The Story of Fidgety Phillip Summary Class 6 New Pathways

About the Poet

The poet of this delightful poem about a mischievous child is Ann Taylor, an English poet and literary figure who lived during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Ann Taylor was known for her contributions to children's literature, often collaborating with her sister Jane Taylor. Together, they created various poems and stories that entertained and educated young readers.

Key Points of the Poem

• The poem revolves around a naughty and restless child named Philip.
• It consists of three stanzas, each detailing Philip's mischievous antics.
• Stanza 1 introduces Philip being asked to behave at the table.
• Stanza 2 portrays Philip's escalating misbehavior leading to a disastrous scene.
• Stanza 3 describes the aftermath of Philip's chaos and the reactions of his parents.

Detailed Summary

Stanza 1

"Let me see if Philip can

Be a little gentleman

Let me see, if he is able

To sit still for once at table:

Thus Papa bade Phil behave;

And Mamma look'd very grave.

But fidgety Phil,

He won't sit still;

He wriggles

and giggles,

And then, I declare,

Swings backwards and forwards

And tilts up his chair,

Just like any rocking horse;-

'Philip! I am getting cross!'"

This stanza talks about a little boy named Philip. His father is asking him to behave like a gentleman and sit properly at the table. Philip's mother looks very serious about this. But Philip is not sitting still; he keeps moving around, laughing and squirming in his seat. He even starts rocking back and forth on his chair, almost like a rocking horse. His father eventually gets upset and scolds him by saying, "Philip! I am getting cross!" This means his father is getting angry at Philip's behavior.

Stanza 2

See the naughty restless child

Growing still more rude and wild,

Till his chair falls over quite.

Philip screams with all his might.

Catches at the cloth, but then

That makes matters worse again.

Down upon the ground they fall,

Glasses, plates, knives, forks and all.

How Mamma did fret and frown,

When she saw them tumbling down!

And Papa made such a face!

Philip is in sad disgrace

In this part of the poem, we see Philip becoming even more naughty and uncontrollable. He becomes ruder and wilder, and eventually, his chair tips over completely. When this happens, Philip screams loudly. He tries to grab the tablecloth to steady himself, but instead, everything on the table falls to the ground—glasses, plates, knives, forks, everything crashes down. His mother is upset and frowning at this mess, and his father is also very disappointed. Philip is now in trouble and feeling ashamed of his behavior.

Stanza 3

Where is Philip, where is he?

Fairly cover'd up you see!

Cloth and all are lying on him;

He has pull'd down all upon him.

What a terrible to-do!

Dishes, glasses, snapt in two!

Here a knife, and there a fork!

Philip, this is cruel work.

Table all so bare, and ah!

Poor Papa, and poor Mamma Look quite cross, and wonder how They shall have their dinner now.

This stanza describes the aftermath of Philip's mischievous actions. Philip is completely covered by the cloth and everything that fell from the table. Dishes and glasses are broken, knives and forks are scattered everywhere. His parents are upset and wondering how they will manage to have their dinner now that everything is in disarray. Philip's behavior has caused chaos and trouble for everyone around him.

Theme/ Message

• Theme: The themes explored in the poem include disobedience, consequences of actions, and the challenges of parenting.

The poem underscores the consequences of disobedience and the challenges parents face when dealing with a mischievous child like Philip. It highlights the importance of discipline, the impact of one's actions on others, and the need for children to listen and behave appropriately.

• Message:

Through Philip's misadventures, the poem conveys a message about the importance of obedience and the repercussions of irresponsibility. It emphasizes the need for children to follow instructions, behave properly, and consider the consequences of their actions. Additionally, it serves as a reminder to parents about the challenges of raising children and the patience required in handling their antics.

Difficult Words

1. Fidgety: Restless or unable to sit still.
2. Disgrace: Shame or loss of respect.
3. Terrible: Extremely bad or serious.
4. Cruel: Willfully causing pain or suffering to others.
5. Repercussions: Consequences or results of actions.
6. Antics: Playful or silly acts done for entertainment.
7. Escalating: Increasing or intensifying.
8. Convey: To communicate or express a message or information.
9. Discipline: Training to obey rules or a code of behavior.
10. Patience: Capacity to accept or tolerate delays or problems.