Poem “Sneezles” by A. A. Milne – Explanation, Summary, Meanings & Poetic Devices

This poem “Sneezles” by A. A. Milne is is mostly for fun. It uses silly words and situations to make us laugh. It shows how much parents can worry about their children, even when they’re sick with something minor. It might also remind us that sometimes the best medicine is a good night’s sleep! Click here for Q/Ans (Lavender Class 8)

‘Sneezles’ Poem

Christopher Robin
Had wheezles
And sneezles,
They bundled him
Into
His bed.
They gave him what goes
With a cold in the nose,
And some more for a cold
In the head.
They wondered
If wheezles
Could turn
Into measles,
If sneezles
Would turn
Into mumps;
They examined his chest
For a rash,
And the rest
Of his body for swellings and lumps.
They sent for some doctors
In sneezles
And wheezles
To tell them what ought
To be done.
All sorts and conditions
Of famous physicians
Came hurrying round
At a run.
They all made a note
Of the state of his throat,
They asked if he suffered from thirst;
They asked if the sneezles
Came after the wheezles,
Or if the first sneezle
Came first.

They said, “If you teazle
A sneezle
Or wheezle,
A measle
May easily grow.
But humour or pleazle
The wheezle
Or sneezle,
The measle
Will certainly go.”
They expounded the reazles
For sneezles
And wheezles,
The manner of measles
When new.
They said “If he freezles
In draughts and in breezles,
Then PHTHEEZLES
May even ensue.”

Christopher Robin
Got up in the morning,
The sneezles had vanished away.
And the look in his eye
Seemed to say to the sky,
“Now, how to amuse them to-day?”

A. A. Milne

Glossary

Summary

The poem starts with Christopher Robin feeling awful. He has strange symptoms called “wheezles” and “sneezles” (which sound like a sneeze mixed with a wheeze!).  His worried grown-ups bundle him up in bed and give him medicine, just like they would for a normal cold.

Things get funny here. Christopher Robin’s grown-ups get so worried, they even call for special doctors who know all about “sneezles” and “wheezles.” These fancy doctors come rushing in, checking Christopher Robin’s throat and asking him all sorts of questions about his illness. 

Now, these doctors give some strange advice. They say teasing a “sneezle” or “wheeze” might turn it into a measles! But if you keep Christopher Robin happy and calm, the “sneezle” will magically disappear.  They even warn of a terrible illness called the “phtheeze” if he gets cold! This is where the fun of the poem comes in. It’s all made up! 

The poem ends with Christopher Robin waking up feeling perfectly fine. His “sneezles” are gone, and he’s ready to play again. This might make his grown-ups wonder, was he ever really sick? 

There’s no deep meaning here, but the poem teaches us a neat trick. Sometimes, a little laughter and a good night’s sleep are the best medicine!

Stanza Wise Explanation of “Sneezles”

Let’s break down the poem “Sneezles” by A. A. Milne into stanzas and explore its possible meanings:

Stanza 1:

Christopher Robin
Had wheezles
And sneezles,
They bundled him
Into
His bed.

Meaning: Christopher Robin is sick with wheezles and sneezles, so he’s been put to bed. This sets the scene for the poem, showing us that the main character is unwell.

Stanza 2:

They gave him what goes
With a cold in the nose,
And some more for a cold
In the head.

Meaning: Christopher Robin is being treated for his cold symptoms. The caregivers are giving him medicine for his runny nose and congestion.

Stanza 3:

They wondered
If wheezles
Could turn
Into measles,
If sneezles
Would turn
Into mumps;
They examined his chest
For a rash,
And the rest
Of his body for swellings and lumps.

Meaning: The caregivers are concerned about complications. They’re worried that the wheezles might develop into measles and the sneezles into mumps. They’re checking Christopher Robin’s body for any signs of these illnesses.

Stanza 4:

They sent for some doctors
In sneezles
And wheezles
To tell them what ought
To be done.
All sorts and conditions
Of famous physicians
Came hurrying round
At a run.

Meaning: The caregivers call in specialists to help with Christopher Robin’s condition. They want expert advice on how to treat his illness.

Stanza 5:

They all made a note
Of the state of his throat,
They asked if he suffered from thirst;
They asked if the sneezles
Came after the wheezles,
Or if the first sneezle
Came first.

Meaning: The doctors take notes on Christopher Robin’s symptoms and ask questions to understand his illness better. They want to know the order of his symptoms to diagnose him correctly.

