spirits of the earlier owners and occupants are the ones who "hold in mortmain still their old estates." They do so because mortmain means permanent and inalienable ownership, and the poet suggests that even after death, the spirits retain a lasting spiritual claim over the houses and lands they once lived in.
(v) Explain briefly two poetic devices used in this extract with examples.
Ans: Two poetic devices used in this extract are:
- Personification –Human qualities are given to non-living beings. Example: "From graves forgotten stretch their dusty hands." Here, the dead are shown as stretching their hands, which is a human action.
- Metaphor –An implied comparison is made without using as or like. Example: "hold in mortmain still their old estates." Mortmain is used metaphorically to show permanent ownership, suggesting the lasting claim of spirits over their property.
IV. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Our little lives are kept in equipoise
By opposite attractions and desires;
The struggle of the instinct that enjoys,
And the more noble instinct that aspires.
(i) Whose 'little lives' are referred to in the first line of the extract? In comparison to whom are they 'little' and why?
Ans: The phrase "our little lives" refers to the lives of human beings. They are called "little" in comparison to the vast universe and the greater spiritual or cosmic forces that influence human life. Human life is short and limited, whereas the spiritual world and universal forces are vast and enduring.
(ii) How is balance maintained in their short lives?
Ans: Balance in human life is maintained by opposite attractions and desires—that is, the struggle between base instincts that seek enjoyment and noble instincts that aspire towards higher and spiritual goals.
(iii) What are the two types of instincts referred to in this extract? Give examples of each type.
Ans: The two types of instincts referred to in this extract are:
- Base instincts – These are instincts that seek pleasure and enjoyment of worldly life. Example: Desire for food, comfort, wealth, and physical pleasures.
- Noble instincts – These are instincts that aspire towards higher moral and spiritual goals. Example: Desire for knowledge, self-control, moral values, and spiritual upliftment.
(iv) What is the reason for the struggle between the two types of instincts? How is this struggle resolved?
Ans: The struggle between the two types of instincts arises because human beings are torn between earthly desires and higher moral or spiritual aspirations. These opposing forces create inner conflict. This struggle is resolved by maintaining a balance (equipoise) between the two instincts, so that neither pleasure nor aspiration completely dominates life.
(v) Explain briefly the rhyme scheme used in this poem with examples. What role does it play in the poem?
Ans: The poem follows a regular 'abab' rhyme scheme in all its stanzas. This means the first line rhymes with the third, and the second line rhymes with the fourth.
Example from the extract:
- equipoise (a)
- desires (b)
- enjoys (a)
- aspires (b)
The regular rhyme scheme gives the poem a smooth, musical flow and creates a calm and soothing effect. This supports the poet's idea that the spirits are peaceful and comforting, not frightening, and helps maintain a gentle, reflective mood throughout the poem.
V. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
These perturbations, this perpetual jar
Of earthly wants and aspirations high,
Come from the influence of an unseen star,
An undiscovered planet in our sky.
(i) What are referred to as 'these perturbations'? Who are affected by 'these perturbations'?
Ans: The term "these perturbations" refers to the mental disturbances, inner conflicts, anxieties, and unrest caused by the constant struggle between earthly desires and high aspirations. These perturbations affect human beings, whose lives are influenced by this ongoing conflict between material wants and spiritual or noble goals.
(ii) Which figure of speech is used in the line - 'this perpetual jar/Of earthly wants and aspirations high'? Explain it briefly.
Ans: The figure of speech used in the line "this perpetual jar / Of earthly wants and aspirations high" is personification. Here, abstract ideas like earthly wants and high aspirations are described as being involved in a "jar" (conflict or struggle), which is a human action. By giving human qualities to these abstract ideas, the poet highlights the constant inner conflict in human life.
(iii) What comes 'from the influence of an unseen star'? What is this 'unseen star' a reference to?
Ans: The perturbations, that is, the mental disturbances and conflicts caused by earthly wants and high aspirations, come from the influence of an unseen star. The "unseen star" is a symbolic reference to unknown cosmic or spiritual forces that influence human thoughts, emotions, and behaviour. It suggests that human anxieties and struggles are shaped by forces beyond human control or understanding.
(iv) Why has the narrator referred to 'an undiscovered planet in our sky'?
Ans: The narrator refers to "an undiscovered planet in our sky" to suggest that the worries, fears, and inner conflicts of human beings are influenced by unknown and mysterious forces beyond human understanding. These forces are not created by humans themselves but come from remote and unseen powers in the universe, which shape human desires and aspirations.
(v) Explain briefly how this extract suggests the existence of supernatural element.
Ans: This extract suggests the existence of a supernatural element by stating that human disturbances and inner conflicts arise from the influence of an "unseen star" and an "undiscovered planet." These phrases point to unknown, invisible forces beyond human understanding that affect human thoughts and emotions, indicating the presence of a supernatural power influencing life.
VI. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
So from the world of spirits there descends
A bridge of light, connecting it with this,
O'er whose unsteady floor, that sways and bends,
Wander our thoughts above the dark abyss.
(i) What connects the 'bridge of light'? How is this bridge made?
Ans: The "bridge of light" connects the world of spirits with the world of human beings. This bridge is made by the moonlight that falls on the surface of the sea. The poet imagines this moonlight as a shining bridge that links the spiritual world with the earthly world.
(ii) Whose floor is referred to as 'unsteady'? Why?
Ans: The floor of the "bridge of light" is referred to as unsteady. It is called unsteady because the bridge is formed by moonlight falling on the moving waves of the sea. Since the sea surface sways and bends, the bridge of light also appears shaking and unstable.
(iii) What are the 'thoughts' that wander above the dark abyss?
Ans: The "thoughts" that wander above the dark abyss are the memories and reflections of human beings about their departed loved ones. These thoughts keep the living emotionally connected to the spirits and prevent them from falling into deep sorrow or despair, symbolised by the dark abyss.
(iv) What is the significance of this 'bridge of light'?
Ans: The "bridge of light" is significant because it symbolises the connection between the world of spirits and the world of human beings. It shows that although the dead and the living belong to different worlds, they remain connected through memories and thoughts, which provide comfort and prevent humans from sinking into grief and despair.
(v) Give four reasons to justify the poet's view that all houses are haunted.
Ans: The poet believes that all houses are haunted for the following reasons:
- People have lived and died in them – Every house has been occupied by people in the past, and their spirits continue to linger there.
- Presence of harmless phantoms – The spirits of earlier occupants quietly move through the house, gliding in and out without making any sound.
- They share living spaces with the present occupants – These spirits are found at the doorway, on the stairs, in passages, at the dining table, and by the fireside.
- They remain connected through memories – Though invisible and inaudible, their presence is felt through memories and thoughts, making the house spiritually inhabited.