Dear Mum by Brian Patten - Theme, Summary, Question Answer and Explanation

Dear Mum

Table of Contents

• Poem
• Let's Enjoy the Poem Q&A
• Summary of the Poem "Dear Mum" by Brian Patten
• Theme of the Poem "Dear Mum" by Brian Patten

Poem

While you were out
A cup went and broke itself,
A crack appeared in the blue vase
Your great-great grandad
Brought back from China.

Somehow, without me even turning on the tap
The sink mysteriously overflowed.
A strange jam stain about the size of a boy's hand
Appeared on the kitchen wall.

I don't think we'll ever discover
Exactly how the cat
Managed to turn on the washing machine
(Especially from the inside).

Or how Sis's pet rabbit went and mistook
The waste disposal unit for a burrow.
I can tell you I was scared when,
As if by magic,
A series of muddy footprints
Appeared on the new white carpet.

I was being good (honest)
But I think the house is haunted
So, knowing you're going to have a fit,
I've gone over to Gran's to lie low for a bit. 

Listen to the Poem

LET'S ENJOY THE POEM Q&A

1. What happened to the blue vase? Was the vase precious to the mother? Why?

   • Answer: The blue vase got a crack. Yes, it was precious to the mother because it was brought back from China by her great-great-grandad.

2. Where is the cat? How do you think it got there?

   • Answer: The cat is inside the washing machine. It probably got there by accident, possibly while exploring or playing.

3. Whose footprints are on the carpet?

   • Answer: The muddy footprints on the carpet are most likely the boy's.

4. Is the house really haunted? Why do you think so?

   • Answer: No, the house is not really haunted. The boy says this to avoid taking responsibility for the mess.

5. Does the boy think his mother will believe him? How can you tell?

   • Answer: No, the boy doesn't think his mother will believe him. He went to his grandmother's house to avoid getting in trouble, which shows he expects his mother to be upset.

6. Do you think the boy is clever? Give a reason for your answer.

   • Answer: Yes, the boy is clever because he creates imaginative excuses to explain the mess and tries to avoid getting in trouble by leaving the house.

7. Should children be allowed to be mischievous?

   • Answer: Children can be mischievous sometimes as it's part of growing up and learning, but they should also learn to be responsible and honest.

8. What would you do if you were in Mother's place and you returned home and realized what had happened?

   • Answer: If I were in Mother's place, I would calmly find out what happened, talk to my child about being honest, and teach them how to clean up and take responsibility for their actions.

Summary of the Poem "Dear Mum" by Brian Patten

The poem "Dear Mum" is a humorous letter written by a boy to his mother, explaining all the things that went wrong while she was out. The boy tells his mother that a cup broke by itself, a crack appeared in a precious blue vase, and the sink overflowed mysteriously. He also mentions strange incidents like a jam stain on the wall, the cat turning on the washing machine, and his sister's rabbit getting into the waste disposal unit. Muddy footprints appeared on the new white carpet as if by magic. The boy insists he was being good and suggests the house might be haunted. To avoid his mother's anger, he tells her he has gone to his grandmother's house. The poem highlights the boy's creative excuses and his attempt to escape blame for the chaos at home.

Theme of the Poem "Dear Mum" by Brian Patten

The theme of the poem "Dear Mum" is the humorous and imaginative way children try to explain and avoid responsibility for their mistakes. It shows how children can come up with creative excuses to escape getting in trouble. The poem also highlights the love and patience of mothers who have to deal with such situations. The underlying message is about honesty and the playful nature of childhood.

How We Kept Mother's Day - STEPHEN LEACOCK - Literary Reader 6 chapter 3

Story Summary

This story is about a family who decides to celebrate Mother's Day for the first time. They want to make it a special day for their mother by giving her a break from her usual chores and showing her how much they appreciate her.

The family plans a big day, including a special dinner and a picnic. The idea is that the mother won't have to do any work and can relax and enjoy herself. But things don't go as planned. Instead of resting, the mother ends up doing more work than usual.

She wakes up early to prepare food and get everything ready. During the picnic, she continues to work hard, carrying baskets, setting up the picnic, and cleaning up afterward. The rest of the family has fun and relaxes, not realizing that their mother is still working.

At the end of the day, the mother is very tired, but she pretends to be happy and thankful for the special day. The family feels proud of themselves for celebrating Mother's Day, not noticing that their mother didn't get the break they promised her.

Themes and Messages

Funny and Ironic: The story is funny because the family thinks they are doing something nice, but in reality, they make their mother work even more. This is what we call irony – when something happens that is the opposite of what you expect.

Real Meaning of Celebrations: The story teaches us that celebrations should be about truly appreciating someone, not just following traditions or doing what everyone else does.

Role of Mothers: It also reminds us how much work mothers do every day and how important it is to give them real rest and appreciation.

Conclusion

Stephen Leacock's "How We Kept Mother's Day" is a humorous story that helps us understand the importance of genuinely caring for and appreciating our mothers. It encourages us to think about how we can truly make special days meaningful for those we love.

LET'S INFER

1. At the end of the story, Mother says that it has been 'the most wonderful day in her life'. Was it really so?
   
   ANSWER:
   No, it was not really the most wonderful day for her. Mother said this to make her family happy, even though she worked harder than usual and didn't get to rest.
   
   
2. What reasons do the following characters give for not staying at home on Mother's Day:
   
   ANSWER:
   a. Father: He wanted to go out to a restaurant for a special meal.
   b. Anna and Mary: They wanted to go on a picnic and enjoy the nice weather.
   c. Will and the narrator: They wanted to take a drive and have fun.
   
   Which of these reasons appears the most convincing to you?
   
   ANSWER:
   None of the reasons are very convincing because they all wanted to do what they enjoyed, not thinking about what would make Mother happy.
   
   
3. Does any member of the family do anything worthwhile for Mother on Mother's Day?
   
   ANSWER:
   No, none of the family members did anything truly worthwhile for Mother. Instead of helping her rest, they made her work even more.
   
   
4. Do you agree that this story is wonderfully funny? Which bit do you think is the funniest?
   
   ANSWER:
   Yes, the story is funny. The funniest part is when the family congratulates themselves for giving Mother a wonderful day, not realizing she did all the work.
   
   
5. Beneath the humour, is the story saying something serious to us? (Think, for example, about Mother's attitude to her work and her family.)
   
   ANSWER:
   Yes, the story is saying something serious. It shows us that we should truly appreciate our mothers and give them real breaks, not just pretend to. It also highlights how much work mothers do for their families.

LET'S DISCUSS

1. Someone said, 'God couldn't be everywhere, so he created mothers.' What can we do to honour and thank our mothers?
   
   

   ANSWER:

   • To honor and thank our mothers, we can help them with chores, spend quality time with them, show appreciation through kind words and actions, give them thoughtful gifts, and make sure they have time to relax.

2. Does Mother in the story expect to receive any gift or treat on Mother's Day? Is she any different from our own mothers?
   
   

   ANSWER:

   • No, Mother in the story does not expect to receive any gift or treat. She is happy to do things for her family and does not expect anything in return, just like many of our own mothers who also work hard and do not ask for much in return.