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The Full Poem — A Funny Man

🎓 Class 7 English CBSE Theory Ch 2 — Of Animals, Birds and Dr Dolittle ⏱ ~32 min
🌐 Language: [gtranslate]

This CBSE English Passage Assessment will be based on: The Full Poem — A Funny Man

Assessment Format:
• 2 Short Answer Questions (2 marks each) = 4 marks
• 2 Fill in the Blanks Questions (1 mark each) = 2 marks
• 2 Short Answer Questions (1 mark each) = 2 marks
• 2 Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each) = 2 marks
Total: 8 Questions, 10 Marks

This CBSE English Grammar Assessment will be based on: The Full Poem — A Funny Man

Assessment Format:
• 10 Randomized Grammar Questions (1 mark each)
• Question Types: Fill in the Blanks, MCQs, Error Identification, Reported Speech, Sentence Completion
Total: 10 Questions, 10 Marks

This English Vocabulary assessment will be based on: The Full Poem — A Funny Man
Targeting Vocabulary & Usage with Intermediate difficulty.

Before We Read — Let Us Do These Activities

Bloom: L2 Understand
Activity — Things That Make You Laugh

Look around you — at people, situations, objects, and events. Think about what makes you laugh or smile.

  1. What things around you do you find funny? Write them in thought bubbles in your notebook.
  2. Why do those things make you laugh? Share your reasons with classmates.
  3. Have you ever seen someone do something so unusual or unexpected that it made everyone laugh? Describe the incident.

Vocabulary Warm-Up — Words from the Poem

currant bun
A soft, round bread roll containing small dried fruits called currants — sweet and often spiced
staggered
Moved unsteadily, almost falling; moved in a wobbly, unbalanced way
Your Highness
A very formal, royal title used for kings, queens, princes, or princesses — used humorously here
manners
Polite social behaviour; the way one behaves in the company of others
NJ
Natalie Joan
British Poet Children's Poetry Nonsense Verse
Natalie Joan was a British writer of children's poetry known for her playful, whimsical verses in the tradition of nonsense literature. Her poem "A Funny Man" exemplifies the genre of nonsense poetry, where humour arises not from jokes or punchlines but from the delightful absurdity of impossible situations. The poem is written in a light, sing-song metre with a consistent rhyme scheme, making it ideal for reading aloud and performing. The tradition of British nonsense poetry includes writers like Edward Lear, who invented the limerick form, and Lewis Carroll, who wrote Jabberwocky.

The Full Poem — A Funny Man

By Natalie Joan | Rhyme Scheme: ABCB | 7 stanzas, 28 lines

Stanza 1 — Lines 1–4
1One day a funny kind of man 2Came walkingAlliteration down this street 3He wore a shoe upon his head 4And hats upon his feet.Irony
Explanation: The poem opens by introducing a mysterious, unusual man who walks down the street one day. The immediate humour comes from the reversal of ordinary clothing — he has placed his shoe on his head and wears hats on his feet. This topsy-turvy image sets up the central joke of the poem: everything about this man is the wrong way around.
Stanza 2 — Lines 5–8
5He raised the shoe and smiled at me, 6His manners were polite;Irony 7But never had I seen before 8Such a funny sounding sight.Imagery
Explanation: Despite his absurd appearance, the funny man is courteous — he raises his shoe (as one might tip a hat) and smiles politely. The poet is struck by a contradiction: someone can behave with perfect manners yet look completely ridiculous. The phrase "funny sounding sight" is a deliberate mixing of senses — sights don't usually "sound" — which adds to the nonsensical, dreamlike quality of the encounter. This is called a synesthetic image.
Stanza 3 — Lines 9–12
9He said, "Allow me to present 10Your Highness with a rose."Irony 11And taking out a currant bun 12He held it to my nose.
Explanation: The funny man addresses the poet as "Your Highness" — a very grand royal title — and announces he is presenting a rose. The humour is in what he actually produces: a currant bun, which he holds to the poet's nose as if it were a flower to be smelled. This is a perfect example of the poem's central technique — building up a dignified expectation, then destroying it with a ridiculous substitute.
Stanza 4 — Lines 13–16
13I staggered back against the wall 14And then I answered, "Well!"Imagery 15I never saw a rose with such 16A funny looking smell.
Explanation: The poet staggers back in shock or laughter. Then, playing along with the game, the poet matches the funny man's absurdity with their own — describing the currant bun as a rose with "a funny looking smell." The phrase "funny looking smell" is another deliberate mixing of senses. You cannot see a smell. The poet has caught the funny man's spirit of nonsense and joined in.
Stanza 5 — Lines 17–20
17He then began to sing a song,Alliteration 18And sat down on the ground; 19You never heard in all your life 20Such a funny feeling sound.Imagery
Explanation: The funny man sits down on the ground — an unusual place for a performance — and begins to sing. The sound he produces is described as "a funny feeling sound" — sounds don't usually have feelings, so this is another mixed-sense image. The poem seems to suggest that the funny man's entire world operates by different rules than the one we know.
Stanza 6 — Lines 21–24
21"My friend, why do you wear two hats 22Upon your feet?" I said. 23He turned the other way about, 24And hopped home on his head.Alliteration
Explanation: The poet finally asks the question on everyone's mind — why is the man wearing hats on his feet? But instead of answering, the funny man simply turns around and hops home on his head. It is the perfect nonsense exit: an impossible act as a non-answer. The phrase "hopped home on his head" is an example of alliteration (h-h-h). The poem ends without explanation — because in the world of nonsense, none is needed.

