Colonel Fazackerley Butterworth-Toast

Summary: The poem “Colonel Fazackerley Butterworth-Toast" has been penned down by Charles
Causley. Colonel buys an old castle which is inhabited by a ghost. On the very first evening, when
Colonel is about to dine, the ghost makes its appearance with a flare of rage.
On seeing the ghost, Colonel feels amazed and calls him, “My dear fellow". Colonel offers him a
drink and asks him if he is going to a fancy dress ball.
Colonel’s mellow attitude makes the ghost angry. He screams and moves in and out of the room.
Colonel bursts into laughter and invites the ghost to his house warming party. At this, the poor ghost
feels frustrated and finally disappears.
The ghost made many efforts to scare Colonel but all in vain. He was never seen at the castle again.
Colonel wanted to call him back but didn’t know his name. He smiled and went to have his dinner.
Q1. How did the Colonel treat the ghost? Was he scared?
Ans. Colonel found the ghost entertaining. He enjoyed the ghost’s activities and called him, “My dear
fellow “. No, he was not scared of the ghost.
Q2. What was the ghost's reaction to the Colonel’s attitude?
Ans. The ghost was aroused to impatience and anger by the Colonel’s attitude. He tried hard to scare
Colonel but failed nevertheless. He assumed an attitude of surrender and finally
Q3. Write two or three sentences to describe Colonel Fazackerley’s character.
Ans. Colonel Fazackerley was a funny character. He enjoyed the ghost’s activities and offered him a
drink. His relaxed attitude finally made the ghost disappear.
Q4. Write two or three sentences to describe the ghost’s character.
Ans. The ghost wanted to scare Colonel and thus made its appearance with a flare of rage. He
screamed and warned Colonel to be cautious. He shaked himself. All his efforts to scare Colonel
proved futile and he finally disappeared.
Q5. Which words/phrases from the poem describe the ghost’s movements?
Ans. The words/phrases that describe the ghost’s movements are furious flash and a flare.

R: Who lived in Colonel Fazackerley’s castle?

A ghost.
I: ‘Someone or other forgot to declare’ - who would the someone or other be?
The person who sold Colonel Fazackerley the castle.
V: Find and copy another word for ghost.
Spectre.
R: What was Colonel Fazackerley doing the first time the ghost appeared?
Drinking a sherry during a meal.
R: What did the ghost say when he appeared out of the chimney?
Beware.
I: Why wasn’t Colonel Fazackerley scared of the ghost?
He thought it was just someone dressing up.
V: Define ‘conceive’.
Understand/work out.
R: Find and copy a phrase that shows that the ghost was angry at Colonel Fazackerley’s reaction.
‘Gave a roar’.
V: What does it mean if you spurn something?
You miss it/you don’t go.
I: Why does the ghost eventually leave?
He is annoyed that Colonel Fazackerley isn’t scared.
R: What does Colonel Fazackerley do when the ghost leaves?
Goes back to his meal.
E: How does the author create humour in this poem?
Any justifiable answer.
S: Summarize the entire poem in one or two sentences.
Any justifiable summary but must mention both characters and mention that the
ghost leaves at the end.
P: Predict what would happen in a sequel to this poem.
Any justifiable prediction but something where the ghost either comes back or
goes to another house would show good inference, as would Colonel Fazackerley
enjoying his new castle or finding another creature in it.

Colonel Fazackerley Butterworth – Toast (Poem)

Word Meanings.
1. spectre: an incorporeal presence
2. monocle: lens attached to a single eye
3. encore: demand for the repetition of an act, generally made by an audience

1. What happened on the first evening? How did the ghost try to warn off Colonel Fazackerley?
Ans: On the first evening Colonel while waiting to dine was taking a fine sherry wine, when the ghost
with a furious flash and a flare shot out of chimney and shivered ‘ Beware’.
2. How did the Colonel show that he was not scared of the ghost?
Ans: Colonel put down his glass and said my dear fellow, that’s really first class! . I just can’t conceive
how you do it all. I imagine you are going to a Fancy Dress Ball.
3. How did the ghost initially react to the Colonel’s indifference?
Ans: The ghost initially reacted by making a withering cry .
4. How did the ghost try to scare the colonel?
Ans: The ghost tried to scare the Colonel by giving a roar in his phosphorous cloak. He floated
between ceiling and floor. He walked through a wall and returned through a pane and backed up the
chimney and came down again.
5. What did the Colonel say that left the ghost speechless?
Ans: The ghost was speechless when Colonel said with laughter I am feeling quite weak. My
housewarming party I hope you won’t spurn. You must say you will come and you will give us a turn.
6. What did the Colonel regret?
Ans: The Colonel regretted that he is not knowing his name so he can’t call him back.

B. Answer the following with reference to the context.

1. Colonel Fazackerley put down his glass
And said ,’ My dear fellow, that’s really first class!
I just can’t conceive how you do it at all.
I imagine you’re going to a Fancy Dress Ball?’

a) Who was the Colonel addressing as ‘fellow’?

Ans: The Colonel is addressing the ghost as ‘ fellow’.
b) What did he refer to as ‘ first class’?
Ans: He referred the ghost entry as ‘ first class’.
c) How did the ‘fellow’ respond to this?
Ans: The fellow responded by making a withering cry.

2. ‘ My house- warming party I hope you won’t spurn.

You MUST say you’ll come and you’ll give us a turn!’
At this, the poor spectre – quite out of his wits-
Proceeded to shake himself almost to bits.
a) Who is the speaker?
Ans: The Colonel is the speaker.
b) Why was the speaker extending an invitation and to whom?
Ans: The speaker was extending an invitation of his house-warming party and it was given to the
ghost.
c) Explain: ‘give us a turn’.
Ans: By ‘ give us a turn’ the poet means that the ghost will come and entertain the guests with his
humorous acts.
d) Why is the spectre described as ‘ poor’?
Ans: The spectre is described as ‘poor’ because he was unable to frighten the Colonel in spite of his
numerous efforts

Central Idea of the Poem

In the poem "colonel Fazackerley butterworth toast" Is actually a funny story telling poem in which
poet describe how a man deals with a ghost. The poem tells that one must have to stay positive no
matter what and he must not fear anything in any condition. This poem is actually all about the
humorous things in which a ghost tries to bring fear in a man but he did not scare of it instead even
invite him to dine. The poet brings the funny parts beautifully in such a way that everyone reads it
got smile.