Explore the poem “A Funny Man” by Natalie Joan with a simple explanation, summary, word meanings, central idea, and message designed for Class 7 English students using the NCERT Book ‘Poorvi’.
The poem “A Funny Man” by Natalie Joan is a light-hearted, humorous piece included in the Class 7 English syllabus. It tells the story of a strange and funny man who, unusually, does everything — wearing a shoe on his head, hats on his feet, and even hopping home on his head! Through simple, playful lines, the poet makes readers laugh while showing how imagination can make ordinary life interesting. In this post, you’ll find the complete explanation, summary, word meanings, central idea, and message of A Funny Man in easy language.
Also See:
‘A Funny Man’ – Class 7 NCERT Q&A
A Funny Man Poem – Poetic Devices
About the Poet ‘Natalie Joan’
Natalie Joan was a British writer known for her contributions to children’s literature and poetry in the early 20th century. Her works often blend humour, imagination, and whimsical storytelling, making them ideal for young readers.
One of her notable poems, A Funny Man, is featured in the CBSE Class 7 English textbook ‘Poorvi’. The poem celebrates silliness and creativity through the antics of a peculiar gentleman who wears shoes on his head and hops home upside down.
‘A Funny Man’ Poem Notes – Summary, Central Idea, Vocabulary, Message/Moral
Natalie Joan’s poem “A Funny Man” is a delightful example of nonsense verse. It invites readers into a world where logic is flipped upside down. Through the antics of a peculiar gentleman, the poet explores themes of humour, politeness, and pure absurdity.
Poem ‘A Funny Man’
‘A Funny Man’ by Natalie Joan
One day a funny kind of man
Came walking down this street
He wore a shoe upon his head
And hats upon his feet.
He raised the shoe and smiled at me,
His manners were polite;
But never had I seen before
Such a funny sounding sight.
He said, “Allow me to present
Your Highness with a rose.”
And taking out a currant bun
He held it to my nose.
I staggered back against the wall
And then I answered, “Well!
I never saw a rose with such
A funny looking smell.”
He then began to sing a song,
And sat down on the ground;
You never heard in all your life
Such a funny feeling sound.
“My friend, why do you wear two hats
Upon your feet?” I said.
He turned the other way about,
And hopped home on his head.
Summary
Summary of the poem “A Funny Man” by Natalie Joan
🌟 Summary (English):
The poem tells about a very funny man who walks down the street in a strange way. He wears a shoe on his head and hats on his feet. He politely offers a currant bun as if it were a rose. The speaker is surprised by the strange smell of this “rose.” Then the man sings a funny song and sits on the ground. Finally, when asked why he wears hats on his feet, he turns and hops home on his head. The poem is full of silly and playful actions that make us laugh.
🌟 सारांश (Hindi):
यह कविता एक मजेदार आदमी के बारे में है जो सड़क पर अजीब तरीके से चलता है। वह सिर पर जूता और पैरों में टोपी पहनता है। वह एक किशमिश वाला बन गुलाब समझाकर सौम्य भाव से पेश करता है। बोलने वाला उस “गुलाब” की अजीब खुशबू देखकर हैरान होता है। फिर वह आदमी मजेदार गाना गाता है और ज़मीन पर बैठ जाता है। जब पूछा जाता है कि वह पैरों में टोपी क्यों पहनता है, तो वह पलटकर सिर के बल उछलता हुआ घर चला जाता है। यह कविता मजाक और हँसी से भरी है।
The poem is full of nonsense and fun. It makes us laugh and imagine silly things. It shows that it’s okay to be different and playful sometimes.
Central Idea
Central Idea of ‘A Funny Man’
🌟 The poem is about a very funny and strange man who does everything in a silly and opposite way. He wears a shoe on his head, hats on his feet, gives a bun instead of a rose, and hops on his head.
The poet shows us how silliness and imagination can make us laugh. The poem celebrates fun, nonsense, and creativity. It encourages children to enjoy humor and look at the world in a playful way.
