'The Shed — Frank Flynn' — Practice

Question 1

Describe the shed as shown in the poem.

Accepted Answer

The shed stands at the bottom of the garden and looks old and spooky. A spider's web stretches across its door, the hinges are rusty and creak in the wind, and the floorboards inside are rotten. These eerie details create a frightening atmosphere, which is why the child imagines a ghost living inside.

Question 2

How does the speaker's attitude towards the shed change?

Accepted Answer

At first the child is frightened, especially after the brother's tale of a ghost that will chop off intruders' heads. But the child is also curious. Over time, noticing that the spider's web is torn and the door is slightly open, the child grows braver and resolves to open the door and look inside 'one day soon'.

Question 3

What does the speaker's brother say about the shed?

Accepted Answer

The brother says a ghost lives in the shed under the rotten floorboards, and that if anyone dares to open the door, the ghost will jump out and chop off their head.

Question 4

What is the significance of the refrain 'one day soon'?

Accepted Answer

The repeated phrase 'one day soon' shows the child's mixture of fear and curiosity. The child keeps putting off opening the door, but the words also reveal a slowly growing determination to face the fear -- 'soon' suggests the courage is building.

Practice — 'The Shed — Frank Flynn'

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