The Rebel (Poem) — Study Notes

1. Introduction

"The Rebel" is a witty poem from the NCERT Class 7 textbook "Honeycomb". It is written by D.J. Enright, an English poet and critic. The poem describes the behaviour of a "rebel" - a person who always chooses to do the opposite of what others do.

The poem observes that when everyone has long hair, the rebel has short hair. When everyone has short hair, the rebel lets his hair grow long. When everyone talks during a lesson, the rebel does not talk; and when everyone keeps quiet, the rebel creates a noise. The rebel is someone who deliberately disagrees with the majority.

The poem is humorous because it shows that rebels are contradictory - they oppose everything just for the sake of being different. At the end, the poem suggests that it is good to have rebels, because they make us realise the value of those who follow conventions.

2. Author

The poem is written by D.J. Enright (Dennis Joseph Enright), born in 1920, an English poet, novelist and critic. He taught in several countries including Japan, Germany, Thailand and Singapore. Enright's poetry is known for its sharp observation, wit and gentle irony. "The Rebel" uses simple situations from school and daily life to make a playful comment on human behaviour - specifically, the urge to be contrary. He died in 2002.

3. Summary

The poem presents a series of situations and shows how a rebel behaves differently in each. When everyone wears long hair, the rebel has short hair; when everyone wears short hair, the rebel wears long. When everyone talks during the lesson, the rebel is quiet and thoughtful; when nobody talks, the rebel creates a disturbance by talking.

The rebel likes rain while others like the sun, and when everyone is praising the sun, the rebel misses the rain. When people express their views, the rebel stays silent; when silence reigns, the rebel speaks out. When others go on long trips, the rebel stays at home; when everyone stays home, the rebel decides to go on a long trip.

The poem concludes playfully: while a rebel can be annoying, it is good that there are rebels because they remind us of the value of following the crowd. In other words, rebels, by being contrary, make us appreciate the behaviour of ordinary people.

4. Characters

5. Theme

The central theme of the poem is contrariness and the psychology of rebellion. The rebel opposes everything just to be different, without necessarily having a deeper purpose. The poem also explores the value of non-conformity: although rebels are annoying, they add variety to life and remind us of the worth of convention. There is a humorous observation that true rebels cannot even be consistent - they flip their position when the crowd changes its stance. Ultimately, the poem gently mocks the urge to be contrary for its own sake.

6. Stanza-wise Explanation

Stanza 1

When everyone has long hair, the rebel has short hair. But when everyone decides to have short hair, the rebel lets his hair grow long. This shows the rebel always takes the opposite side.

Stanza 2

When everyone talks during the lesson, the rebel does not talk and seems thoughtful. But when nobody talks, the rebel starts talking and creates a disturbance.

Stanza 3

The rebel likes rain while others like the sun. When everyone is praising the sun, the rebel secretly misses the rain.

Stanza 4

When everyone expresses an opinion, the rebel remains silent. But when everyone keeps quiet, the rebel speaks out loudly.

Stanza 5

When everyone goes on a long trip, the rebel stays at home. But when everyone stays at home, the rebel suddenly decides to go on a long trip.

Stanza 6

The poem concludes that while rebels can be troublesome, it is good to have them because they make us value the behaviour of ordinary people.

7. Literary Devices

• Repetition: The pattern "when everyone... the rebel..." is repeated for rhythm and emphasis.
• Antithesis: Each stanza contrasts the majority and the rebel's opposite action.
• Irony: The rebel's rebellion is shallow - it simply mirrors the opposite of the crowd.
• Humour: The absurdity of the rebel's contradictions creates comedy.
• Rhyme: A regular rhyme scheme makes the poem musical.
• Paradox: The rebel is both annoying and valuable.

8. Quick Revision Tables

Table 1: The Rebel's Opposite Actions

Table 2: The Poem's Structure

9. Mind Map

10. Important Diagrams (SVG)

Diagram 1: The Rebel's Contradictions

Diagram 2: Why It Is Good to Have Rebels

11. Common Mistakes

1. Students often think the rebel always has long hair; the rebel has short hair when others have long hair, and vice versa.
2. Many believe the rebel never talks; the rebel is quiet when others talk and noisy when others are quiet.
3. Students sometimes say the rebel always likes rain; the rebel likes rain when others like sun, but the poem does not fix his taste.
4. Some students think the rebel is praised for wisdom; the poem treats him with humour, not admiration.
5. Students frequently say the rebel is consistent; the rebel is actually inconsistent, reversing with the crowd.
6. Many forget the poet's name is D.J. Enright.
7. Students sometimes claim the poem condemns rebels; the poem says it is good to have rebels because they make us value ordinary behaviour.

12. Exam Tips

1. Memorise the poet's name: D.J. Enright.
2. Learn at least three pairs of opposite actions from the table.
3. Explain the rebel's contradictory nature clearly.
4. State the concluding idea: it is good to have rebels as they make us value the ordinary.
5. Practise identifying the humorous tone and the use of repetition.
6. Be ready to answer why rebels are annoying yet valuable.
7. Write short answers contrasting the rebel with the majority.

13. Conclusion

"The Rebel" is a playful and thoughtful poem about human contrariness. D.J. Enright uses simple school-life situations to show how a rebel opposes everything, simply to be different. The poem's humour lies in the rebel's absurd inconsistency - he reverses his position whenever the crowd changes. Yet the poet ends with a gentle insight: rebels, by being different, help us see the value of normal, ordinary behaviour. The poem encourages readers to think about the balance between conformity and individuality, while enjoying the wit of everyday observation.