The First Tooth
by Charles and Mary Lamb
The Poem:
"Through the house what busy joy,
Just because the infant boy
Has a tiny tooth to show!
I have got a double row,
All as white, and all as small;
Yet no one cares for mine at all.
He can say but half a word,
Yet that single sound's preferred
To all the words that I can say
In the longest summer day.
He cannot walk, yet if he put
With mimic motion out his foot,
As if he thought he were advancing,
It's prized more than my best dancing."
Summary of the Poem:
An infant baby boy has grown tiny tooth and the whole household is happy with tremendous joy. On the other hand, the sister has many small white teeth but no one cares for her. Further, the little brother can only pronounce half a sound and everyone prefers that. The girl can say many words but she is ignored by the members of her family. The boy can not walk, he can just do some mimic motion. This is the reason of everyone's interest. The girl can dance so well, but no one praises her.
Comprehension
A. Say whether the following statements are true or false.
1. Everyone in the house is happy. [F]
2. The infant is a girl. [F]
3. The infant's sister is feeling jealous. [T]
4. The baby boy has begun to make sounds. [T]
5. The sister knows many words. [T]
B. Answer the questions.
1. Who is this poem about?
= This poem is about the infant boy of the family.
2. How old do you think the two children might be?
= I think the infant boy is of 6 to 8 month and the little girl is of 3 to 4 years.
3. Who likes all the actions of the infant?
= All the members of the family except the little girl, likes all the actions of the family.
4. Why is the sister not sharing in the joy of the baby brother's actions?
= The sister is not sharing in the joy of the baby brother's actions because she is disappointed being ignored by everyone.
C. Read the lines and answer the questions.
1. "Has a tiny tooth to show!
I have got a double row."
a. Who has got a tiny tooth?
= The infant boy has got a tiny tooth.
b. Who is I?
= I is the little girl who is the speaker of the poem.
c. What does a double row mean?
= Double row means two gums full teeth.
2. "He can say but half a word
Yet that single sound's preferred."
a. Who is he?
= He is the infant boy.
b. Why can he only say half a word?
= He can only say half a word as he is an infant baby.
c. Who prefers his single sound?
= Every other members of the family except the little girl, prefers his single sound.
3. "As if he thought he were advancing,
It's prized more than my best dancing."
a. What is he advancing?
= He is advancing his foot.
b. Who dances well?
= The little girl dances well.
c. Why is his advancing prized more than the best dancing?
= His advancing is prized more than the best dancing because he is a new born baby and the newest member of the family drawing everyone's attention.
D. Think and answer.
1. Why is the little boy's sister jealous of her baby brother?
= The little boy's sister is jealous of her baby brother because he was the centre of attention of everyone of the family. No one is interested in any of the activities of the girl.
2. Who is responsible for her feelings: the baby or the family? What do you think they should do to stop her from feeling jealous?
= The family is responsible for her feelings. I think they should give same attention to the little girl to stop her from feeling jealous. They should admire her and praise her for her activities.
3. Have you ever felt like the little girl in the poem? Where-at home or in class? Is it a happy feeling or a sad feeling?
= Yes, I have felt like the little girl while being at home. My little sister is more pampered than me. Some times I become more disturbed or deprived. But next moment I can control my jealous feeling as I know that she is still a baby and I have been also pampered in the same way while I was a baby like her.
About the Poet:
Mary Lamb (1764-1847) and Charles Lamb (1775-1834) were siblings. They were born in London, England. They worked together on the book titled Tales from Shakespeare. The book has plays of Shakespeare for children and is popular even today.