🌟 केंद्रीय विचार:
यह कविता एक बहुत ही मजेदार और अजीब आदमी के बारे में है जो सब कुछ उल्टा-पुल्टा करता है। वह सिर पर जूता पहनता है, पैरों में टोपी, गुलाब की जगह बन देता है और सिर के बल उछलते हुए घर चला जाता है।यह कविता हमें बताती है कि मजाक और कल्पना से जीवन में खुशी आती है। यह बच्चों को हँसी और मस्ती का आनंद लेने और दुनिया को थोड़े अलग ढंग से देखने की प्रेरणा देती है
Message
Message / Moral of ‘A Funny Man’
The poem teaches us that:
- It’s okay to be different or silly sometimes.
- We should learn to enjoy fun and laughter in life.
- Imagination and creativity make the world more interesting.
- We don’t always have to be serious — a little nonsense and fun can bring joy.
The poem reminds children to be open-minded, laugh freely, and not be afraid to be a little different!
🌟 संदेश / नैतिक शिक्षा :
- यह कविता हमें सिखाती है कि:
- अलग या मजेदार होना कोई बुरी बात नहीं है।
- जीवन में हँसी और मस्ती भी जरूरी है।
- कल्पना और रचनात्मकता से दुनिया और सुंदर बनती है।
- हमेशा गंभीर होना जरूरी नहीं, कभी-कभी मजेदार बातें भी ज़रूरी होती हैं।
🌸 यह कविता बच्चों को यह समझाती है कि हमें खुश रहना, हँसना और खुद पर भी हँसना आना चाहिए।
Vocabulary
Word Meanings of ‘A Funny Man’ Poem
| Stanza | Word/Phrase | Meaning | Meaning (Hindi) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Funny kind of man | A man who looks or acts in a silly way | मजेदार या अजीब तरह का आदमी |
| 1 | Wore | Had clothes or things on the body | पहना हुआ |
| 1 | Shoe upon his head | A shoe placed on the head (not usual) | सिर पर जूता |
| 1 | Hats upon his feet | Hats worn on feet instead of shoes | पैरों में टोपी |
| 2 | Raised | Lifted | उठाया |
| 2 | Manners | Behaviour, way of acting politely | व्यवहार, शिष्टता |
| 2 | Polite | Showing respect, kind | विनम्र |
| 2 | Funny sounding sight | A strange or silly thing to see | देखने में अजीब या मजेदार दृश्य |
| 3 | Allow me to present | Let me give you (something) | मुझे आपको कुछ देने की अनुमति दीजिए, मुझे भेंट करने दें |
| 3 | Your Highness | A royal way to address someone (like a king) | महाराज (राजसी संबोधन मजाक में), श्रीमंत |
| 3 | Currant bun | A sweet bread with raisins | किशमिश वाला मीठा बन |
| 3 | Held it to my nose | Brought it near the nose | मेरी नाक के पास ले गया |
| 4 | Staggered back | Moved back unsteadily or with surprise | हक्का-बक्का होकर पीछे हटना, लड़खड़ाते हुए पीछे हटा |
| 4 | Against the wall | Leaning on the wall | दीवार से टिक गया |
| 4 | I never saw | I have never seen | मैंने कभी नहीं देखा |
| 4 | Funny looking smell | Smell that looks strange (silly phrase) | अजीब सा दिखने वाला गंध (मजेदार बात, उलझन) |
| 5 | Began | Started | शुरू किया |
| 5 | Sat down | Took a seat / sat on the ground | ज़मीन पर बैठ गया |
| 5 | Funny feeling sound | A sound that feels strange or silly | अजीब और मजेदार आवाज |
| 6 | Wear two hats | Put two hats on (here, on feet) | दो टोपी पहनना |
| 6 | Turned the other way | Turned around | दूसरी दिशा में घूम गया |
| 6 | Hopped | Jumped like a rabbit | उछलते हुए चला गया |
| 6 | Home on his head | Went home walking on his head | सिर के बल घर चला गया |
Stanza-wise explanation of ‘A Funny Man’ Poem
Stanza 1 Explanation
One day a funny kind of man
Came walking down this street
He wore a shoe upon his head
And hats upon his feet.
Vocabulary:
Funny kind of man – A man who looks or acts in a silly way (मजेदार या अजीब तरह का आदमी) | Wore – Had clothes or things on the body (पहना हुआ) | Shoe upon his head – A shoe placed on the head (not usual) (सिर पर जूता) | Hats upon his feet – Hats worn on feet instead of shoes (पैरों में टोपी)
Overview of Lines:
A Strange Appearance: The poem opens with an immediate visual contradiction. The man reverses the normal order of dress, wearing footwear on his head and headwear on his feet, instantly signalling to the reader that this is a world of nonsense.