Literary Devices in the Poem

Key Literary Devices Identified

L4 Analyse
Alliteration
Repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of nearby words.
"hopped home on his head" — the 'h' sound is repeated three times, giving the line a bouncy, comic rhythm.
"sounding sight" — the 's' sound is repeated.
Irony
Saying one thing while meaning the opposite, or a situation that is the reverse of what is expected.
The funny man has "polite manners" but does everything completely wrong — this contrast between manner and action is ironic.
Imagery
Language that creates vivid mental pictures (visual, sound, touch, smell).
"a funny looking smell" and "a funny feeling sound" mix the senses to create nonsensical, comic images.
Inversion
Changing the normal word order in a line to maintain rhythm or emphasis.
"But never had I seen before / Such a funny sounding sight." — Normal order would be: "But I had never seen such a funny sounding sight before."
Repetition
The deliberate use of a word or phrase more than once to create a special effect.
The word "funny" appears five times in the poem — "funny kind of man", "funny sounding sight", "funny looking smell", "funny feeling sound". This repetition builds the poem's comic identity.
Dialogue
Direct speech between characters included within the poem itself.
The poem contains two lines of dialogue — the funny man saying "Allow me to present Your Highness with a rose," and the poet asking "why do you wear two hats upon your feet?" This gives the poem a dramatic, narrative quality.

Theme Web — Central Ideas in the Poem

Nonsense & Humour Reversal of Expectations Polite Manners + Absurd Actions Mixed Senses (seeing sounds) Playful Imagination

The poem uses nonsense and absurdity to explore the theme of humour. The funny man embodies the reversal of social expectations — polite manners paired with impossible actions.

Let Us Think and Reflect — Extract-Based Questions

CBQ Extract 1

The Rose and the Currant Bun

He said, "Allow me to present
Your Highness with a rose."
And taking out a currant bun
He held it to my nose.

I staggered back against the wall
And then I answered, "Well!"
(i) Why does the funny man address the poet as "Your Highness"? L4 Analyse
Answer: "Your Highness" is a formal royal title used only for members of a royal family such as princes and princesses. The funny man uses it humorously and ironically — treating an ordinary person as if they were royalty. This is part of the poem's pattern of mixing grand, formal behaviour with completely absurd actions. It adds a layer of comic dignity to an already ridiculous encounter.
(ii) Choose a phrase from the extract which indicates a polite request. L1 Remember
Answer: "Allow me to present" — this is a courteous, formal way of asking permission before presenting something. It shows that the funny man has impeccable manners, even if his actions are absurd.
(iii) Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason: When the poet says "Well!", it expresses surprise. This was so because __________. L2 Understand
Answer: "Well!" expresses surprise because the funny man had promised to present a rose — a beautiful flower — but instead produced a currant bun and held it to the poet's nose as if it were a flower. The shocking substitution, combined with the deadpan seriousness of the gesture, left the poet speechless and stunned.
CBQ Extract 2

The Funny Feeling Sound and the Final Exit

You never heard in all your life
Such a funny feeling sound.

"My friend, why do you wear two hats
Upon your feet?" I said.
He turned the other way about,
And hopped home on his head.
(i) Choose the line from the extract which tells us that the sound was unique. L1 Remember
Answer: "You never heard in all your life / Such a funny feeling sound." — This line implies the sound was so unusual and one-of-a-kind that no one could have heard anything like it before.
(ii) The poet calls the funny man "my friend" because __________. L4 Analyse
Answer: The poet calls the funny man "my friend" because by this point in the encounter, a kind of warmth and familiarity has developed between them. The poet has been amused, not offended, by the man's behaviour, and the word "friend" suggests affection and ease. It also mirrors the man's own polite, friendly tone — the poet is matching his sociable energy.
(iii) What does the reaction of the funny man to the poet's question tell us about him? L4 Analyse
Answer: The funny man's response — turning around and hopping home on his head without answering — tells us that he is completely comfortable in his own absurd world. He doesn't feel the need to justify or explain himself. His actions are not mistakes; they are choices. He is playful, self-assured, and wonderfully free of the conventions that govern ordinary people. His exit is as nonsensical and memorable as his entire visit.
(iv) The last line of the extract makes the readers feel __________. L5 Evaluate
  • A. Dreamy
  • B. Impatient
  • C. Worried
  • D. Cheerful
Answer: D. Cheerful. The image of the funny man hopping home on his head is delightfully absurd and comic. It is the perfect final image — impossible, carefree, and funny. Readers are left smiling at the utter silliness of it all, which creates a cheerful, light-hearted mood.

