4.4 The Height of the Ridiculous - Class 10 - Kumarbharati

Aug 10
4 min read

Poet: Oliver Wendell Holmes

Textbook: English Kumarbharati – Std X

Genre: Humorous Narrative Poem

Summary

The poem humorously recounts the poet’s experience of writing some funny lines in an unusually merry mood. Although generally a serious man, he found his verses so amusing that he laughed uncontrollably. When his servant read them, his reactions grew progressively more exaggerated — from grinning to roaring with laughter, splitting his waistband, bursting five buttons, and finally falling into a fit.

The poet humorously exaggerates these reactions to highlight the power of humour in writing. The incident leaves a lasting impression, making the poet hesitant to write in such an extremely funny manner again.

Theme / Central Idea

The poem celebrates the joy and infectious nature of humour. It shows how laughter can escalate and spread, sometimes beyond control, and uses exaggeration to heighten the comic effect.

Word Meanings

Word/Phrase	Meaning
Ridiculous	Extremely funny or absurd
Wondrous	Delightful; extraordinary
Albeit	Although
Sober	Serious and clear-headed
Trifling jest	A small and unimportant joke
Chuckling	Quiet or suppressed laughter
Wretched	In a helpless or poor condition
Mighty limb	Strong, large body build

Figures of Speech

Line from Poem	Figure of Speech	Explanation
“They were so queer, so very queer”	Repetition	The word ‘queer’ is repeated for emphasis.
“He broke into a roar”	Hyperbole	Exaggeration of the laughter’s intensity.
“The grin grew broad”	Alliteration	Repetition of the ‘g’ sound.
“Ten days and nights with sleepless eye”	Transferred Epithet	The quality of sleeplessness is transferred to the ‘eye’.
“I laughed as I would die”	Hyperbole	Extreme exaggeration of amusement.

Personal Response Questions

Q1. How does the poet create humour in the poem?

→ The poet creates humour through exaggeration of the servant’s reactions, playful rhyming, and a sequence of increasingly absurd events. The over-the-top descriptions make the incident vividly funny for the reader.

Q2. Why do you think the poet decided never to write “as funny as I can” again?

→ The poet decided never to write “as funny as I can” again because the extreme and uncontrollable laughter of his servant seemed almost dangerous, making him realise that excessive humour might have unexpected consequences.

Q3. Do you think humour has the power to connect people? Why?

→ Humour has the power to connect people because shared laughter creates a bond of joy and relaxation. It breaks down social barriers and leaves a lasting, positive memory.

True or False

The poet was generally a very serious man. → True
The servant read the poem without reacting. → False
The servant’s waistband split while laughing. → True

Probable Board Questions

Q1. Describe the servant’s reaction as he read the poem.

→ The servant started with a grin that broadened, then chuckled, roared with laughter, split his waistband, burst five buttons, and finally fell into a fit. The exaggerated description makes the reaction seem comically extreme.

Q2. How does exaggeration enhance the humour in the poem?

→ Exaggeration enhances the humour by making the servant’s reaction wildly disproportionate to the situation. This deliberate overstatement turns a simple reading into a hilarious and memorable event.

Q3. What was the poet’s mood when he wrote the lines, and how is it different from his usual self?

→ The poet was in a “wondrous merry mood” when he wrote the lines, which was unusual for him as he generally described himself as a sober, serious man. This contrast adds to the poem’s humour.

Q4. What is the impact of the poem’s ending on the reader?

→ The poem’s ending leaves the reader amused and surprised, as the poet humorously claims he never dared to write so funnily again. It reinforces the playful, light-hearted tone of the piece.

Appreciation of the Poem

The Height of the Ridiculous is a humorous narrative poem that uses exaggeration to great effect. Written in rhyming stanzas, it employs figures of speech like Hyperbole, Alliteration, and Repetition to heighten its comic tone. The poet’s self-description as usually “sober” contrasts sharply with his merry mood in the poem, adding to the humour. The gradual build-up of the servant’s laughter creates a vivid and entertaining image. The poem succeeds in showing that humour is powerful, infectious, and capable of leaving lasting impressions.

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