The poem “Story Telling” by Edgar Guest is a light-hearted portrayal of the joys and challenges of parenting, particularly the demands of bedtime stories. It also showcases the power of imagination and the importance of play in childhood. It highlights the imaginative world created through storytelling and the special bond it fosters between parent and child.
Notes on Poem “Story Telling”
The notes based on the poem “Story Telling” include the poem, Vocabulary, its summary, central idea, themes, message and key points:
Poem Text
Most every night when they’re in bed,
And both their little prayers have said,
They shout for me to come upstairs
And tell them tales of gypsies bold,
And eagles with the claws that hold
A baby’s weight, and fairy sprites
That roam the woods on starry nights.And I must illustrate these tales,
Must imitate the northern gales
That toss the Indian’s canoe,
And show the way he paddles, too.
If in the story comes a bear,
I have to pause and sniff the air
And show the way he climbs the trees
To steal the honey from the bees.And then I buzz like angry bees
And sting him on his nose and knees
And howl in pain, till mother cries:
“That pair will never shut their eyes,
While all that noise up there you make;
You’re simply keeping them awake.”
And then they whisper: “Just one more,”
And once again I’m forced to roar.New stories every night they ask.
And that is not an easy task;
I have to be so many things,
The frog that croaks, the lark that sings,
The cunning fox, the frightened hen;
But just last night they stumped me, when
They wanted me to twist and squirm
And imitate an angle worm.At last they tumble off to sleep,
And softly from their room I creep
And brush and comb the shock of hair
I tossed about to be a bear.
Then mother says: “Well, I should say
You’re just as much a child as they.”
But you can bet I’ll not resign
That story telling job of mine.
Vocabulary: Poem “Story Telling”
Gypsies: People who travel from place to place. Eagles: Large birds of prey. Claws: Sharp nails on the feet of some animals. Sprites: Magical tiny humanlike creatures like fairies. Woods: A forest or a group of trees. Illustrate: To show or explain with actions or pictures. Gales: Strong winds. Canoe: A small, narrow boat. Paddles: Sticks with flat ends used to move a boat. Sniff: To smell something by breathing in through your nose. Honey: Sweet food made by bees. Sting: To hurt with a sharp point. Howl: To make a long, loud crying sound. Noise: Loud sounds. Awake: Not sleeping. Whisper: To speak very softly. Roar: To make a loud, deep sound like a lion. Lark: A small bird that sings. Cunning: Clever and tricky. Frightened: Scared or afraid. Squirm: To twist and move around. Angle worm: Another name for an earthworm. Tumble: To fall down. Creep: To move slowly and quietly. Shock of hair: A thick bunch of hair. Resign: To give up a job or responsibility.
Summary of “Story Telling Poem
“Story Telling” by Edgar Albert Guest is a poem about a father’s nightly ritual of telling bedtime stories to his children. Each night, after the children say their prayers, they call for their father to come upstairs and entertain them with tales of brave gypsies, powerful eagles, and magical fairies. The father not only tells these stories but also acts them out, making sounds like the wind, mimicking the paddling of a canoe, and pretending to be a bear stealing honey. Despite the noise, which sometimes annoys their mother, the children always ask for one more story.
The father enjoys the storytelling and loves the special bond it creates with his children. Even though they sometimes challenge him with difficult requests, like imitating an earthworm, he continues to engage with enthusiasm. After the children finally fall asleep, the father quietly leaves the room, amused by their mother’s comment that he is just as playful as the children. The poem highlights the father’s dedication and the joy he finds in this cherished nightly tradition.
Central Idea of “Story Telling”
The central idea of “Story Telling” by Edgar Albert Guest is the joy and significance of familial bonds fostered through the tradition of bedtime storytelling. The poem highlights the father’s love and dedication as he brings stories to life for his children, creating cherished moments and nurturing their imaginations. Through this nightly ritual, the poem emphasizes the importance of spending quality time with loved ones, the power of creativity and playfulness, and the lasting impact of shared experiences on family relationships.
Themes of the Poem “Story Telling:
The theme of the poem “Story Telling” by Edgar Albert Guest revolves around the joy and importance of family bonding, imagination, and the loving dedication of a parent. Here are the key aspects of the theme:
- Family Bonding: The poem emphasizes the special connection between the father and his children, created through the nightly ritual of storytelling. This routine fosters closeness and affection within the family.
- Imagination and Creativity: The father uses his creativity to bring the stories to life, engaging the children’s imaginations. This highlights the power of storytelling and the role of imagination in making experiences memorable and enjoyable.
- Parental Love and Dedication: The father’s willingness to entertain his children, despite the effort and noise involved, showcases his love and commitment. His playful nature and dedication to their happiness are central to the poem.
- Childhood Joy and Wonder: The children’s excitement and delight in the stories reflect the innocence and wonder of childhood. The poem captures the magic of these moments and the lasting impact they have.
