The Shed — Frank Flynn
Introduction
'The Shed' is a poem by Frank Flynn that explores the fear of the unknown through a child's imagination. The speaker describes a shed at the bottom of the garden that seems mysterious and frightening. The child believes a ghost lives inside. But as the poem progresses, the child begins to overcome this fear, deciding to open the door one day.
'Childhood fears are real — even if the monsters are imaginary. The courage to face them is the first step to growing up.'
2. About the Poet
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Frank Flynn |
| Poem | 'The Shed' |
| Theme | Childhood fear, imagination, courage |
3. The Poem
There's a shed at the bottom of our garden With a spider's web across the door, The hinges are rusty and creak in the wind. When I'm in bed I lie and listen — I'll go and see what's there Some day soon.
My brother says there's a ghost in the shed Who hides under the rotten floorboards, And if I ever dare to open the door, He'll jump out and chop off my head. But I'll take a peep inside One day soon.
The spider's web is torn across the door And the door's a little open — Perhaps the ghost has gone. I'll open the door and look inside One day soon.
4. Summary
The speaker, a child, describes a shed at the bottom of the garden. It looks old and spooky — a spider's web covers the door, hinges are rusty, and it creaks in the wind. The child's brother says a ghost lives in the shed who will chop off the head of anyone who enters. Despite this fear, the child is curious. As time passes, the child notices the spider's web is torn and the door is slightly open. The child decides to gather the courage to open the door and look inside — 'one day soon'.
5. Poetic Devices
| Device | Example |
|---|---|
| Imagery | 'Spider's web across the door', 'hinges are rusty' |
| Personification | 'Hinges... creak in the wind' |
| Rhyme | door/floor, head/said |
| Repetition | 'One day soon' — repeated at the end of each stanza |
| Symbolism | The shed = fear of the unknown |
| Atmosphere | Created through sensory details — sight, sound |
6. Key Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Shed | A small building used for storage |
| Hinge | A joint on which a door swings |
| Creak | A harsh, squeaking sound of old wood |
| Rotten | Decayed, decomposed |
| Spider's web | A net of silk threads made by spiders |
7. Think and Answer
- Where is the shed located?
- What does the speaker's brother say is in the shed?
- Why does the speaker want to go to the shed?
- What changes the speaker's mind about the shed?
- What does 'one day soon' tell us about the speaker's feelings?
8. Exam Focus
2-Mark Questions
- Where is the shed?
- What is across the door of the shed?
- What does the brother say about the shed?
- What does the speaker decide to do at the end?
5-Mark Questions
- Describe the shed as shown in the poem.
- How does the speaker's attitude towards the shed change?
- What is the significance of 'one day soon'?
- How does the poem explore the theme of fear and courage?
9. Self-Test
Q1. What covers the door of the shed? A1. A spider's web.
Q2. What does the brother say could happen if someone opens the door? A2. A ghost will jump out and chop off the person's head.
Q3. What does the speaker notice that is different about the web? A3. It is torn.
Q4. Is the door completely closed? A4. No, it is a little open.
Q5. What does the speaker decide to do? A5. Open the door and look inside one day soon.
Summary
- A child is curious about an old shed at the bottom of the garden.
- The shed looks spooky — cobwebs, rusty hinges, creaking sounds.
- The brother says a ghost lives there.
- The child is both afraid and curious.
- Over time, the child notices the web is torn and the door is ajar.
- The child decides to gather courage and open the door 'one day soon'.
- The poem explores childhood fear, imagination, and the courage to face the unknown.
