The poem ‘Chivvy’ is a catalogues of various do’s and don’ts that the grown-ups dictate to young children. The adults constantly give a list of instructions to the children about how to sit, how to talk, how to eat and so on.
The poem, however, indicates a passage of time when the young child has grown up and is incapable of taking a decision on his own. The same adults, then, chide the grown up child for not being able to think independently.
Stanzawise Explanation
Stanza 1
Grown-ups say things like:
Speak up
Don’t talk with your mouth full
Don’t stare; Don’t point
Dont’t pick your nose
Reference The above lines have been taken from Michael Rosen’s poem, ‘Chivvy’.
Context The poet points out to a series of instructions given by the grown-ups.
Explanation The poem opens with a long list of instructions. In all likelihood, these instructions are being issued by the adults to their young ones. Speak, up, don’t talk while your mouth is full of food and so on are just a few examples.
Stanza 2
Sit up; Say please; Less noise
Shut the door behind you
Don’t drag your feet
Haven’t you got a hankie?
Take your hands out of
your pockets
Reference Same as in Stanza 1
Context The poet continues to put an emphasis on how the young children are directed to act in accordance with the instructions issued by the adults.
Explanation The second stanza of the poem continues with yet another set of instructions. Each and every activity of the young child is administered and put under the surveillance of the grown-ups.
Stanza 3
Pull your socks up; Stand up straight
Say thank you; Don’t interrupt
No one thinks you’re funny
Take your elbows off the table
Can’t you make your own
mind up about anything?
Reference Same as in Stanza 1
Context The poet showcases how the child is still being reprimanded by the adult, though the child has grown up.
Explanation The final couplet of the poem shows that perhaps the young child has grown up. However, the adults around him continue to reprimand him. But, this time for a different reason. The child is unable to decide anything for himself. He is not certain about anything. It’s quite ironical as the entire childhood of this child was spent blindly following the instructions.