- Playfulness and Fun: The father’s playful antics and the children’s eager participation illustrate the joy of engaging in fun activities together. The poem celebrates the simple pleasures of play and the happiness it brings to both children and adults.
Message of The Poem “Story Telling”
The message of the poem “Story Telling” by Edgar Albert Guest is that the simple, everyday moments spent with loved ones, such as telling bedtime stories, are precious and valuable. These moments create lasting memories and strengthen the bonds between family members. The poem highlights the importance of:
- Spending Quality Time Together: The father’s dedication to telling stories every night shows how important it is to spend time with loved ones, even in simple activities.
- Nurturing Imagination: By bringing stories to life, the father encourages his children’s creativity and imagination, demonstrating the power of storytelling.
- Parental Love and Sacrifice: The father’s efforts to entertain and engage his children, despite the noise and effort involved, reflect the deep love and commitment parents have for their children.
- Finding Joy in Playfulness: The poem shows that being playful and having fun together, even as an adult, can bring immense joy and strengthen relationships.
Overall, the poem conveys that the love, creativity, and time invested in family relationships are invaluable and cherished by all involved.
Key Points of the Poem “Story Telling”
Here are the key points of the poem “Story Telling” by Edgar Albert Guest:
- Nightly Ritual: The father tells bedtime stories to his children every night after they say their prayers.
- Children’s Requests: The children eagerly call for their father to come upstairs and tell them stories about adventurous and magical characters.
- Acting Out Stories: The father not only tells the stories but also acts them out, making sounds and gestures to bring the tales to life.
- Detailed Performances: He mimics various sounds and actions, such as the wind, an Indian paddling a canoe, and a bear climbing a tree and stealing honey.
- Mother’s Concern: The noise sometimes leads their mother to worry that the children will not fall asleep, but they always ask for one more story.
- Challenging Requests: The children sometimes challenge their father with difficult story requests, such as imitating an angle worm.
- Children Falling Asleep: Eventually, the children fall asleep, and the father quietly leaves the room.
- Mother’s Teasing: The mother teases the father for being as playful as the children.
- Father’s Dedication: Despite the effort involved, the father loves telling stories and cherishes the special bond it creates with his children.
- Theme of Bonding and Imagination: The poem highlights the importance of family bonding, the joy of spending time together, and the power of imagination and storytelling.
Stanza Wise Explanation & Analysis: “Story Telling”
Stanza 1
Most every night when they’re in bed,
And both their little prayers have said,
They shout for me to come upstairs
And tell them tales of gypsies bold,
And eagles with the claws that hold
A baby’s weight, and fairy sprites
That roam the woods on starry nights.
Vocabulary: Most every night: Almost every night. stairs: steps leading to upper floors. gypsies: nomadic people. bold: brave, fearless. claws: sharp, curved nails of an animal
Explanation: Almost every night, when children are in their bed after saying their short prayers, they shout for the speaker to come upstairs to tell them imaginative tales. Their requested stories involve gypsies, eagles, and fairy spirits that wander through the woods on starry nights.
Analysis: In this stanza, the poet describes a nightly routine where children, after saying their prayers, call out for their father to come upstairs and tell them bedtime stories. Their requests are for imaginative tales filled with adventure and wonder. They request exciting stories about brave gypsies, powerful eagles capable of carrying a baby, and magical fairies that wander through the woods on clear, starry nights.
Stanza 2
And I must illustrate these tales,
Must imitate the northern gales
That toss the Indian’s canoe,
And show the way he paddles, too.
If in the story comes a bear,
I have to pause and sniff the air
And show the way he climbs the trees
To steal the honey from the bees.
Vocabulary: illustrate: to explain or clarify with pictures or examples. imitate: to copy the actions or sounds of someone or something. gales: strong winds. canoe: a narrow, pointed boat. paddles: flat blades used to propel a canoe.
Explanation: The speaker not only narrates the tales but also has to act them out, vividly illustrating elements such as the northern gales (wind), the paddling of a native man’s canoe, and the actions of a bear climbing trees to steal honey from bees
Analysis: The speaker describes the physicality of storytelling, emphasising the dramatic flair required. He must not only narrate but also act out the stories, mimicking the sounds and actions of the characters. For instance, when telling a story about an Indian in a canoe, he must recreate the wind and paddling motions. Similarly, when introducing a bear, he must imitate the animal’s movements like climbing trees to steal honey from bees.
Stanza 3
And then I buzz like angry bees
And sting him on his nose and knees
And howl in pain, till mother cries:
“That pair will never shut their eyes,
While all that noise up there you make;
You’re simply keeping them awake.”
And then they whisper: “Just one more,”
And once again I’m forced to roar.
