About the Author
D. J. Enright was a British poet, writer, and teacher. He was born on March 11, 1920, in a town called Leamington in England. His full name was Dennis Joseph Enright. He loved writing poems that were funny and made you think. He studied at a big university called Cambridge and taught in many countries like Egypt, Japan, and Thailand. Enright wrote over 50 books, including poems, stories, and books about other writers. He got awards for his work and was known for his smart and witty words. He passed away on December 31, 2002, in London. His poem "The Rebel" shows how people who like to go against the crowd can be fun and useful.
What’s the Poem About?
This poem is a funny way to talk about a person called a rebel. A rebel is someone who always does the opposite of what everyone else is doing. It's not about being bad – it's about being different and making things interesting!
The poem starts with hair. When all friends have short hair, the rebel grows his hair long. But when everyone starts growing long hair, the rebel cuts his short again. It's like he wants to stand out!
Then, in class, when kids are chatting and making noise during lessons, the rebel sits quiet as a mouse. But if everyone is silent and paying attention, the rebel makes a little noise to stir things up.
Next, about clothes. When all students wear the same school uniform, the rebel comes in bright, colorful outfits like a rainbow. But when fashion day comes and everyone dresses fancy, the rebel wears plain, simple clothes.
The rebel also picks the other side in likes. If all friends love dogs and talk about them, the rebel says, "Cats are better!" And when cat lovers gather, he cheers for dogs instead.
About weather too. When sunny days make everyone happy and they praise the sun, the rebel says we need rain to cool down. But on rainy days when people enjoy the drops, the rebel wishes for the sun to come back.
For meetings or fun, when the whole group goes to a party or gathering, the rebel stays home with a book. But if everyone decides to read quietly at home, off he goes to the meeting!
Even with yes and no. When friends say "Yes, please" to snacks or games, the rebel says "No, thank you." And when they all say no, he jumps in with "Yes, please!"
The poem ends with a wise thought: It's good we have rebels because they keep life from being boring. But being one yourself might not always feel easy, as people may not understand you right away.
In simple words, the poem shows how a rebel brings change and fun by doing things backwards. It makes us smile and think about not always following the crowd.
Who’s Who in the Story
- The Rebel: The main person in the poem. He is someone who loves doing the opposite of what others do. He is not mean – just different and full of surprises.
- Everybody: This means all the other people, like friends, classmates, or family. They follow what most are doing, like wearing uniforms or loving the same pet.
Themes and Moral
Themes:
- Being Different: The poem celebrates people who don't copy others. It shows that standing out makes the world more colorful.
- Balance in Choices: Rebels remind us there are two sides to everything, like sun and rain, dogs and cats.
- Fun in Opposition: Doing the opposite can be playful and stop life from getting too same-same.
- Value of Variety: Without rebels, everyone would think and act the same, which is boring.
Moral: It's great to have rebels who question and change things up. They make us see new ways. But remember, being kind while being different is important. Don't just oppose for fun – do it to make things better!
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are some key words and phrases from the poem. I explain them with easy examples:
- Rebel: A person who goes against rules or what others do, like wearing jeans to a formal party.
- Fantastic: Very wild or colorful, like clothes with stars and stripes.
- Soberly: In a simple, plain way, like wearing a white shirt without any prints.
- Preference: What you like more, like choosing chocolate over vanilla ice cream.
- Praising: Saying good things about something, like "The sun is so warm and nice!"
- Regrets: Feels sad about missing something, like "I wish the sun was out today."
- Disturbance: Making a small noise or fuss, like tapping a pencil in class.
- Creates: Makes something happen, like starting a game.
- Company: Group of people together, like friends at a picnic.
- Absence: When something is not there, like no rain on a dry day.
These words help describe the rebel's funny ways. Use them to talk about your own choices!