The door

The Door

By Miroslav Holub


1. What is the poem’s message? How does the poet convey this message?

‘The Door’ by Miroslav Holub conveys one clear message, that of being open to the possibilities of life, whether they are good or bad. To effectively convey this message Holub uses many techniques in his poem.

The imperative “Go and open the door” begins the poem. This command is firm and because it is constantly repeated throughout the poem is a strong image in the readers mind. The image intended and conveyed is at a deep, metaphorical level. Literally it is simply the act of opening a door. Although when considered at a more profound level this door symbolises an obstacle and the act of opening the door symbolically shows compliance to the possibilities and opportunities that life offers. ‘The Door’ does not suggest that life offers positive possibilities, or negative for that matter but it does show that being open to the good or...