BSc BA ADP English Notes Poem The Rebel (D J Enright) Important Questions

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Question 1: Bring out the element of humor and irony in the poem, The Rebel.

Do you find any element of humor and satire in the poem, The Rebel?

Discuss the element of humor and satire in D.J Enright's poem The Rebel.

Answer: The poem The Rebel is remarkable for its amusing humor and mild satire. There is no hatred or hidden ill-will in the humor. The humor is treated through the funny behavior and anti-tradition attitude of the rebel.

The humor in the poem is because of the very strange and personal ways of the rebel. His different phases or stages of life make us laugh. His physical appearance, talk, and behavior are simply laughable.

His contradictory actions make us laugh. We find him moody but a peaceful person. The poet has humorously presented the character of a rebel in society. The contrast between the rebel and society is funny and ridiculous.

The poem satirizes the self-assertive nature of the rebel. Besides, it draws a dull picture of the behavior of common people. The majority of the people think and act alike. They are like robots. This is highly condemnable.

The poem is a satire on the people. All of us are self-assertive at certain times. We want to show off our individuality. Hence, the poet is in reality criticizing the behavior of normal people.

The rebel is actually in conflict with the duplicity or fraud of these people. He is honest and dependable in comparison. He is a foil( person who makes prominent or clear the qualities of another person by comparison) to the deceptiveness of other people.

Question 2: Discuss the contradictory attitude of the rebel.

Explain all that others do and rebel does not do.

D.J Enright's portrait of a rebel is keen, subtle, and witty. Elaborate.

Answer: he poet has presented the picture of a rebel in this poem. The rebel is a young man. He wants to assert himself. He behaves differently from others. He always acts against the set traditions of society. He always violates moral values and social norms.

Rebel is always different from other members of society. His habits, manners, interests, and activities form others. For example, when people grow long hair, the rebel likes to have short hair and when everybody has short hair he grows his hair long.

When all students are silent in the class the rebel makes a noise and when others talk during the lesson, he keeps quiet. When everybody is dressed in uniform, the rebel wears fantastic clothes. When other wear beautiful dress, he puts on the uniform.

The poet says that a rebel is a non-traditional person. He loves dogs when others love cats. When others show preference for dogs, he shows affection for cats. He wishes for rain, when everybody likes sun and when everybody likes rain, he longs for sunshine. 

The poet says that a rebel brings novelty in our dull and monotonous life. If a person walks towards you, and you walk backward away, a situation like that of rebel arises. It creates humor and fun. The rebel tries to hold the mirror to them to show to the world that they are respectable in name only.

The poet satirizes the so-called decent people. These people only pretend to others by keeping short hair, keeping silent in classes, wearing simple and sober clothes, and by speaking and behaving in courteous ways.