Mystery of the Talking Fan Summary Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 6

Introduction

The tutorial consists of the complete poem analysis taken from English Honeycomb Class 7, written by Maude Rubin named Mystery of the Talking Fan. This tutorial will guide you through the summary and a detailed explanation of the poem for a better learning through this tutorial.

Summary

Stanza 1

Once there was a talking fan–

Electrical his chatter.

I could’t quite hear what he said

And I hope it doesn’t matter

Because one day somebody oiled

His little whirling motor

And all the mystery was spoiled…

He ran as still as water.

Explanation:  The poem opens with the personification of the fan, being given human attributes such as the ability to talk and chatter. The poet calls the fan’s noise an electrical chatter. The poet is unable to comprehend what exactly it means and before the poet could succeed in decoding the mystery, somebody oiled its motor. Ever since, it functioned in such a smooth manner that no noise could be heard. The ‘talking fan fell silent.

Theme/Message

The theme of this poem revolves around the loss of mystery and charm associated with the familiar. The talking fan, with its enigmatic chatter, adds an element of wonder to the speaker's life. However, when someone oils the fan's motor, making it run quietly, the mystery is dispelled, and the charm is lost. This transformation reflects how sometimes the ordinary things in life, when altered or demystified, lose their allure and magic. The poem underscores the value of maintaining a sense of wonder and appreciation for the mysteries that enrich our daily experiences.

List of Difficult Words with Meaning

Distant – far away from someone

Chatter – short, informal talk

Whirling – to turn or rotate rapidly

Mystery – something strange or unknown

Spoiled – to lose a useful quality