British poet Ted Hughes with full name Edward James Hughes served as poet laureate from

1984 to 1998; people note his work for its symbolism, passion, and dark natural imagery.

Notes Ted Hughes was born on August 17, 1930 in England and attended Cambridge
: University, where he became interested in anthropology and folklore. These
interests would have a profound effect on his poetry. In 1956, Hughes married
famed poet Sylvia Plath. He taught at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst
from 1957 until 1959, and he stopped writing altogether for several years after
Plath's suicide in 1963.

Hughes's poetry is highly marked by harsh and savage language and depictions,
emphasizing the animal quality of life. He soon developed a creature called Crow
who appeared in several volumes of poetry including A Crow Hymn and Crow
Wakes. A creature of mythic proportions, Crow symbolizes the victim, the outcast,
and a witness to life and destruction. Hughes's other works also created
controversy because of their style, manner, and matter, but he has won numerous
honors, including the Somerset Maugham Award in 1960, and the Queen's Medal
for Poetry in 1974. His greatest honor came in 1984, when he was named Poet
Laureate of England.

Ted Hughes died in 1998.

(Bowker Author Biography)

This poem, "My Brother Bert (1961)," is a humorous and imaginative piece that describes the
eccentricities of the speaker's brother, Bert, and his growing collection of exotic and wild pets.
The poem playfully explores the absurdity and chaos that ensue as Bert's hobby escalates from a
mouse in his shirt to the inclusion of increasingly bizarre and dangerous animals.

The poem uses a whimsical tone to engage the reader's imagination. The repetition of "GREW"
emphasizes the unchecked expansion of Bert's collection, building a sense of anticipation and
exaggeration. The speaker creates a sense of absurdity by describing the introduction of a
gigantic gorilla into Bert's household.

The list of animals, including a grizzly bear, a lion under the bed, ostriches, an aardvark,
pangolins, bats, a platypus, a wombat, a dingo, a gecko, a grampus, and a bandicoot, contributes
to the overall absurdity and chaos. The poem suggests that if all these animals were to come to
life and engage in a "Rumpus," it would be a disastrous and entertaining spectacle.
The mention of neighbors at the end adds a touch of societal concern, highlighting the potential
embarrassment or astonishment that Bert's eccentric menagerie could cause. This adds a layer
of social commentary, poking fun at societal expectations and norms.

For a 14-year-old girl, the poem offers an opportunity for enjoyment and laughter. The vivid and
imaginative descriptions, along with the playful language, may resonate well with a young
audience. Additionally, the poem encourages creativity and allows the reader to envision a world
where wild animals coexist in a domestic setting, leading to a humorous and entertaining
scenario.

The poem "My Brother Bert (1961)" utilizes several poetic devices to enhance its humor and
imaginative quality. Here are some key elements:

1. Rhyme Scheme: The poem has a consistent and regular rhyme scheme, following an
AABB pattern in each quatrain. This contributes to the poem's playful and rhythmic quality,
making it enjoyable to read aloud.
2. Repetition: The repetition of the word "GREW" emphasizes the escalating nature of Bert's
hobby, creating a sense of exaggeration and building anticipation. It also adds to the
rhythmic flow of the poem.
3. Alliteration: The poem includes instances of alliteration, where the initial consonant
sounds of words are repeated. For example, "His hobby it grew," and "ill in iller."
Alliteration adds a musical quality to the language and can make the poem more
engaging.
4. Imagery: The poem is rich in vivid imagery, painting a colorful picture of Bert's ever-
expanding collection of pets. The reader can easily visualize the mouse in Bert's shirt, the
gigantic gorilla, the lion under the bed, and the various other animals described. This use
of imagery enhances the whimsical and fantastical nature of the poem.
5. Hyperbole: Hyperbole, or exaggeration for emphasis, is prevalent in the poem. Phrases
like "gigantic gorilla," "iller and iller," and "a dreadful day" contribute to the humorous tone
by stretching the truth for comedic effect.
6. Inventive Language: The poem uses inventive and creative language to describe the
animals and the potential chaos they could cause. Terms like "Jungle-Cattypus," "football
eggs," and "battered old boot" contribute to the poem's imaginative and playful
atmosphere.
7. Irony: There's an element of irony in the poem, particularly in the contrast between the
seemingly harmless pets Bert starts with and the absurdity of a gigantic gorilla. This irony
adds to the humor and surprise within the narrative.
8. Enjambment: The poem occasionally uses enjambment, where a sentence or phrase
continues without a pause beyond the end of a line. This helps maintain a smooth and
flowing rhythm throughout the poem.

Overall, the combination of these poetic devices enhances the humor, rhythm, and imaginative
quality of "My Brother Bert (1961)."

