Summary Of The Poem: NEWS BREAK

The child reaches home and he/she hugs and kisses the persona lovingly. He/ She
offers to help the persona with some little jobs. The parent is taken aback and
wonders the reason for this change. The child looks clean and the clothes are tidy.
He / She had saved the luncheon money. The parent marvels that the child does not
drop the school books and displays a quiet behaviour. The persona begins to wonder
if the child is a stranger as there was no anger or noise by the child. The parent
looks at the child closely to make sure everything is fine. Finally, the parent sees the
school report that the child has brought home .

Elements of The Poem

PERSONA

1. The speaker is a parent who is puzzled to see the childs sudden change of behaviour.

TONE & MOOD

1. The tone of the poem is light-hearted and humorous.

2. The reader is filled with curiosity at the beginning of the poem but will most certainly laugh
when they read the last sentence.

POINT OF VIEW

1. It is in the first person point of view.

SETTING

1. Time : No specific time frame is mentioned although it can be inferred that the child
has just returned home from school.

2. Place : At home
THEMES

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1. Parents responsibility
The child pretends to be good before showing the school report to his mother. Parents play the
role of boundaries setters. Children have to be aware of certain boundaries thus knowing
consequences to their actions. It is good to change your attitude for the better; however, mere
pretending is meaningless. Being good and pretending to be good are of two different matters.
Parents have to make their children aware of this.

2. Creativity has no boundaries

The child is indeed creative. In order not to get a scolding from his mother, he does all sorts
of things to please her. Let your childs creativity flow. However, the world is too
overwhelming for a young child to bloom in his own ways. Therefore, always be at his or her
sides to provide support and guidance.

3. Having an ulterior motive

The child in the poem is rather sly. He is behaving well for a reason. He has brought home
his report card which may contain bad grades. Since he does not want to make his parents
angry, he tries to win the parents heart by being obedient.

MORAL VALUES

1. We must be aware of the changes in the way people think and act.
2. We must try to behave well at all times and not only on certain circumstances
3. We must be brave to face the consequences of our actions instead of giving excuses.
4. Parents should try to understand their children if they hide their reasons for behaving
differently.

LITERARY DEVICES

1. Metaphor
The persona uses metaphor to describe the behaviour of the child.
E.g: Today you are a lamb signifies innocence and obedience.
Where yesterday a rebel signifies disobedience and defiance.

2. Symbol
Your face is clean symbolises the child looking sweet and lovable.

Your clothes without a crease symbolizes the child standing upright and obediently
waiting for his mother.

3. Imagery
Now why so loving, darling, and why the sudden kiss gives the image of a loving son
hugging a very surprised mother.

no rage or hullabaloo gives the image of a noisy crying child throwing tantrums.

4. Assonance
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sound in words that are close to each other.

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 E.g: Now why so loving , darling

5. Alliteration
Alliteration occurs when a series of words repeat the same consonants or sounds.
E.g: .....clothes without a crease , surely youre some stranger.

6. Hyperbole
An outrageous exaggeration used for effect.
E.g: Now were you struck by lightning is an exaggeration of the mothers feeling with
regards to the reason for the change in his behavior.

Paraphrase Of The Poem

1 Now why so loving, darling,

NZA And why the sudden kiss?
A
ST Youd help me with some little
jobs?
For goodness sake, whats this?

MEANING

The persona is greeted with a kiss and hug from the child. The child also helps the
parent with household chores. The parent is puzzled with this change of behaviour.

Your face is clean for once, dear.

STANZA Your clothes without a crease.
2 you saved your luncheon money?
Will wonders never cease?

MEANING

The parent is surprised to see that the childs face is clean and the clothes are neat
without any wrinkles. The child also did not spend his lunch money, which is
unusual.

No dropping of your school books,

STANZA No shrieking, childish treble.
3 Today you are a lamb, love,
Where yesterday a rebel. 3
 MEANING

The child did not drop the school books. The child also did not scream or show
and outburst of anger. On that day, the child acts innocent and gentle. This
contradicts the previous day where the child was rebellious.

