XI Std.

ENGLISH Poem-2: Confessions of a Born Spectator- Ogden Nash 2023-24

Read the given lines and answer the questions that follow in a sentence or two.
L. 1- 2: One infant grows up and becomes a jockey,
Another plays basketball or hockey, M 20
1. Who is a jockey?* ‘Jockey’ means horse rider.
2. Pick out the rhyming words.* Rhyming words: jockey, hockey;
3. Rhyme scheme: aa
L. 3- 4: This one the prize ring hates to enter // That one becomes a tackle or center,
Rhyme scheme: bb Rhyming words: enter, center.
1. What do the words ‘prize ring’ and ‘tackle’ mean?
‘Tackle’ means approach.
‘Prize ring’ means enclosed area in which boxing matches are fought.

L. 5&6: I am just glad as glad can be Simile

That I am not them, that they are not me. *
1. Whom does the word ‘they’ refer to?
‘They’ refers to the athletes or players.
2. Why does the poet feel glad that he does not play any game?
The poet’s own spirit is weak and shy. So he feels glad that he did not play any game.
3. Do you think the narrator is heroic? Why?
Yes, I think the narrator is heroic. He frankly admits that he doesn’t want to take any risks
like the players.
4. What does the poet want to convey?
The poet is glad that he is not an athlete or a sports man.

L. 7&8: With all my heart I do admire

Athletes who sweat for fun or hire, *
1. Whom does the poet admire?*
The poet admires the athletes who sweat for fun or hire (pleasure or money).
2. For what reasons do the athletes sweat? The athletes sweat for fun or hire.
3. What does the word ‘I’ refer to?* The word ‘I’ refers to the poet.
4. Why does he admire?*
The poet admires the athletes for their sweat for fun or hire.

L. 9&10: Who take the field in gaudy pomp,

And maim each other as they romp,
1. What do the words ‘gaudy pomp’, ‘maim’ and ‘romp’ mean?
The words mean ‘showy dress’ ‘injure’ and ‘play in a rough and noisy way’.

L. 11&12: My limp and bashful spirit feeds

On other people’s heroic deeds.
1. What kind of a spirit does the poet have?
The poet has a weak, shy, and reluctant spirit.
2. What does he support? He supports the heroic deeds of the athletes.
3. What do the words ‘limp’ and ‘bashful’ mean?
‘Limp’ means weak and ‘bashful’ means shy and reluctant.

L. 13&14: Now A runs ninety yards to score,

B knocks the champion to the floor,
1. Why does ‘A’ run ninety yards? ‘A’ runs ninety yards to score points.
2. Who is a champion? The winner is a champion
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XI Std. ENGLISH Poem-2: Confessions of a Born Spectator- Ogden Nash 2023-24

L. 15&16: Cracking vertebrae and spines,

Lashes his steed across the line,
1. What do the words ‘Lashes’ and ‘steed’ mean?
‘Lashes’ means beats with a whip and ‘steed’ means a large strong horse.

L. 17&18: You’d think my ego it would please

To swap positions with one of these.
1. What does the word ‘it’ refer to? ‘It’ refers to his/ the poet’s ego.
2. What would please the ego?
To swap positions with one of these players. Swap means exchange.
3. The poet does not wish to exchange position with the runners. Why?
The poet is a born spectator. He derives satisfaction from watching the talents of the
runners. So he does not wish to exchange position with the runners.

L. 19&20: Well, ego it might be pleased enough,

But zealous athletes play so rough
1. What pleases the ego?* Exchanging positions with the athletes pleases the ego.
2. How do the athletes play?* The athletes play roughly.
3. Why are athletes often rough during play?*
Everyone wants to win. Therefore, they are often rough during play.
4. The poet is satisfied just watching the heroic deeds of others. What could be the reason?
The poet is allergic of injuries. He does not want to play any rough game.
So he is satisfied just watching heroic deeds of others.

L. 21&22: They do not ever in their dealings

Consider one another’s feelings. *
1. Who refers to ‘they’?* ‘They’ refers to the athletes.
2. What do they not consider?* They do not consider one another’s feelings.
3. Why don’t they consider the feelings of others?
They want to win. Therefore, they do not consider the feelings of others.
4. Are the athletes conscious of the feelings of others? Why do you say so?
No, the athletes are not conscious of the feelings of others. When anyone is injured in the
field, they do not care but continues to perform their tasks.

L. 23&24: I’m glad that when my struggle begins

‘Twixt prudence and ego, prudence wins. Personification
1. Why is the poet glad? The poet is glad because his wisdom wins his ego.
2. What is prudence? Prudence means wisdom.

