Whatif — Study Notes

1. Introduction

"Whatif" is a playful and imaginative poem by Shel Silverstein, included in the NCERT Honeysuckle textbook for Class 6. The poem is about the worries and fears that visit a child at night. The poet imagines these worries as small creatures called 'Whatifs' that creep in quietly while he is asleep and whisper hundreds of frightening questions into his ear.

The 'Whatifs' fill the child's mind with all kinds of fears: 'Whatif I'm dumb in school?', 'Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?', 'Whatif I get beat up?', and many more. These little worries, though often silly and unlikely, feel very real to a child lying alone in the dark. The poem captures how our minds can race with 'what if' thoughts at night.

The poem ends with a light, comforting thought: the child has so many worries that he almost forgets what he originally feared. This shows that most of our worries are imaginary, and they usually disappear in the bright light of day. The poem helps children understand that everyone has night-time worries, and that they are rarely as big as they seem.

2. About the Poet

Shel Silverstein (1930-1999) was an American poet, writer, cartoonist and songwriter, famous for his humorous children's books such as 'Where the Sidewalk Ends' and 'The Giving Tree'. His poems are known for their wit, imagination and simple, rhyming style. 'Whatif' shows his gift for turning common childhood fears into delightful, comforting verse.

3. Summary of the Poem

The poem begins with the poet lying in bed at night, trying to sleep. During the night, he says, the 'Whatifs' come creeping in. They are tiny imaginary creatures that hide under the bed or in the corners, and they begin to whisper all kinds of fearful questions to him.

The first Whatif asks: 'Whatif I'm dumb in school?' This is followed by many others, each bringing a new worry. 'Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?', 'Whatif I get beat up?', 'Whatif there's poison in my cup?', 'Whatif I start to cry?', 'Whatif I get sick and die?' The worries pile up one after another, filling the child's mind with fear.

The Whatifs continue with more questions about school and friends: 'Whatif I flunk that test?', 'Whatif green hair grows on my chest?', 'Whatif nobody likes me?', 'Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?', 'Whatif I don't grow taller?', 'Whatif my head starts getting smaller?', 'Whatif the fish won't bite?', and 'Whatif I sleep too late?'

The poem ends with a funny and comforting twist. The child has so many Whatifs crawling over his face that he almost forgets to worry about the original fear he had. The poet suggests that while night-time worries feel real, they are mostly imaginary and fade away by morning.

4. Stanza-wise Summary

1. First Stanza: The child introduces the 'Whatifs', small creatures that whisper fears at night.
2. Second Stanza: The Whatifs ask about school, swimming and other fears.
3. Third Stanza: More Whatifs about tests, looks, friends and health crowd the child's mind.
4. Fourth Stanza: With so many worries, the child almost forgets the original fear, showing worries are imaginary.

5. Theme and Moral

The theme of the poem is the night-time worries and fears that children (and adults) experience. The 'Whatifs' represent all the imaginary fears that creep into our minds when we are alone in the dark. The moral is that most of our worries are imagined and are rarely as serious as they seem. Sharing our fears and seeing them in daylight helps them disappear. The poem teaches us to face our worries with courage and humour.

6. Literary Devices

1. Imaginary Creatures: The 'Whatifs' are personified as small creatures that whisper to the child.
2. Repetition: The word 'Whatif' is repeated at the start of many lines, showing the endless flow of worries.
3. Humour: The silly worries, like green hair growing on the chest, make the poem funny.
4. Rhyme: The poem has a lively rhyme scheme that makes the worries feel lighter.
5. Hyperbole: The worries are exaggerated for comic and emotional effect.
6. Contrast: The fears of night are contrasted with the relief of morning.

Quick Revision Tables

Table 1: Key Worries in the Poem

Table 2: The Poem's Ideas

Mind Map

Important Diagrams (SVG)

Diagram 1: The Whatifs at Night

Diagram 2: Worries and Reality

Common Mistakes

1. Students often think the Whatifs are real creatures; they are imaginary personifications of worries.
2. Some believe the poem ends with the fears coming true; it ends with the worries fading and being forgotten.
3. Learners may think the child is sick; the poem is about imaginary fears, not real illness.
4. It is wrong to say the poem encourages fear; it helps children laugh at and overcome their fears.
5. Some confuse the poet; the poem is by Shel Silverstein, author of 'The Giving Tree'.
6. Students often miss the humour in exaggerated worries like green hair growing on the chest.

Exam Tips

1. Remember the poet, Shel Silverstein, and his humorous style.
2. Explain what the 'Whatifs' represent: imaginary night-time worries.
3. Quote two or three 'Whatif' questions from the poem.
4. Describe how the poem ends with the worry being almost forgotten.
5. Mention the repetition of 'Whatif' as a poetic device.
6. State the moral: most worries are imaginary and fade by morning.

Conclusion

"Whatif" by Shel Silverstein gives a name and a face to the worries that visit children at night. The little 'Whatifs' whisper exaggerated fears into the child's ear, from failing tests to growing green hair, until the worries crowd the mind completely. The poem's playful ending reminds us that most of these fears are imaginary and melt away in the light of day. By turning worry into rhyme and laughter, Silverstein teaches children that fears are smaller than they seem, and that courage, humour and daylight can always chase them away.