Stanza 6:

They said, "If you teazle
A sneezle
Or wheezle,
A measle
May easily grow.
But humour or pleazle
The wheezle
Or sneezle,
The measle
Will certainly go."

Meaning: The doctors give advice on how to treat the sneezles and wheezles. They suggest that if you aggravate these symptoms, they could develop into measles. However, if you treat them kindly, the measles will disappear.

Stanza 7:

They expounded the reazles
For sneezles
And wheezles,
The manner of measles
When new.
They said "If he freezles
In draughts and in breezles,
Then PHTHEEZLES
May even ensue."

Meaning: The doctors explain the reasons behind sneezles and wheezles and how measles develop. They warn that exposure to cold drafts and breezes could lead to further complications.

Stanza 8:

Christopher Robin
Got up in the morning,
The sneezles had vanished away.
And the look in his eye
Seemed to say to the sky,
"Now, how to amuse them today?"

Meaning: Christopher Robin wakes up feeling better, as his sneezles have disappeared. The phrase “how to amuse them (parents and family members) today” suggests that he’s eager to enjoy the day, indicating that he’s feeling much better and ready to have fun.

The indication that the next thing he’s going to do to “amuse” his parents alludes and indicates that perhaps he was acting or feigning ilness the whole time and this twist really would entertain the young readers.

Overall, the poem “Sneezles” tells the story of Christopher Robin’s illness and his eventual recovery, while also exploring themes of caregiving, medical treatment, and the importance of treating illnesses with care and attention.

Line by Line Explanation

This fun poem tells a story about Christopher Robin, a character from Winnie-the-Pooh books. We can break it down into three stanzas:

Stanza 1 (Lines 1-14):

• Christopher Robin isn’t feeling well. He has strange symptoms – wheezles (noisy breathing) and sneezles (made-up word for sneezes). The poem uses funny words like “wheezles” and “sneezles” to describe his illness, which sound more playful than scary.
• His worried parents put him to bed and give him medicine for a cold.
• They’re extra cautious because they’re not sure if his illness could turn into something more serious, like measles or mumps.
• They check him for a rash and any bumps on his body.
• Finally, they call for special doctors who are experts in “sneezles” and “wheezles.”

Stanza 2 (Lines 15-28):

• Many famous doctors rush over to see Christopher Robin.
• They carefully examine him, take notes, and ask him questions. They even want to know if the sneezes came before the wheezes, which is quite silly!
• The doctors give some strange advice. They say teasing a “sneezle” or “wheeze” might make him get the measles! But if they keep him happy and calm, the illness will go away. This advice is nonsense, but it sounds important coming from the famous doctors.
• They also talk about a mysterious illness called “phtheezes” that could happen if he gets cold!

Stanza 3 (Lines 29-34):

• Luckily, Christopher Robin feels much better by morning! The “sneezles” are gone.
• The poem ends with a playful image of Christopher Robin, his eyes twinkling, probably thinking of how to have some fun now that he’s healthy again. The poem, through these last lines, suggests that maybe his illness wasn’t that serious after all, and his parents’ worry was a bit much.

Central Idea of “Sneezles”

The central idea of the poem is that even though Christopher Robin was sick, he recovered quickly and was ready to play again the next day. The poem ends with Christopher Robin looking up at the sky, seeming to think about how to amuse himself that day. This suggests that he is feeling much better and is ready to get back to his normal activities.

While the poem focuses on Christopher Robin’s illness, the central idea is ultimately about resilience and recovery. Christopher Robin is able to overcome his illness quickly, and the poem ends on a positive note. This suggests that even when things are tough, there is always hope for improvement.

Here are some key details from the poem that support this central idea:

• Christopher Robin is sick with “wheezles” and “sneezles” (lines 1-2).
• His family is worried about him and tries to take care of him (lines 3-10).
• Doctors are called in to examine Christopher Robin (lines 11-14).
• The doctors give Christopher Robin medicine and advice (lines 15-22).
• Christopher Robin recovers from his illness quickly (line 23).
• The poem ends with Christopher Robin looking up at the sky, seeming to think about how to amuse himself (lines 24-25).

This central idea is relevant to children who may be experiencing illness themselves. It can help them to see that even though they may not feel well now, they will likely recover quickly and be able to get back to playing and having fun.

Message of the Poem “Sneezles”

There isn’t a super deep meaning to this poem. It’s mostly meant to be silly, funny, playful and lighthearted to make us laugh. It pokes fun at how grown-ups can sometimes worry too much about little things, especially when it comes to children’s health.

