The Rebel — D. J. Enright
Introduction
'The Rebel' is a humorous poem by D. J. Enright (1920–2002). It describes a person who always does the opposite of what everyone else does. When everyone has short hair, the rebel has long hair. When everyone has long hair, the rebel has short hair. The poem is a light-hearted satire on non-conformity, but it also makes us think: is it good to be a rebel?
'The rebel is never satisfied. When everyone agrees, the rebel disagrees. When everyone disagrees, the rebel agrees. The rebel's only principle is opposition.'
2. About the Poet
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Dennis Joseph Enright |
| Born | 11 March 1920 |
| Died | 31 December 2002 |
| Nationality | British |
| Notable for | Poetry, novels, children's literature |
3. The Poem
When everybody has short hair, The rebel lets his hair grow long. When everybody has long hair, The rebel cuts his hair short.
When everybody talks during the lesson, The rebel doesn't say a word. When nobody talks during the lesson, The rebel creates a disturbance.
When everybody wears a uniform, The rebel dresses in fantastic clothes. When everybody wears fantastic clothes, The rebel dresses soberly.
In the company of dog lovers, The rebel expresses a preference for cats. In the company of cat lovers, The rebel puts in a good word for dogs.
When everybody is praising the sun, The rebel remarks on the need for rain. When everybody is greeting the rain, The rebel regrets the absence of sun.
It is very good that we have rebels. You may not find it very pleasant to be one — It is on the part of one person, The rest are all the same.
4. Summary
The poem describes a 'rebel' — a person who always does the opposite of what everyone else is doing. If people have short hair, the rebel has long hair. If people are quiet in class, the rebel talks. If people wear uniforms, the rebel wears fantastic clothes. Among dog lovers, the rebel likes cats; among cat lovers, the rebel likes dogs. The poem ends by saying that having rebels is good because they break the monotony, even if being a rebel is not always pleasant.
5. Poetic Devices
| Device | Example |
|---|---|
| Irony | The rebel's choices consistently oppose the majority |
| Contrast | Short hair vs long hair, talking vs silence |
| Repetition | 'When everybody...' is repeated throughout |
| Satire | Gently mocking the rebel's need to always be different |
| Antithesis | Opposite ideas placed together |
6. Key Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rebel | A person who opposes authority or majority opinion |
| Fantastic | Extraordinary, imaginative |
| Soberly | Simply, without decoration |
| Disturbance | Interruption; breaking the peace |
| Preference | A greater liking for one thing over another |
7. Think and Answer
- What does a rebel do when everyone has short hair?
- What does a rebel do when everyone is talking in class?
- Why does the rebel's behaviour seem inconsistent?
- Does the poet approve of rebels?
- Would you like to be a rebel? Why or why not?
8. Exam Focus
2-Mark Questions
- What does the rebel do when everyone has short hair?
- What does the rebel wear when everyone wears a uniform?
- Among dog lovers, what does the rebel say?
- What does the rebel do when everyone praises the sun?
5-Mark Questions
- Describe the behaviour of a rebel as shown in the poem.
- What is the poet's attitude towards rebels?
- Explain the message of the poem 'The Rebel'.
- Do you think it is good to have rebels in society? Why?
9. Self-Test
Q1. When everyone has long hair, what does the rebel do? A1. Cuts his hair short.
Q2. When nobody talks in class, what does the rebel do? A2. Creates a disturbance.
Q3. What does the rebel think about rain when everyone wants sun? A3. The rebel says rain is needed.
Q4. What is the last line of the poem? A4. 'The rest are all the same.'
Q5. Why is it good to have rebels, according to the poet? A5. Because they break the monotony and remind us that we have a choice.
Summary
- The rebel always does the opposite of the majority.
- If everyone has short hair, the rebel grows long hair — and vice versa.
- In class, the rebel is quiet when others talk, and talks when others are quiet.
- The rebel's preferences change to oppose whatever is popular.
- The poet says rebels are valuable but being one is not easy.
- The poem is a gentle satire on non-conformity and individuality.
