Chivvy — Michael Rosen
Introduction
'Chivvy' is a poem by Michael Rosen (born 1946), a celebrated English children's author and poet. The word 'chivvy' means to nag or pester someone constantly. The poem lists all the instructions that adults give to children — 'sit up', 'say please', 'don't stare', 'speak up', 'don't talk with your mouth full'. It captures the feeling of being constantly told what to do, often with contradictory messages.
'Michael Rosen understands children. He knows that sometimes the biggest challenge of being young is surviving the endless stream of adult instructions.'
2. About the Poet
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Michael Rosen |
| Born | 7 May 1946 |
| Nationality | British |
| Known for | Children's poetry, We're Going on a Bear Hunt |
| Style | Humorous, relatable, from a child's perspective |
3. The Poem
When adults say, 'Sit up!' But I am sitting up already. When adults say, 'Say please!' But I said please yesterday.
When adults say, 'Don't stare!' But I was not staring. When adults say, 'Don't point!' But I was not pointing.
When adults say, 'Speak up!' But I was speaking up. When adults say, 'Don't talk with your mouth full!' But I was not talking.
When adults say, 'Haven't you got a tongue?' But I was answering in my head. When adults say, 'Is that the way To sit in front of a grown-up?'
When adults say, 'Make up your mind!' But I was trying to make up my mind. When adults say, 'Take your hands out of your pockets!' But I was not putting them in.
And the things adults tell us Are a puzzle to me — They tell us so many things And they contradict themselves.
4. Summary
The poem is narrated from a child's perspective. The child describes all the instructions that adults give — sit up, say please, don't stare, don't point, speak up, don't talk with your mouth full, take your hands out of your pockets. The child feels that these instructions are often unnecessary (the child was already doing the right thing) or contradictory. The poem ends by saying that adult instructions are a puzzle — they tell us many things but often contradict themselves.
5. Poetic Devices
| Device | Example |
|---|---|
| Repetition | 'When adults say...' is repeated throughout |
| Irony | Adults say things the child is already doing |
| Humour | The child's literal interpretation of instructions |
| Free verse | No fixed rhyme scheme — mimics natural speech |
| Child's perspective | The poem is written from a child's point of view |
6. Key Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Chivvy | To nag or pester (British English) |
| Stare | To look fixedly at something |
| Contradict | To say the opposite of what was said before |
| Puzzle | Something confusing that is hard to understand |
| Grown-up | An adult |
7. Think and Answer
- Why does the child say 'Sit up!' when already sitting up?
- Why are adult instructions confusing for the child?
- What does the poet mean by 'they contradict themselves'?
- Do you agree with the child's view of adults?
8. Exam Focus
2-Mark Questions
- What does the word 'chivvy' mean?
- What do adults say about staring?
- What do adults ask about the child's tongue?
- What do adults tell the child to do with hands?
5-Mark Questions
- List the instructions adults give to children in the poem.
- Why does the child find adult instructions confusing?
- How does the poem reflect a child's perspective on adults?
- Do you think the poem is humorous or critical? Explain.
9. Self-Test
Q1. What do adults say when the child is already sitting up? A1. 'Sit up!'
Q2. What do adults say about talking while eating? A2. 'Don't talk with your mouth full!'
Q3. What is the child asked to do with their voice? A3. 'Speak up!'
Q4. How does the child feel about adult instructions? A4. They are a puzzle and often contradictory.
Q5. What is the tone of the poem? A5. Humorous and slightly exasperated.
Summary
- 'Chivvy' means to nag or pester.
- The poem lists all the instructions adults give to children.
- The child feels these instructions are often unnecessary or contradictory.
- The poem is written from a child's perspective.
- It humorously captures the experience of being constantly told what to do.
- The poet shows that adult instructions can be confusing and inconsistent.
