- The presence of the past: the dead live on in the places they knew.
- Memory: the speaker's memories make the past "visible and clear".
- Impermanence of ownership: no one really owns a house; we are temporary occupants.
- The spiritual and the material: a spirit-world surrounds and influences our physical lives.
- Human nature: a lifelong struggle between pleasure and noble aspiration.
- Connection between the living and the dead: a bridge of light links the two worlds.
7.1 Tone and mood
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| tone | calm, reflective, philosophical, gently mystical |
| mood | comfort and security; wonder rather than fear |
| reason (any one) | the ghosts are "harmless" and "inoffensive"; they are like silent family portraits; the bridge of light suggests hope and connection |
(2025 specimen Q6(v): mood — comfort and security; accept any one plausible reason.)
7.2 Significance of the title
"Haunted Houses" normally suggests horror. Longfellow uses the familiar phrase to surprise the reader: all our houses are haunted — by memories and gentle spirits. The title thus changes the meaning of "haunted" from frightening to familiar and comforting.
7.3 Comparing poems in the syllabus
| Point | Haunted Houses | When Great Trees Fall |
|---|---|---|
| subject | the presence of the dead in our homes | the effect of a great person's death |
| attitude to death | the dead remain near us, harmlessly | grief, then healing and hope |
| closing note | a bridge of light between worlds | "we can be … better. For they existed." |
| shared idea | the dead continue to influence the living |