Let Us Discuss — Questions on the Poem

Let Us Discuss — Section I L1–L2
Identify the TRUE statements:
  1. The poet says she had never heard such an amusing song.
  2. The funny man was quite ill-mannered.
  3. The funny man wore two hats on his feet.
  4. The funny man hopped on his head to reach home.
  5. The funny man gave a rose to the poet.
  6. The funny man smiled at the poet.
TRUE statements: 1, 3, 4, 6
Statement 1 — True: "You never heard in all your life such a funny feeling sound."
Statement 2 — False: He was actually polite ("his manners were polite").
Statement 3 — True: He wore hats upon his feet.
Statement 4 — True: He "hopped home on his head."
Statement 5 — False: He offered a currant bun, not a rose.
Statement 6 — True: "He raised the shoe and smiled at me."
Let Us Discuss — Section II: Word Meanings from the Poem L1
Identify the words from the poem based on the meanings given:
  1. A small seedless raisin — C __ R __ __ __ T
  2. Moved unsteadily — S __ __ G G __ __ __ D
1. CURRANT — a small, dark, seedless dried fruit used in baking. "He took out a currant bun."
2. STAGGERED — moved in an unsteady, wobbly way, almost falling. "I staggered back against the wall."

Let Us Think and Reflect — Answer in Detail

Q1. Which character trait of the funny man was most appealing to you? Why? L5

The most appealing trait is the funny man's confidence. He does everything "wrong" — wears hats on his feet, offers a bun as a rose, hops home on his head — and yet he is never embarrassed or apologetic. He smiles, maintains perfect manners, and exits with grace. This carefree self-assurance is both funny and admirable. He reminds us that confidence can make even the most unusual behaviour charming.

Q2. The funny man does unusual things in the poem. How does this affect the overall mood? L4

The funny man's unusual actions create a consistently light-hearted, cheerful, and playful mood throughout the poem. Every stanza builds on the previous one's absurdity — first the reversed clothing, then the royal greeting, then the bun-as-rose, then the singing on the ground, and finally the impossible exit. The cumulative effect is one of sustained, joyful silliness. The mood never becomes mean-spirited because the poet observes with amusement, not mockery, and even joins in by describing a "funny looking smell."

Q3. What alternative title would you suggest for the poem? Give your reasons. L6 Create

Sample Alternative Title: "The Upside-Down Visitor"
Reason: This title captures the central idea of the poem — everything about the funny man is reversed or inverted. He wears his shoe as a hat and hats as shoes, gives buns as roses, and departs by hopping on his head. "Upside-Down" also evokes the topsy-turvy, nonsensical world the man inhabits, which is the source of all the poem's humour. Other possible titles: "The Man Who Wore Hats on His Feet" or "My Strange Visitor."

Q4. Why do you think the poet has included dialogues in the poem? L4

The dialogues bring the poem to life and make it feel like a story unfolding before the reader's eyes. Without dialogue, the poem would simply be a description of an odd person. With dialogue, we see the funny man interacting with the poet — presenting his "rose," the poet responding with surprise ("Well!"), and finally the poet asking a direct question ("why do you wear two hats upon your feet?"). The dialogue also allows us to see the poet's character — curious, good-humoured, and ultimately willing to play along.

Q5. What does the poet wish to convey by highlighting the unusual behaviour of the funny man? L5

The poet uses the funny man's absurd behaviour to celebrate the value of playfulness, imagination, and freedom from social convention. In our daily lives, we follow many rules about how to dress, speak, and behave. The funny man ignores all of them — and yet he is polite, cheerful, and leaves a lasting impression. The poem suggests that humour and silliness are not weaknesses; they are gifts. By laughing at the funny man — and with him — we are reminded that life need not always be serious, and that a little nonsense can bring great joy.

Let Us Learn — Phrasal Verbs

What is a Phrasal Verb? A phrasal verb is a combination of a main verb with a preposition or adverb (or both) that together function as a single unit with a meaning different from the individual words.

