Chapter 2 · A Poem
More About People
A witty, wry look at busybodies, workaholics, and the strange logic of "work"
Tec — The Education Consultancy | Grade 8 English Lesson & Worksheet
This witty, satirical poem by Ogden Nash pokes fun at people's tendency to meddle in the lives of others. In the first half, the poet observes that when people are not busy asking nosy questions, they are offering unwanted advice, hovering over your shoulder, or getting in your way — and if none of that is enough to annoy you, they will simply put you to work themselves. According to the poet, anyone caught relaxing or appearing idle inevitably draws everyone else's irritation and disapproval.
The second half of the poem sharpens this observation with a pointed jab at the culture of constant busyness. The poet notes how irritating it seems to people who are working to see anyone else not working, prompting them to insist — often at great length — that "work is wonderful medicine," citing famous successful businessmen like Firestone, Ford, and Edison as supposed proof. These lectures continue relentlessly, the poet jokes, until the well-meaning preacher runs out of breath, and if you still refuse to be convinced, you are practically threatened with being "starved to death."
The poem closes with its sharpest and most memorable observation: a clever, ironic twist showing the strange trap that this attitude creates. If you don't particularly want to work, the poem wryly points out, you still end up having to work anyway — simply in order to earn enough money that you might one day be free from having to work at all.
"That if you don't want to work you have to work to earn enough money so that you won't have to work."
Copy the Poem Here
Read "More About People" from your textbook, then copy it neatly onto the lines below in your own handwriting.
About the Poet: Ogden Nash (1902–1971) was an American poet widely celebrated for his light, humorous verse, often built around clever wordplay, unusual rhymes, and witty observations about everyday human behaviour. He published numerous collections of comic poetry throughout his career and remains one of the most popular and widely quoted writers of light verse in American literature.
Vocabulary
irking — irritating, wearisome
Firestone, Ford, Edison — large American companies and businessmen, often cited as examples of hard work leading to success
incurs — brings upon oneself, especially something unwelcome
displeasure — a feeling of annoyance or disapproval
succumb — to give in or stop resisting something
quirk — a strange or unexpected feature of a situation
leisure — free time; time not occupied by work
employ — to give someone paid work; here, also humorously used to mean "put to use" or "keep busy"
Worksheet — More About People
Comprehension · Vocabulary · Poetic Appreciation — Grade 8
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A. Questions
1. According to the poem, what do people do when they aren't asking questions?
They are making suggestions, and if not that, they are hovering, stepping on your toes, or eventually putting you to work.
2. What happens to anyone who is seen at leisure, according to the poet?
Anyone who appears idle or relaxed draws everyone else's displeasure and disapproval.
3. What examples does the poem give to support the claim that "work is wonderful medicine"?
The poem mentions Firestone, Ford, and Edison as examples often used to argue that hard work leads to success.
4. What is the ironic "quirk" the poem describes at its conclusion?
The irony is that even someone who doesn't want to work still has to work, simply to earn enough money to eventually be free of having to work.
B. Multiple Choice Questions
1.What do people do, according to the poem, when they aren't making suggestions?
They stay silent
They ask questions✓
They leave the room
They read books
2.What ultimately happens to someone who appears to be at leisure, according to the poem?
They are praised
They are given work to do✓
They are ignored completely
They are rewarded with a holiday
3.What do working people find "very irking"?
Loud noises
Seeing other people not working✓
Cold weather
Long meetings
4.What do people claim work is, according to the poem?
A waste of time
Wonderful medicine✓
A form of punishment
Unnecessary
5.What humorous threat does the poem jokingly suggest happens if you don't "succumb" to the lecture about working?
You get fired
You are "starved to death"✓
You are ignored forever
You are sent away
6.Who wrote "More About People"?
Robert Southey
Ogden Nash✓
Charlotte Brontë
Edna St. Vincent Millay
C. True or False
- 1. The poem suggests that people who appear idle are usually left alone. TrueFalse
- 2. Firestone, Ford, and Edison are mentioned as examples of successful hard workers. TrueFalse
- 3. The poem takes a completely serious, non-humorous tone throughout. TrueFalse
- 4. The poem suggests that people who work often lecture others about the value of working. TrueFalse
- 5. The poem's final message is a straightforward, serious argument in favour of constant hard work. TrueFalse
- 6. The poem points out an ironic trap: working is required even to eventually escape working. TrueFalse
D. Match the Words with Their Meanings
1. irking → (c)
2. incurs → (a)
3. succumb → (d)
4. quirk → (b)
5. leisure → (e)
a. brings upon oneself, especially something unwelcome
b. a strange or unexpected feature of a situation
c. irritating, wearisome
d. to give in or stop resisting something
e. free time; time not occupied by work
E. Theme
1. What is the central theme of "More About People"?
The poem humorously critiques society's obsession with constant busyness and its intolerance of idleness, highlighting the ironic, self-perpetuating trap that this attitude creates around the idea of "work."
2. How does the poem's light, humorous tone affect the seriousness of the point it is making about society?
Open-ended — accept answers noting that the playful, exaggerated tone makes the criticism feel entertaining and approachable rather than harsh, while still allowing the reader to reflect seriously on a genuine social pattern once the humour has made its point.
F. Figurative Language
1. The poem exaggerates by claiming people will "starve you to death" if you resist their work-lectures. What figure of speech is this, and what effect does it create?
This is hyperbole (exaggeration) — the extreme, humorous overstatement highlights just how persistent and overbearing people can be about pushing others to work, in a comic rather than literal way.
2. What effect does the poet's use of casual, conversational language (such as "or something") have on the poem's tone?
Open-ended — accept answers noting that this informal, offhand phrasing creates a witty, relaxed, conversational tone, as though the poet is chatting directly and humorously with the reader rather than writing in a formal poetic style.
3. Identify the irony in the poem's final two lines, and explain why it makes an effective closing statement.
The irony lies in the fact that avoiding work actually requires working (to earn money for eventual freedom from work) — this paradox makes a clever, memorable closing point that sums up the poem's whole argument in a single witty observation.
G. Critical Thinking
1. Do you agree with the poem's observation that people are often uncomfortable seeing others at leisure? Give examples from your own life or observations.
Open-ended — accept a reasoned personal opinion supported with relevant examples connecting to the poem's central observation about attitudes toward work and leisure.
2. The poem was written decades ago. Do you think its observations about work and busyness still apply to society today? Explain your view.
Open-ended — accept a reasoned opinion either way, ideally referencing modern examples of workplace culture, productivity pressure, or attitudes toward rest and leisure.
Tec
— The Education Consultancy | Grade 8 English Lesson & Worksheet