Haunted Houses by Longfellow

Overview

This lecture explains "Haunted Houses" by H.W. Longfellow from the ICSE Class 10 syllabus, focusing on its themes, summary, poetic devices, and key interpretations.

About the Poet and Poem

• H.W. Longfellow was a prominent 19th-century American poet who reminded Americans of their origins.
• The poem explores the idea that all houses once inhabited retain the presence (memories) of those who lived and died there.
• It is sentimental, not horror, and emphasizes the permanence of spiritual memories.
• The poem suggests loved ones live on in our memories after death.

Summary and Main Ideas

• The poem describes a once lively house now haunted by the memories (ghosts) of past inhabitants.
• These ghosts are portrayed as harmless and sentimental, not frightening or malicious.
• The presence of ghosts symbolizes enduring memories and nostalgia.
• The poem explores the coexistence of past and present, physical and spiritual worlds.
• The rhyme scheme is ABAB, giving it a gentle, regular rhythm.

Key Themes

• Memory and the Past: Houses are haunted by memories of former residents, lingering like ghosts.
• Connection Between Past and Present: The spiritual presence of the dead stays with the living.
• Inevitability of Death: Everyone eventually becomes a memory in a haunted house.
• Power of Place: Physical spaces hold onto the essence of those who lived in them.
• Nature of Ghosts: Ghosts are gentle, unnoticed presences, not threatening.
• Human Duality: The poem also touches on the struggle between earthly desires and higher aspirations.

Poetic Devices

• Metaphor: Houses as metaphors for individuals and memories.
• Simile: As silent as the pictures on the wall.
• Alliteration: e.g., "impalpable impressions."
• Personification: The moon and clouds are given human qualities.
• Imagery: Visual (haunted house, glowing moon), sound (silent ghosts).
• Repetition: Emphasis on enduring memories and the unseen.
• Enjambment: Lines flow without pausing to create anticipation.

Literary Analysis

• The poem blurs boundaries between the physical and spiritual world, using images of doors, mists, moonlight, and bridges.
• Ghosts have lasting emotional "ownership" over places, even without legal claims.
• The poem uses celestial imagery to describe unseen spiritual influences.
• The ending suggests the connection between worlds is fragile and mysterious.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Haunted — a place visited by ghosts or memories.
• Phantoms — ghosts or spirits.
• Errand — a short purposeful journey.
• Impalpable — unable to be felt physically.
• Inoffensive — harmless.
• Title Deeds — legal documents proving property ownership.
• In Morte-Main — legal claim of perpetual ownership.
• Ethereal — spiritual or otherworldly.
• Abyss — a deep, bottomless space (metaphor for the unknown).

Action Items / Next Steps

• Re-read and revise the poem, especially the last five stanzas for deeper understanding.
• Note down key phrases and poetic devices for exam answers.
• Relate the themes to personal experiences or other stories for better retention.