Explanation & Analysis:
One day, a very strange man came walking on the street. He looked very funny. He had put a shoe on his head and was wearing hats on his feet. This is the opposite of what people usually do.
एक दिन एक बहुत ही अजीब आदमी सड़क पर चलता हुआ आया। वह बहुत मजेदार लग रहा था। उसने सिर पर जूता पहन रखा था और पैरों में टोपी। ये तो उल्टा हो गया, है ना?
Poetic Devices:
- Imagery – The poet creates a funny picture in the reader’s mind: a man wearing a shoe on his head and hats on his feet.
- Inversion – “Came walking down this street” is not the usual sentence order. Normally, we say: “He came walking down this street.” This change adds rhythm and poetic flow.
- Alliteration – “his head” – The ‘h’ sound repeats.
Stanza 2 Explanation
He raised the shoe and smiled at me,
His manners were polite;
But never had I seen before
Such a funny sounding sight.
Vocabulary:
Raised – Lifted (उठाया) | Manners – Behaviour, way of acting politely (व्यवहार, शिष्टता) | Polite – Showing respect, kind (विनम्र) | Funny sounding sight – A strange or silly thing to see (देखने में अजीब या मजेदार दृश्य)
Overview of Lines:
Polite Absurdity: Despite his bizarre appearance, the man adheres to social norms by “tipping his hat” (which is actually a shoe). This contrast between his polite manners and his ridiculous attire creates humour.
Explanation & Analysis:
The man lifted the shoe from his head and smiled very politely. Even though he was well-mannered, the way he looked was so strange and funny that the speaker had never seen anything like it before.
उस आदमी ने अपने सिर से जूता उठाया और मुझे देखकर मुस्कराया। वह बहुत शिष्ट और सभ्य था। लेकिन उसका हुलिया इतना अजीब था कि मैंने पहले कभी ऐसा मजेदार दृश्य नहीं देखा था।
Poetic Devices:
- Alliteration – Repetition of consonant sounds:
- “shoe and smiled” – The ‘s’ sound repeats.
- “Such a funny sounding sight” – The ‘s’ sound repeats.
- Oxymoron – “Funny sounding sight” mixes two senses—sound and sight—in a strange way. This adds to the silliness.
- Synaesthesia – The phrase “funny sounding sight” is an example of synaesthesia, mixing the senses.
Stanza 3 Explanation
He said, “Allow me to present
Your Highness with a rose.”
And taking out a currant bun
He held it to my nose.
Vocabulary:
Allow me to present – Let me give you (something) (मुझे आपको कुछ देने की अनुमति दीजिए, मुझे भेंट करने दें) | Your Highness – A royal way to address someone (like a king) (महाराज (राजसी संबोधन मजाक में, श्रीमंत) | Currant bun – A sweet bread with raisins (किशमिश वाला मीठा बन) | Held it to my nose – Brought it near the nose (मेरी नाक के पास ले गया)
Overview of Lines:
The Unexpected Gift: The absurdity escalates as the man elevates the narrator to “Your Highness” but offers a common currant bun instead of a regal rose. This substitution of the mundane for the romantic is classic nonsense humour.
Explanation & Analysis:
The man tried to act like he was giving a rose to someone very special (“Your Highness”). But instead of a real flower, he took out a currant bun (a small sweet bread with raisins) and held it near the speaker’s nose as if it were a flower.
उसने कहा, “मुझे आपकी सेवा में एक गुलाब पेश करने दीजिए।” लेकिन असली गुलाब के बजाय उसने किशमिश वाला मीठा बन (currant bun) निकाला और उसे मेरी नाक के पास ले जाकर सूँघने को दिया।
Poetic Devices:
- Irony (विडंबना) – He says he will give a rose, but offers a currant bun instead. This unexpected action is funny.
- Imagery – Again, we can clearly imagine the bun being held like a rose.
Stanza 4 Explanation
I staggered back against the wall
And then I answered, “Well!
I never saw a rose with such
A funny looking smell.”
