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Class 7: Unit - 5B: Missed by P G Wodehouse (Only For Reading & Discussion)

 Missed by P G Wodehouse

Missed is a delightful and humorous poem that describes how a beautiful summer morning—perfect for a game of cricket—turns into a terrible day for the speaker after he misses an easy catch.

The speaker begins by describing the setting of the poem, a beautiful and sunny morning where the breeze carrying the scent of hay. The speaker is in white and clean flannels and is cheerful and happy. The gallery is brimming with people, including immaculately dressed ladies. Young boys are seated on rollers and the birds are singing their sweetest songs.

However, the speaker's idyllic morning takes a turn for the worse. Distracted by the beauty of the summer afternoon and the buzzing of a bee, he fails to take a simple catch. The bowler gasps, the crowd roars in anticipation, and the batsman, thinking he's out, starts to walk away. The speaker, realizing his mistake, is filled with dread. He says that he feels responsible for having bungled the catch—a catch which he could have easily taken had he not been distracted. He believes that the loud expectant yell from the crowd and the bowler’s ridicules will haunt him all his life. It is that this point that he decides not to play cricket anymore and take to golf. Since golf is a game where he will not be able to bungle anymore catches, it will save him from future embarrassment.

The contrast between the speaker’s exaggeration reaction to the situation and its actual insignificance, is the main element of humour in the poem. The poet makes effective use of the hyperbole to create emphasis or humour. The vocabulary—the choicest words and phrases—employed by Wodehouse contribute to the humour of the poem and show us what a comedic genius he was.

Question and Answers -







Detailed Summary of Missed

  1. The poem “Missed” is written by P. G. Wodehouse, who is famous for his humorous and witty style of writing.
  2. The poem begins with the description of a beautiful summer morning. The weather is pleasant, bright, and cheerful.
  3. A gentle breeze blows across the cricket field, carrying the sweet smell of freshly cut hay. This creates a peaceful and enjoyable atmosphere.
  4. The speaker is dressed in spotless white cricket flannels and feels happy, confident, and excited about the cricket match.
  5. The cricket ground is full of spectators who have gathered to watch the game. The mood everywhere is lively and festive.
  6. Elegantly dressed ladies are present in the gallery, adding beauty and charm to the scene.
  7. Young boys are sitting on rollers around the field, eagerly enjoying the excitement of the match.
  8. Birds are singing sweetly in the background, making the morning appear perfect and almost dreamlike.
  9. The speaker feels proud and cheerful as he stands on the field, ready to play cricket.
  10. During the match, the batsman hits the ball high into the air, creating an easy catching opportunity for the speaker.
  11. Everyone expects the speaker to catch the ball because it appears to be a very simple catch.
  12. However, at that important moment, the speaker gets distracted by the beauty of the surroundings and the buzzing sound of a bee nearby.
  13. Because his attention shifts away from the ball, he fails to catch it.
  14. The ball drops, and the easy chance is missed completely.
  15. The bowler reacts with shock and disappointment because he expected the batsman to be dismissed.
  16. The crowd gives out a loud cry of excitement and surprise, believing that the catch has been taken.
  17. Even the batsman assumes he is out and starts walking away from the pitch.
  18. The speaker suddenly realizes that he has missed the catch and feels extremely embarrassed.
  19. He begins to imagine that the crowd’s reaction and the bowler’s criticism will haunt him forever.
  20. The speaker believes he has made a terrible mistake, even though it is actually a small and common error in sports.
  21. The humour of the poem comes from the speaker’s exaggerated reaction to such an ordinary incident.
  22. The poet uses hyperbole to make the situation appear much more serious than it really is.
  23. The speaker feels so ashamed that he decides he should stop playing cricket altogether.
  24. He then thinks of taking up golf instead because golf does not involve catching balls, so he will not face such embarrassment again.
  25. The poem ends humorously, showing how people often overreact to small failures and become unnecessarily upset about them.
  26. Through this comic situation, the poet highlights human weakness, distraction, pride, and the fear of public embarrassment.
  27. Overall, the poem is a light-hearted and entertaining reflection on mistakes, sportsmanship, and human nature. 

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