The poem, titled "My Brother Bert," is a humorous and imaginative piece that describes the
eccentric and expanding hobby of the speaker's brother, Bert. The poem unfolds in a playful
manner, using rhymes and exaggerations to create a whimsical atmosphere.
Here's a breakdown:
1. Introduction of Bert's Hobby:
 The poem begins by stating that Bert's hobby is keeping pets.
 It starts innocently with him going to school with a mouse in his shirt.
2. Exaggeration and Growth of the Hobby:
  The poem humorously suggests that Bert's hobby started to grow uncontrollably, as
hobbies sometimes do.
 The use of repetition ("and GREW and GREW and GREW") emphasizes the
overwhelming nature of Bert's expanding collection.
3. Revelation of the Unusual Pet:
 The speaker abruptly stops and urges the reader not to reveal what has happened
next, creating suspense.
4. The Appalling Revelation:
 The twist in the poem is revealed: Bert has brought home a gigantic gorilla as a pet.
5. Imaginative Scenario:
 The poem then engages in a fantastical scenario where various exotic and wild
animals join Bert's collection, including a grizzly bear, a lion under the bed,
ostriches depositing football eggs, an aardvark, pangolins, bats, a platypus, a
wombat, a dingo, a gecko, a grampus, and a bandicoot.
6. Building Tension:
 The speaker asks the reader to consider the chaos and noise that would ensue if all
these animals were to come to life and join in a "roar" or "rumpus."
7. Concerns about Neighbors:
 The poem concludes with a humorous touch, expressing concern about what the
neighbors would think of such a commotion.
Analysis: The poem employs humor and exaggeration to explore the idea of unchecked and
extravagant hobbies. It encourages readers to use their imagination and enjoy the absurdity of
the situation. The use of animals with distinct characteristics adds to the whimsy, creating a lively
and entertaining piece.
For a 15-year-old girl, the poem can be seen as a creative exploration of the unexpected
consequences of unchecked passions and hobbies. It encourages a playful and imaginative
approach to literature while offering a light-hearted commentary on the potential chaos that can
arise from pursuing one's interests to the extreme.

Central Idea:
The central idea of the poem "My Brother Bert" revolves around the consequences of unchecked
and expanding hobbies. The poem humorously explores the idea of a hobby growing beyond
control and imagines the chaos that ensues when it reaches absurd proportions. The central
theme highlights the whimsical and unpredictable nature of pursuing passions without setting
reasonable limits, using the example of Bert's hobby of collecting increasingly unusual and exotic
pets. Through exaggeration and playful language, the poem encourages readers to consider the
potential absurdities that may arise when interests and hobbies are taken to extremes.
Additionally, it raises the notion of the unexpected and the humorous in everyday life.
Q. Do you like this poem?
As a machine learning model, I don't have personal likes or dislikes. However, I can appreciate
the creative and whimsical nature of the poem. It uses humor, exaggeration, and imaginative
scenarios to convey its message about the consequences of unchecked hobbies. If you have any
specific questions or if there's anything else you'd like to discuss about the poem, feel free to let
me know!
Q. Is the write annoyed with her brother's hobby?
While the tone of the poem is light-hearted and humorous, it doesn't explicitly convey annoyance
on the part of the speaker towards her brother's hobby. Instead, the poem seems to celebrate the
absurdity and imaginative possibilities that arise from Bert's growing and unconventional
collection of pets. The speaker uses exaggeration and playful language to describe the ever-
expanding assortment of animals in a way that suggests amusement rather than frustration.
The request for the reader not to breathe a word and the line "The very thought makes me iller
and iller" might be more of a dramatic way to build suspense and engage the reader in the
whimsical narrative rather than expressing genuine annoyance. Overall, the poem appears to be
more focused on humorously exploring the consequences of an escalating hobby rather than
conveying negative feelings towards the brother's choices.
Q. Ew means
"Ew" is an informal expression used to convey disgust or distaste. It's often uttered in response to
something unpleasant, gross, or objectionable. People might say "ew" when they encounter
something they find unappealing or offensive. It's a simple expression commonly used in
everyday language to express a visceral reaction to something disagreeable.
Q. What does the use of capital letters signify in this poem?
In the poem "My Brother Bert," the use of capital letters, especially in the lines "And grew and
GREW and GREW until -" and "Oh don't breathe a word, pretend you haven't heard," serves a
stylistic purpose. The capitalization is employed for emphasis, drawing attention to the words that
are in uppercase letters. This can create a sense of urgency, excitement, or drama in the reader's
mind.
In the first instance, the repetition of "GREW" in uppercase letters emphasizes the rapid and
exaggerated growth of Bert's hobby. It contributes to the whimsical and playful tone of the poem,
highlighting the idea that Bert's collection of pets is expanding beyond normal limits.
In the second instance, the capitalization is used to build suspense and create a sense of
secrecy. By instructing the reader not to breathe a word and to pretend they haven't heard, the
poet adds a dramatic touch, encouraging the reader to anticipate the unexpected and maintain
engagement with the poem.
Overall, the capitalization in these instances serves as a stylistic device to enhance the rhythm,
tone, and impact of the poem, contributing to its playful and imaginative atmosphere.

Q. Is Bert endangering the lives of the animals like this?

The poem "My Brother Bert" is a whimsical and exaggerated piece of fiction, meant to entertain and
evoke laughter through its playful language and imaginative scenarios. It does not convey a serious
situation or imply that Bert is endangering the lives of the animals in a realistic sense.
The poem uses humor and hyperbole to describe Bert's ever-expanding collection of unusual pets,
including a gigantic gorilla, grizzly bear, lion, ostriches, aardvark, pangolins, bats, platypus, and more.
These fantastical elements are not meant to be taken literally, and the poem does not delve into the real-
world consequences or ethical considerations of keeping such a diverse and extravagant array of animals.
In reality, responsible pet ownership involves providing proper care, attention, and suitable environments
for animals. The poem, however, is more focused on creating an amusing and imaginative narrative rather
than addressing the ethical implications of Bert's fictional hobby.