Class 7 English Honeycomb Poem 2 Question Answers - Poem 2 - The Rebel

Q1: When everybody has short hair,
The rebel lets his hair grow long.
When everybody has long hair,
The rebel cuts his hair short.
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
The poet lists various contradictory activities of the rebel. He says that when everybody has short hair, the rebel grows his hair long and when long hair is in, the rebel cuts his hair short. He stays silent in the lesson when everyone is discussing a matter. When it is time for general discussion, the rebel remains attentive to the teacher and does not participate in the discussion.
(i) How does the length of hair reflects the rebellious attitude?
(ii) What do rebels do when everybody has long hair?
(iii) How differently do rebels behave during the lesson?
(iv) What does the rebel try to show by his gesture?
Ans:
(i) When everybody prefers to have short hair, rebel takes a different route.
(ii) The rebels cut their hair short to segregate themselves from others.
(iii) The rebel don’t speak when others are talking and they disturb others if nobody talks.
(iv) The rebel wants to be noticed distinctly so they try to catch the attention by going against the flow.

Q2: When everybody is praising the sun,
The rebel remarks on the need for rain.
When everybody is greeting the rain,
The j-ebel regrets the absence of sun.
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
When it is the general desire for rain, he necessitates the importance of sun and when people want the sunbath, he goes for rain. When others attend meetings, he stays home and when others stay home, he attends meetings.
(i) Why do rebels assert for rain?
(ii) Explain ‘when everybody is greeting the rain’.
(iii) When do rebels regret the absence of sun?
(iv) Why do rebels stay at home?
Ans:
(i) The rebels assert for rain because they want to stand out from the crowd.
(ii) Generally people greet rain to save them from scorching heat.
(iii) The rebels regret the absence of sun when everybody expects rain.
(iv) The rebels choose to stay at home when other people are socializing.

Q3: When everybody wears a uniform,
The rebel dresses in fantastic clothes.
When everybody wears fantastic clothes,
The rebel dresses soberly.
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 people wear uniforms, he puts on showy dresses and when people wear colourful dresses, he does the opposite. In the company of cat lovers, he prefers dogs and in the company of dogs, he prefers the otherwise.
(i) When do rebels wear fantastic clothes?
(ii) Who is the preference of a rebel in a cat lover’s gathering?
(iii) What do rebels aim at while preferring just opposite choices?
(iv) What is a ‘good word’?
Ans:
(i) To break the norms and discipline, rebels wear fantastic clothes when others wear uniform.
(ii) Dog is the most preferred by rebels in presence of cat lovers.
(iii) Rebels aim at showing non-conformist behaviour in contrasting choice.
(iv) A ‘Good word’ is about speaking good qualities of a person.

Q4: When everybody says, Yes please,
The rebel says, No thank you.
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
He says “Yes” when he should say “No”; when he should say “Yes”. In short, each action of the rebel is stimulated by self exhibition and inexperienced attitude of adolescence. The poet has remarkably described the non-conformist behaviour of the rebel in a light, funny and casual manner. The poet says that the individual freedom is very important and we must learn to accept it in society. No two persons can be equal.
(i) Why do rebels refute to behave normally?
(ii) ‘The common gesture of greeting is violated by rebels’. Do you agree?
(iii) Explain ‘It is very good … rebels’.
(iv) How far is the poet successful in describing ‘a rebel’?
Ans:
(i) Rebels refuses to behave normally because of their contradictory and self assertive behaviour.
(ii) The rebels don’t say thank you when they have to. Their action of rebel is stimulated by self-exhibition.
(iii) The poet says that individual freedom is important and thus it must be accepted by the society.
(iv) The poet describes the non-conformist behaviour of the rebel in a light, funny, and casual manner.