The Rebel (POEM)
INTRODUCTION: The poem explains about people who always do the opposite of what everyone else does and think. Such people are called rebels. When everyone has short hair they go opposite with long hair or vice- versa, similarly, when everybody else talks, they remain silent, they disturb, they were fantastic clothes when other wear uniform and do the opposite of everything. The poem explains other situation such as loving the pets, praising the nature, hobbies, etiquettes and manners where the rebel are opposite of the world.
Summary of the poem
The poem, ‘The Rebel,’ describes the character of the rebel, an individual who does not comply with the norms of society. The rebel is described as a person who would have contradicted others in order to be different. The rebel character in the poem is not based on a political activist, but seems to be a character sketch of a young teenager, seeking to be different. All the instances in the poem are repeated affirmations of this fact.
If a rebel sees a group of people with short hair, they’ll let their hair grow long. Seeing someone with long hair, the rebel would cut off his hair. Seeing others speak during the class, the rebel will be totally silent. Realising that all is quiet, the insurgent will create a disruption.
Similarly, on a various such occasions, the rebels would be seen to contradict others and do things that no one would do. He will refuse to wear the uniform when the others wore it, compliment the dogs when in the company of cat lovers, enjoy the sun on rainy days and rain on sunny days. When others go to the meeting, the rebel sits at home and reads books. When everybody agrees, the rebel disputes. He’d do something but not what the others are doing. The rebels are important because they come up with new ideas that enable us to look at life differently. However, the method is not going to suit everybody.
SUMMARY 2
A rebel is a person who always disagrees with you. He likes to do the opposite of what everyone loves to do. When everyone has short hair, the rebel supports long hairs, when everybody lets his hair grow long; the rebel cuts his hair short.
When other boys go to school in uniforms, the rebel puts on colourful clothes. When other boys are in fancy dress the rebel’s dress is simple. If others are dog lovers, the rebel prefers cat. But in the company of cat lovers, he praises dogs. When others go to the meeting, the rebel stays at home and read books. When everybody agrees the rebel disagrees. The rebel is necessary because they help us look at life differently. But this practice will not suit everyone.
Paraphrase
When everybody has short hair,
The rebel lets his hair grow long.
In order to look different the rebel
knowingly grows hair When everybody
keeps short and uniform hair.
When everybody has long hair,
The rebel cuts his hair short.
When everybody talks during the lesson,
The rebel doesn’t say a word.
The rebel keeps silent as he wants to be
prominent, when every member of the
The rebel doesn’t say a word. society talks during a lesson.
When nobody talks during the lesson,
The rebel creates a disturbance.
The rebel constantly seeks attention by talking loudly to look distinct when no
one talks.
When everybody wears a uniform,
The rebel dresses in fantastic clothes
When every person of the society wears simple and uniform clothes, the rebel uses fantastic and attractive clothes. He wants to look distinguished from others.
When everybody wears fantastic clothes,
The rebel dresses soberly.
when all other members of the society use attractive clothes, the rebel dresses himself very seriously and soberly.
In the company of dog lovers,
The rebel expresses a preference for cats.
Amidst group of dogs as pet animals, the rebel prefers cats to dogs.
In the company of cat lovers,
The rebel puts in a good word for dogs
If a rebel is in company of those people who love cats, he prefers dogs to cats. He wants to look different at all costs
When everybody is praising the sun,
The rebel remarks on the need for rain.
If everyone praises the sun and its warmth, the rebel explains need for rain.
When everybody is greeting the rain,
The rebel regrets the absence of sun.
When everybody welcomes and requires rain, the rebel feels sorry for the absence of the sun.
When everybody goes to the meeting,
The rebel stays at home and reads a book.
When every member of the society goes to some gathering, the rebel stays at home and engross reading a book.
When everybody stays at home and reads a book,
The rebel goes to the meeting.
When everybody of the society stays at home and reads a book, the rebel tries to
attend meeting.
When everybody says, Yes please,
The rebel says, No thank you.
When every person asks for something, the rebel rejects the same with thanks because he is a person quite different from others.
When everybody says, No thank you,
The rebel says, Yes please.
When everybody of the society does not like and does not receive anything and says thanks, for that, the rebel, on purpose, requires that thing and asks for it.
It is very good that we have rebels.
You may not find it very good to be one
In these lines, the poet concludes that it is very good that we have social rebels in the society. But naturally, it is not good to become a social rebel. The poet further suggests that if we already have the social rebels, we should tolerate them. Without them, life will become monotonous and dull.