L. 25&26: When swollen eye meets gnarled fist

When snaps the knee, and cracks the wrist, Onomatopoeia
1. Identify and explain the use of the literary device in this line.
‘Onomatopoeia’ is the literary device used in this line. The use of words whose sounds
suggest their meaning. ‘Snaps’ and ‘cracks’ are onomatopoeic words.
2. What does ‘gnarled’ mean?
‘Gnarled’ means rough and twisted.

L. 27&28: When officialdom demands,

Is there a doctor in the stands? M 22
1. Why are doctors called from stands by the sponsors?*
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XI Std. ENGLISH Poem-2: Confessions of a Born Spectator- Ogden Nash 2023-24

The players are injured while playing. The sponsors have not arranged the doctors in
advance. Therefore, the doctors are called from stands.
2. Why does the poet make such an observation?
The poet is moved by the injuries of the athletes. But the umpires and referees don’t
have such an emotional feeling.
3. Why would the referee ask whether there was a doctor in the stands? What stands is he
referring to?
One of the athletes might have been injured. So the referee would ask whether there was a
doctor in the stands. He is referring to the pavilion stands.
4. Pick out the rhyming words in the given lines.*
The rhyming words are ‘demands’ and ‘stands’.

L. 29&30: My soul in true thanksgiving speaks

For this modest of physiques.
1. What does the poet’s soul speak for?
The poet’s soul speaks for the modest body of the athletes.
2. What does ‘physiques’ mean? ‘Physique’ means body.

L. 31-33: “Athletes, I’ll drink to you

Or eat with you,
Or anything except compete with you,
1. What does ‘drink to you’ mean?
‘Drink to you’ means drink to wish good luck or celebrate success.
2. What will the poet do for the athletes?
The poet will drink for the athletes’ health, eat with him and can do anything except
compete with them.

L. 34-35: Buy tickets worth their radium,

To watch you gambol in the stadium,
1. What does ‘gambol’ mean?* //What is meant by ‘gambol’?
‘Gambol’ means run or jump happily.
2. What do the lines mean? What is the poet ready?*
The poet is ready to buy tickets worth their radium to watch them run and jump happily in
the stadium.
3. Why does the poet prefer to buy tickets worth their weight in radium?
Bring out the significance of the metal referred to here.
Radium is a very costly material. Likewise, the cost of the tickets for a sport or game is
costly.
4. Pick out the rhyming words. ‘radium’ and ‘stadium’ are the rhyming words.

L. 36&37: And reassure myself anew

That you are not me and I’m not you.
1. What does the poet mean by these lines?
Ultimately, the narrator is satisfied that he himself is not an athlete.

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XI Std. ENGLISH Poem-2: Confessions of a Born Spectator- Ogden Nash 2023-24

Explain the following with reference to the context in about 50–60 words each. P. No: 55
1. I am just glad as glad can be
That I am not them, that they are not me…*
Reference: This is an extract from “Confessions of a Born Spectator” by Ogden Nash.
Context: Children have different aims and wish to play various games.
Explanation: The poet admires the talents of athletes and sportsmen. He confesses that he is
glad that he is neither a sportsman nor an athlete.
Comment: This shows that a spectator can be as enthusiastic as a player can.

2. They do not ever in their dealings

Consider one another’s feelings… M 22
Reference: This is an extract from “Confessions of a Born Spectator” by Ogden Nash.
Context: The poet says about the rough games played by the players.
Explanation: Winning is their only aim. Therefore, they never consider one another’s
feelings.
Comment: The players do not care for their sporting rivals.

3. Athletes, I’ll drink to you,

Or eat with you,*
Or anything except compete with you…
Reference: This is an extract from “Confessions of a Born Spectator” by Ogden Nash.
Context: The poet wishes to entertain the players. He does not want to compete with them.
Explanation: The poet will drink for the athletes’ health, eat with them and can do anything
except compete with them. He derives satisfaction from watching them.
Comment: Ultimately, the poet is satisfied that he himself is not an athlete.

4. My limp and bashful spirit feeds

On other people’s heroic deeds.
Reference: This is an extract from “Confessions of a Born Spectator” by Ogden Nash.
Context: The poet derives satisfaction from watching the athletes.
Explanation: The poet has a weak, shy, and reluctant spirit. He supports the heroic deeds of
the athletes.
Comment: The poet wholeheartedly offers thanksgiving the modest physiques of athletes.

5. I’m glad that when my struggle begins

‘Twixt prudence and ego, prudence wins.
Reference: This is an extract from “Confessions of a Born Spectator” by Ogden Nash.
Context: The poet feels that good sense and caution win over ego.
Explanation: Exchanging positions with the athletes pleases the ego.
He does not wish to exchange places with them.
The poet is glad because his wisdom wins his ego.
Comment: Ultimately, the narrator is satisfied that he himself is not an athlete.

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XI Std. ENGLISH Poem-2: Confessions of a Born Spectator- Ogden Nash 2023-24

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