From the poem:
• walking down — moving along a street in a downward direction
• taking out — removing something from a pocket or bag
• sat down — lowered oneself to a seated position on the ground

Activity I — Match the Phrasal Verbs with Meanings

Column 1 (Phrasal Verbs): take up | take after | take in | take over | take off

Column 2 (Meanings):
(i) to understand or comprehend something
(ii) to assume control or responsibility for something
(iii) to begin to study, practise, or do something
(iv) to become successful or popular quickly
(v) to resemble or look similar to (usually a family member)
1. take up → (iii) to begin to study, practise, or do something
2. take after → (v) to resemble or look similar to (usually a family member)
3. take in → (i) to understand or comprehend something
4. take over → (ii) to assume control or responsibility for something
5. take off → (iv) to become successful or popular quickly

Activity II — Fill in the Blanks with Suitable Phrasal Verbs

  1. The new technology is set to ______________ traditional methods of communication.
  2. I tried hard to ______________ what the writer wanted to say but was unsuccessful.
  3. Arjun decided to ______________ painting as a hobby.
  4. The smartphone quickly ______________ the sales in the market.
  5. Sheela ______________ her father; they have the same smile.
1. take over | 2. take in | 3. take up | 4. took off | 5. takes after

Activity III — Words for Different Ways of Walking

The poem uses three different movement words: walking, staggered, hopped.
Arrange these in increasing order of pace, with other walking words: stagger, trot, jog, hop, walk, sprint, run
Increasing order of pace: stagger → walk → hop → trot → jog → run → sprint
Note: "stagger" is the slowest because it involves moving unsteadily. "sprint" is the fastest possible pace.

Let Us Write — Limericks

What is a Limerick?
A limerick is a short, five-line humorous poem with a specific rhyme scheme: AABBA (lines 1, 2, and 5 rhyme; lines 3 and 4 rhyme and are shorter). Limericks are always meant to be funny, absurd, or nonsensical. They were popularised by Edward Lear.

Sample Limerick 1 (by Edward Lear):

There was an Old Man with a beard, (A)
Who said, "It is just as I feared! (A)
Two Owls and a Hen, (B)
Four Larks and a Wren, (B)
Have all built their nests in my beard!" (A)

Sample Limerick 2 (contemporary):

There were two friends in Bengaluru's lanes, (A)
One loved books, the other flew planes. (A)
They'd laugh and they'd play, (B)
In their own unique way, (B)
Creating stories and flying in dreams' trains. (A)

Write Your Own Limerick — Starter Template

Line 1: There was a child from _________________ (A)
Line 2: Who _________________________________ (A)
Line 3: _______________________________ (B — shorter)
Line 4: She/He ___________________________ (B — shorter)
Line 5: _______________________________ (A)

Let Us Explore

I. Funny Characters in Indian Literature: Indian literature and mythology include many witty, humorous figures. Research and share a story featuring one of these characters:

  • Tenali Rama — the witty court jester of the Vijayanagara Empire
  • Birbal — Akbar's sharp-witted adviser in the Mughal court
  • Mullah Nasruddin — a famous folk figure known for funny, paradoxical stories
  • King Vikramaditya and Betal — stories of riddles and wisdom
As you read these stories, notice: What makes these characters funny? Is it their cleverness, their unexpected answers, their absurd situations? Compare them with the funny man in the poem — is the funny man's humour similar to any of these characters?

II. Real-World Parallels — When People Behave Like the Funny Man: Can you think of modern-day activities that involve playfulness or unconventional behaviour similar to the funny man? Consider:

  • Street performers or clowns who dress in unusual ways
  • Performance art or abstract theatre that breaks conventional rules
  • Children's entertainment shows (characters who do silly things to make children laugh)
  • Comedians, mimics, and stand-up artists who create unexpected situations

III. Sukumar Ray and Indian Nonsense Poetry: Sukumar Ray was a Bengali poet and illustrator who wrote nonsense poems in his book Abol Tabol (meaning "Nonsense Talk"), much like "A Funny Man." Ask your teacher to share one of his poems. Can you find a similar funny poem in your own language?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is A Funny Man Poem about in NCERT English?

Read A Funny Man poem from NCERT Class 7 English Poorvi Unit 2 with stanza explanations and literary devices.

What vocabulary is important in A Funny Man Poem?

Key vocabulary words from A Funny Man Poem are highlighted in the lesson with contextual meanings, usage examples, and interesting facts. Click any highlighted word to see its full definition.

What literary devices are used in A Funny Man Poem?

A Funny Man Poem uses various literary devices including imagery, symbolism, and figurative language that are identified with coloured tags throughout the text for easy recognition.

What exercises are included for A Funny Man Poem?

Exercises include extract-based comprehension questions in CBSE board exam format, grammar workshops connected to the text, vocabulary activities, and creative writing tasks.

How does A Funny Man Poem connect to the unit theme?

A Funny Man Poem is part of a thematic unit that explores related ideas through prose, poetry, and non-fiction. Each text in the unit reinforces the central theme from a different perspective.

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