But surely youre some stranger,

STANZA No rage or hullabaloo.
4 Come closer, let me look, dear,
Can this be REALLY you?

MEANING

The persona begins to wonder if the child is a stranger. The child did not show any
anger or make any noise. The persona wants to take a closer look at the child to
confirm the identity of the child.

Now were you struck by lightning

STANZA Or were you stunned a sport?
5 Ah now I see the reason.
Youve brought your school
report!
MEANING

The parent wonders if the child has been struck by lightning or hit during a game.
Then, the parent finds out the truth about the childs improved behaviour. The
child has brought home the school report.

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Literal Meaning

The persona finds it hard to understand the sons change in behavior. He is like
a different person. He hugs and kisses her and offers to help her with some
work. He looks clean and tidy for a change and he has even saved his luncheon
money. The persona is further surprised by the boys quiet behavior, not his
usual boisterous self. He does not even throw down his school books. Unlike
his usual rebellious self, he is a gentle as a lamb. It dawns on her that she might
be talking to a stranger. She wonders if he was involved in accident and had
hurt his head. The reason becomes obvious when she notices his school report
in his hand.

Figurative Meaning

There are different categories of people with different types of behaviour. In general, we
expect people to be their normal self or behave in the same way all the time. We feel save as
we know what to say or do. However, people do change their behaviour once in a while.
They may change due to circumstances or for personal reasons.

When a person who is usually cool and collected becomes loving and caring, we wonder
about their motives. A person who does not usually lift a finger to help and suddenly offers
to help do the chores will cause eyebrows to be raised. An untidy person who begins to take
care of his appearance or a spendthrift who begins to count the pennies will raise doubts
about his motives. A boisterous and unruly person who turns meek, polite and respectful may
make us doubt his sincerity.

We may query as to whether they are for real. Do they have an ullterior motive? Eventually,
he or she will show his true colours and the actual reason will be revealed. Be alert to these
changes of character and act accordingly.

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 Practice 1

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words or expressions from the poem.

Some little
For Reason Stunned at
jobs
goodness sport
sake
School
Without a books
crease Shrieking,
School childish
report No rage or
lovingly hullabaloo

The boy reaches home and he hugs and kisses the persona (1)__________. He offers to help her
The boy reaches home and he hugs and kisses the persona (1)__________. He offers to help her
with (2)__________. She is taken aback and wonders to herself, (3)__________, whats this? He
with (2)__________. She is taken aback and wonders to herself, (3)__________, whats this? He
looks like a different person, as his face is clean for once and his clothes are (4)__________. He
looks like a different person, as his face is clean for once and his clothes are (4)__________. He
had saved his luncheon money. Looking at him with a puzzled look, she marvels that he does not
had saved his luncheon money. Looking at him with a puzzled look, she marvels that he does not
drop his (5)__________ and he displays a quiet behavior, there is no (6)__________ as he like a
drop his (5)__________ and he displays a quiet behavior, there is no (6)__________ as he like a
lamb compared to the day before when he was a rebel. The persona is sure the person standing in
lamb compared to the day before when he was a rebel. The persona is sure the person standing in
front of her showing (7)__________ must be a stranger. She looks at him closely and thinks he
front of her showing (7)__________ must be a stranger. She looks at him closely and thinks he
might be having concussion or is (8)__________. Ah...then she sees the (9)__________, he has
might be having concussion or is (8)__________. Ah...then she sees the (9)__________, he has
brought back his (10)__________. As she said, wonders will never cease.
brought back his (10)__________. As she said, wonders will never cease.

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 Practice 2

Unscramble the words from the poem. Match them with the appropriate meaning.

