Summary: The First Tooth | English Class 4 ICSE PDF Download

Introduction

"The First Tooth" is a simple poem by Charles and Mary Lamb. It is about a young girl who feels jealous because everyone loves her baby brother more. The family is happy about the baby’s small things, like his new tooth, but they don’t notice the girl’s own special things.

Key Points of the Poem

• The poem is about a little girl who feels jealous of her baby brother.
• The family is excited about the baby's small things like his first tooth.
• The girl feels no one notices her own skills and features.

Summary

Stanza 1

Through the house what busy joy,
Just because the infant boy
Has a tiny tooth to show.
I have got a double row,
All as white, and all as small;
Yet no one cares for mine at all.

This stanza tells us that the house is full of happy noise because the baby boy got his first tiny tooth. The girl says she has two rows of white, small teeth, just like his, but no one cares about her teeth.

Stanza 2

He can say but half a word,
Yet that single sound's preferred
To all the words that I can say
In the longest summer day.

This stanza says the baby can only say half a word, but everyone loves that sound. The girl can say many clear words, even all day long, but no one likes her words as much as the baby’s sound.

Stanza 3

​He cannot walk, yet if he put
With mimic motion out his foot,
As if he thought he were advancing,
It's prized more than my best dancing.

This stanza explains that the baby can’t walk yet, but when he moves his foot like he’s trying to, everyone loves it. The girl says her best dancing is not loved as much as the baby’s small movement.

Message

The poem shows how older children may feel left out when a new baby gets all the family's love and attention for small things.

New Words with Meanings

• Busy joy: Excitement.
• Infant: A toddler.
• Preferred: Liked or favoured.
• Mimic motion: Mock movement.
• Advancing: Moving forward.
• Prized: Valued.