NCERT Chapter Summary: The Rebel (Poem)

The poem, ‘The Rebel’ describes the character of rebel, a person who does not conform to the norms of the society. The rebel is described as a person who would contradict others in order to be different.

The character of the rebel in the poem is not based on a political activist, but seems to be a character sketch of a young adolescent, trying to be different. All the instances in the poem are repetitive affirmations of this fact.

If a rebel sees a group of people with short hair, he would let his hair grow long. On seeing others with long hair, the rebel would cut short his hair. Seeing everybody talk during the lesson, the rebel would become absolutely mute. On realising that everybody is silent the rebel would create a disturbance.

Similarly, on various such issues, the rebel would be seen contradicting others and doing things that no one would be doing. He would refuse to wear the uniform when the others would be wearing it, praise the dogs when in the company of cat lovers, appreciate the sun on rainy days and rains on the sunny days. He would do just anything but not what others are doing.

Stanza 1

When everybody has short hair,

The rebel lets his hair grow long,

When everybody has long hair,

The rebel cuts his hairs short.

Explanation: When the rebel encounters a group of people with short hair, he would allow his hair to grow long because he derives pleasure and satisfaction by going against the grain. However, he is not constant and therefore when he sees people growing their hair long, he would end up cutting his short.

Stanza 2

When everybody talks during the lesson,

The rebel doesn’t say a word

When nobody talks during the lesson,

The rebel creates a disturbance.

Explanation: Seeing everybody talk during the lesson, the rebel suddenly finds his silence most valuable. However, because he is a rebel, he cannot help but create disturbances and make a series of interjections, when he sees that everybody else has become quiet. The rebel constantly seeks attention by doing that what others don’t do.

Stanza 3

When everybody wears a uniform

The rebel dresses in fantastic clothes

When everybody wears fantastic clothes,

The rebel dresses soberly.

Explanation: Because the rebel always wants to showcase and exhibit himself as different, he would wear colourful clothes when everybody else is dressed up in a common uniform. However, the movement he sees others dressed up in different and colourful clothes, he would be unable to control his urge to wear the uniform.

Stanza 4

In the company of dog lovers,

The rebel expresses a preference for cats,

In the company of cat lovers,

The rebel puts in a good word for dogs.

Explanation: When the rebel finds himself in the company of dog lovers, he begins to prefer the cats. On the other hand, on being surrounded by cat lovers, he will put in a favourable word for dogs. His preferences and choices never seem to match with anyone else in the group.

Stanza 5

When everybody is praising the sun,

The rebel remarks on the need for rain

When everybody is greeting the rain,

The rebel regrets the absence of sun.

Explanation: Even with respect to the weather, it is difficult to bring the rebel on board for he would appreciate the sun while all others would be welcoming the rains and miss the rains while others would be enjoying the sun.

Stanza 6

When everybody goes to the meeting

The rebel stays at home and reads a book

When everybody stays at home and reads a book,

The rebel goes to the meeting.

Explanation: The rebels are people who are usually all alone for they prefer to read on a different path than others. So, when others go for meeting, they stay at home and read a book. When the others stay at home, they go to the meeting.

Stanza 7

When everybody says, Yes please,

The rebel says, No thank you.

Explanation: Saying yes when everybody say no and saying no when everybody says yes is another character trait of the rebel.

Stanza 8

When everybody says, No thank you,

The rebel says, Yes please.

It is very good that we have rebels.

You may not find it very good to be one.

Explanation: It seems that having rebels around us is beneficial as they train us to acknowledge differences. However, it is not good to be a rebel because they are not accepted by the society.

Class 07 English