Vocabulary: buzz: to make a continuous low humming sound. sting: to inflict a sharp pain with a pointed organ. howl: a long, loud, mournful cry
Explanation: Challenges increase to new heights as the speaker imitates the sounds of angry bees, stings the bear on its nose and knees, and howls in pain. The noisy storytelling prompts the mother’s intervention who expresses concern about keeping the children awake through his noisy story telling . Despite the mother’s comment, the children insist on hearing ‘just one more’ story, leading the speaker to continue with another round of storytelling.
Analysis: The intensity of the storytelling reaches a crescendo as the speaker becomes increasingly animated. The speaker is expected to be a master of impressions, mimicking the buzz of angry bees, the pain of a bear being stung, and even the howl of a wounded creature. The children’s enthusiasm keeps them awake. The noise causes the children’s mother to complain that the noise is keeping the kids awake. Despite this, the children beg for just one more story, and the speaker is compelled to comply.
Stanza 4
New stories every night they ask.
And that is not an easy task;
I have to be so many things,
The frog that croaks, the lark that sings,
The cunning fox, the frightened hen;
But just last night they stumped me, when
They wanted me to twist and squirm
And imitate an angle worm.
Vocabulary: croaks: a deep, rough, hoarse sound. lark: a small songbird. cunning: sly, clever in a deceitful way. stumped: puzzled, baffled
Explanation: The speaker says that children demand new stories every night and it is not easy for him to portray so many characters—like a frog, lark, cunning fox, and frightened hen. The speaker humorously recounts a moment when the children baffle him by asking to imitate an angle worm.
Analysis: The poet shares the challenge of coming up with new stories every night. The children’s imaginations seem boundless, and they constantly ask for new tales.He has to portray various animals and characters, from croaking frogs to singing larks, a clever fox, and a scared hen. However, the previous night, the children surprised him with a request to mimic an earthworm, which was particularly difficult pushing the limits of the speaker’s acting abilities
Stanza 5
At last they tumble off to sleep,
And softly from their room I creep
And brush and comb the shock of hair
I tossed about to be a bear.
Then mother says: “Well, I should say
You’re just as much a child as they.”
But you can bet I’ll not resign
That story telling job of mine.
Vocabulary: tumble: to fall suddenly and helplessly. creep: to move slowly and quietly
Explanation: The children have now fallen asleep and the speaker softly comes out of the room. He combs his hair that got unsettled during the process of storytelling. The mother teases that the speaker becomes a child along with the children while telling stories. The speaker shows firm determination in his decision that he will never stop storytelling.
Analysis: Finally, the children fall asleep, and the poet quietly leaves their room. He fixes his hair that he tousled (messed) up while acting as a bear. Their mother remarks teasingly that he is as playful as the children. But he confidently states that he loves his storytelling role and wouldn’t give it up for anything. Despite the exhaustion and mockery, he reaffirms his commitment to the role of storyteller.
Figures of Speech in the Poem “Story Telling”
Here are some poetic devices used in the poem “Story Telling” by Edgar Albert Guest, along with examples and explanations:
Rhyme Scheme: The poem has five stanzas. The rhyme scheme of each stanza is as follows:
- Stanza 1: aabccdd
- Stanza 2: eeffgghh
- Stanza 3: hhiijjkk
- Stanza 4: llmmnnoo
- Stanza 5: ppggqqrr
Personification: Giving human qualities to non-human things
- ‘eagles with the claws that hold / A baby’s weight’ – Eagles are personified with the ability to hold a baby’s weight, giving them human-like characteristics.
Simile: A comparison using “like” or “as”.
- Example: “And then I buzz like angry bees” (comparing the sound the father makes to the buzzing of bees).
Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate the sounds they describe.
- ‘buzz,’ ‘sniff,’ ‘howl’ – These words imitate the sounds associated with bees, sniffing and howling, contributing to the auditory experience of storytelling.
Hyperbole: Exaggeration for emphasis or effect.
- Example: “A baby’s weight” (implies the strength of the eagle’s claws by exaggerating their ability to carry something heavy like a baby).
- ‘I have to be so many things’ – The exaggeration emphasises the speaker’s diverse roles in storytelling, portraying a multitude of characters.
Metaphor: Comparing two unrelated things without using ‘like’ or ‘as’.
- ‘twist and squirm / And imitate an angle worm’ – The speaker’s actions are metaphorically compared to the movements of an angle worm, creating a playful image.
Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
- And tell them tales (1st stanza)
- nose and knees (2nd stanza)
Imagery: The poem creates vivid pictures in the reader’s mind using descriptive language.
- Example: “And eagles with the claws that hold / A baby’s weight, and fairy sprites / That roam the woods on starry nights.”
Anaphora: Several phrases and words are used repeatedly.
- In the poem ‘And’ has been used repeatedly many times. Here is an example of 3rd stanza:
And then I buzz like angry bees
And sting him on his nose and knees
And howl in pain, till mother cries:
