The Bore by C.J. Dennis (1913)
The poem presents a speaker's plea to a friend, urging them to refrain from sharing amusing stories with a certain individual, referred to as a bore. The speaker expresses a deep aversion to this person's lack of humor and storytelling ability. Despite the bore's belief in his own wit, he fails to grasp the essence of comedy, instead misrepresenting and poorly retelling anecdotes. The speaker describes the bore's behavior, particularly how he collects jokes and stories during the summer, only to regurgitate them in a clumsy manner during winter nights. This results in a painful experience for the speaker, who finds the bore's attempts at humor torturous. The speaker's frustration is palpable, as they feel their own stories are being "murdered" and misappropriated. The poem captures the tension between genuine humor and its distortion, highlighting the speaker's desperation to protect their own narrative and the joy of storytelling from the bore's ineptitude. The repeated plea emphasizes the speaker's desire for their friend to understand the importance of preserving the integrity of good humor.
By C.J. Dennis · First published 1913 · Genre: Poetry, Humor, Satire · 317 words
First lines
Ah, prithee, friend, if thou hast aught Of love and kind regard for me, Tell not yon bore the stories droll That yesternight I told to thee.
Nor tell him stories of thine own, Nor chestnut of antiquitee; Nor quip nor crank, nor anything If thou hast aught of love for me.
What this Textopian page supports
The Bore is listed on Textopian as a poem by C.J. Dennis, dated 1913 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: C.J. Dennis
- Date: 1913 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Humor, Satire, Narrative, Lyric
- Length: 317 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Bore by C.J. Dennis
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
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- The Minglers by C. J. Dennis
- In The Tube by E. F. Benson
- My Poor Relation by C. J. Dennis
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse and employs poetic devices such as rhyme and meter.
- Humor — The poem centers around the theme of humor, specifically the annoyance of a 'bore' who lacks wit and storytelling ability.
- Satire — The poem critiques the character of the bore, highlighting the absurdity of his self-perception and lack of comedic skill.
- Narrative — The poem tells a story about the speaker's interactions with the bore, illustrating a clear narrative arc.
Tags
humor · satire · poetry · Australian literature · social commentary · character study · rural life · everyday life · irony · dialogue · narrative style · cultural critique