Vocabulary:
Staggered back – Moved back unsteadily or with surprise (हक्का-बक्का होकर पीछे हटना, लड़खड़ाते हुए पीछे हटा) | Against the wall – Leaning on the wall (दीवार से टिक गया) | I never saw – I have never seen (मैंने कभी नहीं देखा) | Funny looking smell – Smell that looks strange (silly phrase) (अजीब सा दिखने वाला गंध (मजेदार बात, उलझन).
Overview of Lines:
The narrator is physically shocked (“staggered back”) but decides to play along with the man’s logic. The response, “funny looking smell,” continues the pattern of mixed-up senses, mirroring the man’s own confusion of reality.
Explanation & Analysis:
The speaker was so surprised that he stepped back and leaned against the wall. Then he said, “Wow! I have never seen a rose that looked so funny and smelled so odd.” This is again a joke because a bun is not a rose at all!
Explanation & Analysis:
मैं इतना हैरान हो गया कि दीवार से टिक गया और बोला, “अरे! मैंने कभी ऐसा अजीब सा गुलाब नहीं देखा और इतनी मजेदार सी गंध भी नहीं सूँघी।” ये एक मजाक था, क्योंकि वह गुलाब नहीं, बल्कि एक बन था!
Poetic Devices:
- Paradox – “Funny looking smell” – Smell cannot be “looked” at. This silly contradiction adds humor.
- Synaesthesia – The phrase “funny looking smell,” is an example of synaesthesia, mixing the senses.
- Personification – A rose cannot have a “funny looking smell” like a person might. It’s giving human quality to a smell.
Stanza 5 Explanation
He then began to sing a song,
And sat down on the ground;
You never heard in all your life
Such a funny feeling sound.
Vocabulary:
Began – Started (शुरू किया) | Sat down – Took a seat / sat on the ground (ज़मीन पर बैठ गया) | Funny feeling sound – A sound that feels strange or silly (अजीब और मजेदार आवाज)
Overview of Lines:
Felling the song: The man’s behaviour remains unpredictable as he sits on the ground to sing. The description “funny feeling sound” again appeals to the reader’s imagination, suggesting a sound that is tangibly strange, perhaps causing a physical sensation of silliness.
Explanation & Analysis:
Then the man sat on the ground and started singing a song. But the song was so strange and funny that the speaker says no one has ever heard anything like it before.
फिर वह आदमी ज़मीन पर बैठ गया और गाना गाने लगा। लेकिन उसका गाना इतना अजीब और मजेदार था कि ऐसा कोई गाना कभी किसी ने सुना ही नहीं होगा।
Poetic Devices:
- Alliteration –
“sing a song” – Repetition of the ‘s’ sound.
“Funny feeling sound” – Repetition of the ‘f’ sound. - Synesthesia – The poet says “funny feeling sound” – mixing feeling and sound. This makes the sound seem strange and silly.
Stanza 6 Explanation
“My friend, why do you wear two hats
Upon your feet?” I said.
He turned the other way about,
And hopped home on his head.
Vocabulary:
Wear two hats – Put two hats on (here, on feet) (दो टोपी पहनना) | Turned the other way – Turned around (दूसरी दिशा में घूम गया) | Hopped – Jumped like a rabbit (उछलते हुए चला गया) | Home on his head – Went home walking on his head (सिर के बल घर चला गया)
Overview of Lines:
The Grand Exit: When confronted with a logical question, the man refuses to answer in words. Instead, his action provides the answer: in his world, walking on one’s head is normal, which explains why he wears a shoe there!
Explanation & Analysis:
The speaker finally asked the man, “Why are you wearing two hats on your feet?” But instead of answering, the man turned around and hopped home using his head—again something totally silly and impossible!
मैंने उससे पूछा, “मित्र, तुम अपने पैरों में दो टोपी क्यों पहने हो?” लेकिन जवाब देने की बजाय वह उल्टा घूम गया और अपने सिर के बल उछलते हुए घर चला गया! यह एक और मजेदार और बिलकुल अनोखी बात थी।
Poetic Devices:
- Hyperbole – The man hopping on his head is an exaggeration. It is not possible in real life, but adds to the humor.
- Visual Imagery – We can easily imagine the man hopping on his head, and it looks very funny.
- Alliteration – “hopped home on his head” – Repetition of the ‘h’ sound.
Also See:
‘A Funny Man’ – Class 7 NCERT Q&A
A Funny Man Poem – Poetic Devices