The Rebel – Class 7 English NCERT Solutions

Explore the solutions for “The Rebel,” Class 7 English NCERT. This delightful poem teaches children about individuality and the importance of accepting different viewpoints in society. Through the actions of a rebel, students learn that while it’s important to think independently, one should also understand the balance between being unique and being disagreeable just for the sake of it.

Summary of the Poem (English)

The poem “The Rebel” is a humorous take on a person who always does the opposite of what others do. The poet describes various situations where the rebel deliberately chooses to be different – from hairstyles to clothing, from behavior in class to choice of pets. The poem shows how the rebel disagrees with the majority in every situation, whether it’s about wearing uniforms, commenting on weather, or attending meetings. The poem ends with an interesting observation that while rebels are good for society, being one might not be very comfortable.

कविता का सारांश (Hindi)

कविता “द रेबल” एक ऐसे व्यक्ति के बारे में है जो हमेशा दूसरों के विपरीत काम करता है। कवि विभिन्न परिस्थितियों का वर्णन करता है जहाँ विद्रोही जानबूझकर अलग होने का चयन करता है – बालों की स्टाइल से लेकर कपड़ों तक, कक्षा में व्यवहार से लेकर पालतू जानवरों की पसंद तक। कविता दिखाती है कि कैसे विद्रोही हर स्थिति में बहुमत से असहमत होता है, चाहे वह यूनिफॉर्म पहनने के बारे में हो, मौसम पर टिप्पणी करने के बारे में हो, या बैठकों में भाग लेने के बारे में। कविता एक दिलचस्प टिप्पणी के साथ समाप्त होती है कि यद्यपि विद्रोही समाज के लिए अच्छे हैं, लेकिन एक विद्रोही होना बहुत आरामदायक नहीं हो सकता।

Word Meanings

Pre-reading Discussion

Do you know anyone who always disagrees with you or your friends, or likes to do the opposite of what everyone thinks they should do?

Yes, I know a classmate who often takes an opposing stance on various topics. For instance, when our entire class wants to play cricket during sports period, he insists on playing basketball. When everyone is excited about a school trip, he points out why staying in school would be better.

Think of a word to describe such a person.

Such a person can be described as a ‘nonconformist’ or more simply, a ‘rebel’. Other words could be ‘contrarian’ or ‘dissenter’, but ‘rebel’ best captures their tendency to go against the majority.

Discuss with your partner some of the things such a person generally does.

A rebel typically:

• Chooses different clothes from what others wear
• Disagrees with popular opinions in class discussions
• Prefers unusual food choices during lunch breaks
• Takes up hobbies that others find strange
• Questions rules and traditions that everyone else follows without thinking

Working with the Poem

1. If someone doesn’t wear a uniform to school, what do you think the teacher will say?

If a student comes to school without proper uniform, the teacher would likely express disapproval and give them a warning. The teacher might say something like, “Why aren’t you in proper school uniform? It’s mandatory for all students to wear the prescribed uniform. Please ensure you come properly dressed tomorrow, or I’ll have to take disciplinary action.”

2. When everyone wants a clear sky, what does the rebel want most?

Following the pattern in the poem, when everyone desires a clear sky, the rebel would most likely want rain. This is evident from the lines where the rebel remarks on the need for rain when others are praising the sun, showing their consistent pattern of opposing the majority’s preference.

3. If the rebel has a dog for a pet, what is everyone else likely to have?

Based on the rebel’s pattern of doing the opposite of others, if the rebel has a dog, everyone else is likely to have cats as pets. This mirrors the poem’s lines where “In the company of cat lovers, The rebel puts in a good word for dogs,” showing how the rebel consistently chooses the opposite of what others prefer.

4. Why is it good to have rebels?

Rebels are valuable to society for several reasons:

• They help us see different perspectives and challenge conventional thinking
• They often bring about positive changes by questioning outdated traditions
• They teach us that it’s okay to be different and think independently
• They make life more interesting by adding diversity to thoughts and actions
• They help society evolve by preventing stagnation in thinking and behavior

5. Why is it not good to be a rebel oneself?

Being a rebel can be challenging because:

• You might face criticism and disapproval from others
• It can be lonely when you’re always different from the majority
• People might misunderstand your intentions and judge you unfairly
• You might face practical difficulties in school, work, or social situations
• It requires constant effort to maintain your independent stance

6. Would you like to be a rebel? If yes, why? If not, why not?

Yes, I would like to be a thoughtful rebel – someone who thinks independently but chooses their battles wisely. I believe it’s important to question things that don’t make sense and stand up for what you believe in. However, I wouldn’t want to oppose everything just for the sake of being different. Instead, I’d prefer to be a constructive rebel who brings positive changes while maintaining harmony with others. This way, I can contribute to society’s progress while still being true to my beliefs.

Word Building

Find in the poem an antonym (a word opposite in meaning) for each of the following words:

1. long → The antonym found in the poem is “short” (When everybody has long hair, The rebel cuts his hair short)
2. grow → The antonym found in the poem is “cuts” (When everybody has long hair, The rebel cuts his hair short)
3. quietness → The antonym found in the poem is “disturbance” (The rebel creates a disturbance)
4. sober → The antonym found in the poem is “fantastic” (The rebel dresses in fantastic clothes)
5. lost → This word doesn’t have a direct antonym in the poem, but we can infer “found” from the context

Finding Matching Lines

Find in the poem lines that match the following statements:

1. The rebel refuses to cut his hair → “When everybody has short hair, The rebel lets his hair grow long”
2. He says cats are better → “In the company of dog lovers, The rebel expresses a preference for cats”
3. He recommends dogs → “In the company of cat lovers, The rebel puts in a good word for dogs”
4. He is unhappy because there is no sun → “When everybody is greeting the rain, The rebel regrets the absence of sun”
5. He is noisy on purpose → “When nobody talks during the lesson, The rebel creates a disturbance”