My Teacher Ate My Homework
My teacher ate my homework,
which I thought was rather odd.
He sniffed at it and smiled
with an approving sort of nod.
He took a little nibble —
it’s unusual, but true —
then had a somewhat larger bite
and gave a thoughtful chew.
I think he must have liked it,
for he really went to town.
He gobbled it with gusto
and he wolfed the whole thing down.
He licked off all his fingers,
gave a burp and said, “You pass.”
I guess that’s how they grade you
when you’re in a cooking class.
— Kenn Nesbitt
Glossary of the Poem
Approving - /əˈpruːvɪŋ/ - showing or feeling approval or favor towards something
Nibble - /ˈnɪbəl/ - to take small bites or nibbles of something
Unusual - /ʌnˈjuːʒuəl/ - not common or ordinary; rare or uncommon
Larger - /ˈlɑːdʒər/ - greater in size, amount, or degree than others of its kind
Thoughtful - /ˈθɔːtfʊl/ - showing consideration for the feelings and needs of others
Must - /mʌst/ - used to indicate a requirement or obligation
Liked - /laɪkt/ - having a positive attitude towards something; enjoying something
Gobbled - /ˈɡɑːbld/ - to eat food quickly and noisily
Gusto - /ˈɡʌstəʊ/ - great enthusiasm or enjoyment in doing something
Wolfed - /wʊlft/ - to eat something quickly and greedily
Fingers - /ˈfɪŋɡəz/ - the end part of a hand that is used for touching, grasping, and feeling things
Burp - /bɜːrp/ - the release of gas from the stomach through the mouth, accompanied by a sound and sometimes a smell
Guess - /ɡes/ - to form an opinion or estimation about something without knowing all the facts
Summary of the Poem
The poem "My Teacher Ate My Homework" by Kenn Nesbitt is a humorous and playful take on the classic excuse that many students use to explain why they don't have their homework completed on time. In this poem, the speaker takes that excuse to an extreme level by claiming that their teacher actually ate their homework.
The poem begins with the speaker expressing their disbelief and surprise that their teacher would eat their homework, which sets the playful and humorous tone for the rest of the poem. The teacher's behavior is unexpected and goes against what the speaker would typically expect from a teacher.
In the second stanza, the teacher sniffs at the homework and smiles with approval, indicating that he likes what he smells. This further adds to the humor of the situation, as it's not often that someone would smell and approve of homework.
The third and fourth stanzas describe the teacher's reaction to the homework as he takes a small bite and then a larger bite, suggesting that he is enjoying the taste. The imagery of the teacher thoughtfully chewing the homework adds to the humour of the poem.
In the fifth stanza, the speaker concludes that the teacher must have really liked the homework because he ate the whole thing with gusto. The use of the word "gobbled" emphasizes the teacher's enthusiasm for the homework.
The sixth stanza is the climax of the poem, as the teacher licks his fingers, burps, and tells the speaker that they pass. This line is both funny and absurd, as it's not a typical way for a teacher to grade homework.
In the final stanza, the speaker makes a humorous comment, suggesting that this must be how they grade you in cooking class. This line adds a final touch of humor to the poem, as it's an unexpected and silly twist to the situation.
Overall, "My Teacher Ate My Homework" is a playful and humorous poem that pokes fun at the classic excuse of not having completed homework. Through the use of unexpected and absurd imagery, the poem creates a lighthearted and entertaining read.
Question Answer of the Poem My Teacher Ate My Homework
What is the title of the poem?
➡The title of the poem is "My Teacher Ate My Homework".
Who is the speaker of the poem?
➡ The speaker of the poem is not identified by name, but it is assumed to be a student.
What is the tone of the poem?
➡ The tone of the poem is humorous and playful.
What does the teacher do when he smells the homework?
➡ When the teacher smells the homework, he smiles with approval.
What does the teacher do after taking a little nibble of the homework?
➡ After taking a little nibble of the homework, the teacher takes a somewhat larger bite and gives a thoughtful chew.
Does the teacher like the homework?
➡ Yes, the teacher seems to like the homework as he eats it with gusto and gobbles the whole thing down.
What does the teacher do after eating the homework?
➡ After eating the homework, the teacher licks off all his fingers, burps, and tells the speaker that they pass.
What is the speaker's reaction to the teacher eating their homework?
➡ The speaker is surprised and finds it odd that the teacher would eat their homework.
What subject does the speaker suggest the teacher might be grading them in?
➡ The speaker suggests that the teacher might be grading them in cooking class.
What is the overall mood of the poem?
➡ The overall mood of the poem is lighthearted and humorous.