Summary of “Someone”

About the Author

Walter John de la Mare (1873-1956) was an English writer known for poetry, short stories, and novels. His enduring works for children and the famous poem “The Listeners” are celebrated. His writing, spanning over six decades, often explored the mysteries of nature, the English sea, and the hidden realms of the world.

(50 words)

Introduction to the Poem

Walter de la Mare’s poem, “Someone Came Knocking,” weaves an enigmatic and atmospheric tale. In this brief yet captivating work, the narrator hears a mysterious knocking at their door, setting the stage for a suspenseful encounter. Through vivid imagery and sounds of the night, the poem invites readers into a world of uncertainty and intrigue.

(55 words)

Summary of the Poem

The poem “Someone Came Knocking” by Walter de la Mare depicts a mysterious and suspenseful encounter. The narrator hears a persistent knocking at their small door and eagerly responds, expecting to find someone there. They open the door and search for the source of the sound but find nothing in the silent, dark night.

The atmosphere is imbued with a sense of quiet and anticipation, broken only by the sounds of nature – a beetle tapping, a screech-owl’s call, and a cricket’s whistle. The poem masterfully creates an eerie and enigmatic ambience, leaving the reader uncertain about the identity of the visitor.

Walter de la Mare uses vivid imagery and sensory details to convey the feeling of an otherworldly presence. The poem leaves us with a lingering sense of mystery and the question of who, or what, came knocking at the door.

In essence, “Someone Came Knocking” is a beautifully crafted poem that evokes a sense of the unknown, inviting readers to contemplate its hidden meanings and the secrets of the night.

(170 words)

Explanation of the Poem

stanza 1:

“Someone came knocking

At my wee, small door;”

The poem begins with the narrator hearing a knocking at their small door. The use of the word “wee” emphasizes the door’s diminutive size, setting a quaint and mysterious atmosphere.

Stanza 2:

“Someone came knocking;

I’m sure-sure-sure;”

The repetition of “sure-sure-sure” conveys the narrator’s certainty about the knocking, emphasizing their intrigue and curiosity.

Stanza 3:

“I listened, I opened,

I looked to left and right,”

The narrator reacts by listening and then opening the door, suggesting their anticipation and readiness to discover who is there.

Stanza 4:

“But nought there was a stirring

In the still, dark night;”

To their surprise, there is no sign of any movement or activity in the silent and dark night. This contrast creates a sense of suspense and mystery.

Stanza 5:

“Only the busy beetle

Tap-tapping in the wall,”

The only sound is that of a beetle tapping within the wall, contrasting with the anticipation of a visitor. This adds to the eerie ambience.

Stanza 6:

“Only from the forest

The screech-owl’s call,”

In the absence of the expected visitor, the screech-owl’s call from the forest is the only other sound, contributing to the sense of an uncanny, nocturnal setting.

Stanza 7:

“Only the cricket whistling

While the dewdrops fall,”

Again, natural sounds dominate the scene. A cricket’s whistling and the fall of dewdrops emphasize the tranquil, rural environment.

Stanza 8:

“So I know not who came knocking,

At all, at all, at all.”

The poem concludes with the narrator expressing their uncertainty about the identity of the knocker, emphasizing the mystery that remains unsolved. The repetition of “at all, at all, at all” underscores this sense of unknowing.