Theme – The Rebel
The poet beautifully portrays the nature of rebel and his/ her attitude against conformity. The poet has portrayed the sensible and contradictory attitude of the rebel. Everyone can’t be a rebellion. He vividly explains the presence of rebel is needed as he/she has the courage to question. A rebellion thinks differently from others. They are harmless but they want to be different goes against the custom and the tradition of the society.
It is good to have rebels because very few people have the power to oppose the decision of the majority. They think differently and fearlessly stand with their choices which can be beneficial. It is not good to rebel oneself because no one will like you. It keeps you apart from the people and they will be like an enemy for you.
The poet does not discuss the social rebel a contradictory attitude based on self-assertion. It is a humorous poem devoid of malice or bitterness depicts the eccentric attitude of rebels.
Poetic devices used in the poem
The poet has used two poetic devices like repetition and alliteration there is no such device like rhythm and rhyme in the poem.
Repetition
This poem is written in free verse, free verse is the technique of writing when the poet does not believe in giving rhythm and rhyme. The poet repeats the phrase like when everybody and by this he wants to create musical quality even if it’s written in free verse.
Alliteration
This is the technique when consonant sounds are repeated in stanzas mostly the consonant sounds of the words following each other words in the lines.in the poem alliteration is found in the line the, Rebel regrets.
Word-Meanings
REBEL – a person who rises in opposition
- Short hair– closely cropped
-
Uniform– prescribed dress
-
Fantastic– odd, strange
-
Soberly– in a simple manner
-
Preference– liking
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS
1. If someone doesn’t wear a uniform to school, what do you think the teacher will say?
Ans. The teacher will scold the student and ask him/her the reason for not wearing the uniform and then takes action accordingly.
2. When everyone wants a clear sky, what does the rebel want most?
Ans. When everyone wants a clear sky, the rebel wants it to rain.
3. If the rebel has a dog for a pet, what is everyone else likely to have?
Ans. When everyone is likely to have a cat for a pet, only then will the rebel have a dog for a pet.
4. Why is it good to have rebels?
Ans. It is good to have rebels because very few people have the strength to stand against the majority. They think differently and stand fearlessly for their choices which can be beneficial.
5. Why is it not good to be a rebel oneself?
Ans. It is not good for oneself to be a rebel because you have to stand alone all the time. It makes you unpopular among the people and you will have no friends.
6. What is the message of the poem?
Ans. The poem tells the nature of a rebel who does just opposite of what others do. The poet tells that it is dangerous but at the same time it is good because it is a rebel who comes with the new ideas.
But the poet doesn’t want the social rebel.
Short Answer Questions
Q. 1. What does the rebel do when everybody talks during the lessons?
Ans. When everybody talks during the lessons, the rebel becomes absolutely silent.
Q. 2. Why does the rebel choose to wear fantastic clothes?
Ans. When the rebel sees everybody dressed in uniform, the rebel chooses to wear fantastic clothes.
Q. 3. Are the rebels rain lovers?
Ans. The rebels become rain lovers when they realise that the others are enjoying the sun.
Q. 4. Why do rebels always contradict others?
Ans. The rebels still contradict the others, because they want to stand out from the rest of the crowd. They want to maintain their voice and interests, as well as their views, rather than blindly following the crowd. The rebels always contradict others because they wish to stand out be different and stand out from the rest of the crowd. They wish to retain their voice and preferences as well as opinions rather than blindly following the crowd.
Q. 5. Why does the society disapprove of the rebels?
Ans. The rebels do not comply with the standard decisions and choices made by society at large. They have their own views of unique thought, are distinctive, and often even go to the point of contradicting others just to make themselves unique.
Language Work
1. Find in the poem an antonym (a word opposite in meaning) for each of the following words.
(i) long (ii) grow (iii) quietness (iv) sober (v) lost
Solution:
(i) Short
(ii) Cut
(iii) Disturbance
(iv) Fantastic
(v) Find
2. Find in the poem lines that match the following. Read both one after the other.
(i) The rebel refuses to cut his hair.
Ans. The rebel lets his hair grow long.
(ii) He says cats are better.
Ans. The rebel expresses a preference for cats.
(iii) He recommends dogs.
Ans. The rebel puts in a good word for dogs.
(iv) He is unhappy because there is no sun.
Ans. The rebel regrets the absence of sun.
(v) He is noisy on purpose.
Ans. The rebel creates a disturbance.
Thank you for these wonderful notes and tips.