• The made-up words like “sneezles” and “phtheezes” add to the silliness.
• It shows how worried parents can get when their child is sick, even if it’s not that serious.
• The poem reminds us that sometimes the best medicine is rest, good humor, and a little imagination!
• The poem also celebrates imagination and a playful spirit. Christopher Robin’s made-up illness shows how kids can be creative, even when they’re not feeling well.

So, the next time you have a little sniffle, remember Christopher Robin and the sneezles. Maybe a good night’s sleep and a playful attitude are all you need to feel better!😂

Poetic Devices in the Poem “Sneezles”

Let’s identify the poetic devices used in the poem “Sneezles” by A. A. Milne:

Rhyme:

The delightful poem “Sneezles” by A. A. Milne is a whimsical exploration of a fictional illness contracted by the famous character Christopher Robin. Let’s dive into its poetic structure:

1. The poem consists of two stanzas.
2. The first stanza contains fifty-six lines, while the second stanza has six lines.
3. Although there isn’t a consistent pattern, the poem features numerous rhyming lines. These frequent rhymes contribute to the playful and engaging tone of children’s poetry.
4. Milne doesn’t adhere to a strict rhyme scheme, but the abundant rhymes create a pleasing rhythm when read aloud.
5. The focus lies on the sounds of the words themselves rather than conveying a specific message.

Let’s explore a snippet from the poem:

Stanza One (Lines 1-10)

Christopher Robin
Had wheezles
And sneezles,
With a cold in the nose,
And some more for a cold
In the head.

In this stanza, Milne invents words like “wheezles” and “sneezles” to describe the symptoms of a cold. The playful language and imaginative rhyming contribute to the whimsy of the poem¹.

Remember, poetry often dances to its own rhythm, and “Sneezles” is no exception! 🤧📜

Other Poetic Devices:

1. Made-up words: The whole poem revolves around silly words like “wheezles” and “sneezles” to describe the illness. This creates a playful atmosphere and makes the illness sound less serious.
2. Alliteration: There’s a little bit of alliteration, where consonants at the beginning of words are repeated. Notice “famous physicians” and “sent for some doctors.” This adds another layer of sound play to the poem.
3. Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words. An example in the poem is “Into His bed,” where the repetition of the short “i” sound in “Into” and “His” creates a smooth flow.
4. Imagery: The poet uses descriptive language to paint vivid images of Christopher Robin’s illness and the caregivers’ actions. For example, “They bundled him / Into / His bed” creates a visual image of Christopher Robin being tucked into bed.
5. Personification: The poem personifies the illnesses of wheezles, sneezles, and measles, treating them as if they are characters with the ability to go away or turn into other illnesses, such as measles and mumps depending on how they are treated.
6. Metaphor: The poem uses metaphorical language to convey the severity of Christopher Robin’s illness and the potential consequences. For example, the line “If you teazle / A sneezle” metaphorically suggests that aggravating the symptoms could lead to more serious illness, like measles.
7. Repetition: The repetition of phrases like “sneezles and wheezles” and “doctors in sneezles and wheezles” emphasizes the focus on these specific illnesses and the urgency of seeking medical help. ‘They’ has also been repeated a lot to emphasise how the child is surrounded and taken care of by family members.
8. Anaphora: This is when a word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of lines. See how “They” is used repeatedly at the beginning of lines in the first stanza, showing the parents’ constant worry and actions.
9. Hyperbole: This is an exaggeration. The poem exaggerates the seriousness of Christopher Robin’s illness with all the fuss and the famous doctors.
10. Symbolism: The poem can be seen as a symbolic representation of childhood illnesses and the care and concern of caregivers. Christopher Robin’s sickness and eventual recovery symbolize the vulnerability of children and the reassurance provided by those who care for them.
11. Enjambment: The poem uses enjambment also where poem moves to next lines without natural pauses like the 1st few lines –
    Christopher Robin
    Had wheezles
    And sneezles,
    They bundled him
    Into
    His bed.
12. Onomatopoeia: Onomatopoeia is the use of words that imitate the sounds they represent. In this poem, words like “sneezles” and “wheezles” sound like the actions they describe, adding a playful quality to the poem.
13. Irony: The poem employs irony, especially in the final stanza, where Christopher Robin’s illness disappears overnight, leading to a humorous contrast between the caregivers’ earlier concerns and the sudden improvement in his condition.

Overall, these poetic devices enhance the poetic quality of the poem and contribute to its effectiveness in conveying the themes of illness, care, and recovery.