Poem: The Triantiwontigongolope

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Summary: Poem the Triantiwontigongolope

The poet, C J Dennis talks about an insect which is primarily nothing but his imagination. He begins by talking and mentioning it as ‘funny insect’ that one doesn’t spy. He says that it isn’t like a spider and certainly not like a fly, but something more like a beetle and also a little like a bee. However, it doesn’t have a woolly grub that climbs upon a tree. He is aware that the name of the insect is quite a hard one but is hopeful that one would learn to spell it eventually. He even facilitates it for his learners by breaking the name into sup-parts and then naming them together so that they can read it. He goes on further and informs that this insect of his lives on weeds and leaves and has a funny face. Its appetite is hearty though its manners are a disgrace. He says that when you come upon it first, it can give you quite a scare but when you look for it again, you may find it is not there. If you don’t call it softly it will stay away. But it trembles if you tickle it or walk upon its toes. This insect of his is not an early riser, but it does have a snobbish nose. It scuffles off in shame if you sneer at it or scold it. However, it purrs and purrs quiet proudly if you call it by its name. It’s fond of sandwiches of wax and soap. After giving his readers so much description about the insect, he confesses that he hasn’t seen this insect either. He makes it funny by telling his readers that he doesn’t even know its address and there isn’t even such an insect! Though he thinks there really might have been. Then he tosses a statement at the readers saying if the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green, all along is a joke and the entire poem was a joke of his. He even asks forgiveness from his readers for this joke

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Word meanings

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spy – to keep close and secret watch, catch sight of

grub – larva of an insect

funny face – looks strange and awkward

appetite – a desire for food or drink

hearty – good, requiring plenty of food

disgrace – showing bad behaviour that people don’t like

scare (n) – feeling of fear

mope – to move around slowly and aimlessly, feeling sad and depressed

snobbish – feeling superior than others, one who does not lie people of low social ranks, नकचढ़ा ओर अभिमानी , अपने से नीचे वालों को पसंद न करने वाला.

sneer – mock, to show scorn or disapproval or disliking, नाक-भौं सिकोड़ते हुए मजाक या उपहास उड़ान ।

scuttle – to run or move away quickly with short steps

confess – to say that you accept your mistakes and lies

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Comprehension

A. Answers

B. Answers

2. lovable 3. shy 5. affectionate 7. greedy 8. sensitive 11. nervous 12. lazy 13. gentle 14. sloppy

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C. Answers

1. a. It refers to the insect Triantiwontigongolope.
   b. It will give you a scare because it looks very odd and unusual.
   c. You will find it gone.
2. a. The Triantiwontigongolope.
   b. That is because it does not exist.
   c. He confesses that he made up the creature as a joke.
3. a. The Triantiwontigongolope
   b. A creature like the Triantiwontigongolope might have existed if trees were purple.
   c. It exists in the poet’s imagination.

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D. Answers

1. The poet says that the insect is not quite like a spider or a fly or like a woolly grub that climbs upon
   a tree. It is something like a beetle, and a little like a bee.
2. The poet says that the insect is very shy. If you touch it, it disappears. If you scold it, it goes away
   feeling quite hurt. It likes to be called by its name and it enjoys eating sandwiches of wax and soap.
3. The insect would go off in shame.
4. The fact that it loves to be called by its name shows that it loves itself. It begins to purr when it is
   called out lovingly.
5. The poet tells us so at the end of the poem.
6. The poet apologises for making us believe that such an insect exists and for joking with the readers.

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