WORDS MEANING
1. ndsenut a) a line or mark made by folding, pressing, or
crushing something (such as cloth)
2. acees b) a strong feeling of anger that is difficult to
control
3. ddesun c) a written statement of a student's grades that is
given to the student's parents
4. iekrgshin d) an innocent, weak, or gentle person
5. nggtihnli e) formal lunch that occurs as part of a meeting or
for entertaining a guest
6. petorr dcra f) happening, coming, or done very quickly in a
way that is usually not expected
7. unceohnl g) the flashes of light that are produced in the sky
during a storm
8. tlereb h) the highest range of sounds used in music
9. mbla i) to make a loud, high-pitched cry
10. egra k) to stop happening; to end
11. sreeac l) to surprise or upset (someone) very much
Adapted from Merriam Webster Dictionary

1. ______________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________________________________
5. ______________________________________________________________
6. ______________________________________________________________
7. ______________________________________________________________
8. ______________________________________________________________
9. ______________________________________________________________
10. ______________________________________________________________
11. ______________________________________________________________

Practice 3
Find words in the poem that have the meanings below. Complete the crossword
puzzle with the words.

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 2 3

6 7

8 9 10

11

12

13 14

15

Across Down
2. a person who is defiant 1. anger
5. see 3. mid-day meal
8. hit 4. fresh
9. noise 6. wrinkle
11. shocked 7. screaming
14. explanation 10. affectionate
15. put aside 12. stop
13. chores

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Test Yourself . . . . .

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 1. Who is the poet?
_______________________________________________
2. How many stanzas are there in the poem?
_______________________________________________
3. Do you think the title is suitable for the poem? Why?
_______________________________________________
4. What is the main idea of the poem?
_______________________________________________
5. State one moral value that you have learnt from the poem.
___________________________________________________________________
6. Do you like the poem? Why?
___________________________________________________________________
7. Describe the poem in one word.
___________________________________________________________________
8. How is the poem related to your own life?
___________________________________________________________________
9. Suggest two ways to avoid yourself from being scolded by your parents.

i. __________________________________________________________________

ii __________________________________________________________________

10. If you are a parent, what would be your reaction when your childs behaviour
improves suddenly?
___________________________________________________________________
11. Do you think a sudden change of attitude could save yourself?
___________________________________________________________________
12. Do you think the child will continue with his good behaviour after showing his report
card. Why do you think so?

PT3 PRACTICES
Read the poem carefully and answer the questions.

Practice 1
STANZA 1

(a) Where did the situation occur?

_________________________________________________________________

(b) What did the boy do when he met his mother?

______________________________________________________________________

(c) What was offered by the boy to his mother?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

(d) What was his mothers reaction after hearing the offer from his son? Provide the textual
evidence for your answer.

______________________________________________________________________

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 ______________________________________________________________________
Practice 2
STANZA 2

(a) What happened to the sons face?

______________________________________________________________________

(b) How can we prevent our clothes from creases? Provide two suggestions. HO
TS
i. ___________________________________________________________________

ii. ___________________________________________________________________

(c) Do you think the child presented the report card to his father or his mother? Provide
reasons to support your answer. HO
TS
______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Practice 3 STANZA 3

a) What is meant by the phrase No dropping of your school books ?

_______________________________________________________________________

(b) How differently does the boy behave?

______________________________________________________________________

(c) State the literary device used in line 3.

____________________________________________________________________

(d) Give two examples of how a child would behave in order to be called a rebel.

i. ______________________________________________________________

ii. ______________________________________________________________

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 STANZA 4
Practice 4

(a) What did the boy not do to be regarded as a stranger by his mother?

______________________________________________________________________

(b) Why did the mother say Now were you struck by lightning? ?

______________________________________________________________________

(c) Why did she call the boy to move closer to her?

______________________________________________________________________

(d) When the persona understands the reason for the sons strange behaviour, how do you
think she feels? Give a reason for your answer. HO
TS
i. Feeling:
______________________________________________________________

ii. Reason:

Practice 5
STANZA 5

Read the poem carefully and answer the questions.

(a) In the first stanza, how is the childs behaviour today different from that of yesterday?

______________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

(b) But surely youre some stranger. Why does the child appear to be a stranger?

______________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

(c) Why does the poet capitalise the word REALLY?

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 _______________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

(d) What does this poem show about human nature? Justify your answer. HO
TS
_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)

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