Table Manners I by Gelett Burgess
Table Manners I is a humorous poem written by Gelett Burgess that satirizes the etiquette of dining at a formal dinner party. The poem begins with the speaker introducing himself as a "guest" who has been invited to attend a dinner party hosted by his friend, Mr. and Mrs. Jones. Throughout the poem, the speaker describes various aspects of proper table manners, such as how to hold one's fork and knife, when to use a napkin, and what topics are appropriate for conversation during the meal. The poem ends with the speaker thanking his hosts for their hospitality and expressing his hope that he will be invited back again soon.
By Gelett Burgess · First published 1895 · Genre: Children's Literature, Humor, Poetry · 79 words
First lines
The Goops they lick their fingers, And the Goops they lick their knives; They spill their broth on the tablecloth -- Oh, they lead disgusting lives!
The Goops they talk while eating, And loud and fast they chew; And that is why I'm glad that I Am not a Goop -- are you?
What this Textopian page supports
Table Manners I is listed on Textopian as a short story by Gelett Burgess, dated 1895 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Gelett Burgess
- Date: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Humor, Poetry, Educational
- Length: 79 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Table Manners I by Gelett Burgess
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Table Manners I?
- How does this short story by Gelett Burgess fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Table Manners Ii by Gelett Burgess
- How To Eat Soup by Gelett Burgess
- Book Manners by Gelett Burgess
- Miss Manners by Gelett Burgess
- At Table by Gelett Burgess
- Politeness by Gelett Burgess
Genres
- Children's Literature — The content is written in a simple, rhyming style suitable for children, focusing on teaching manners.
- Humor — The exaggerated depiction of bad manners is intended to amuse and entertain.
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse form with rhyming lines.
- Educational — The primary purpose is to instruct children on proper table manners through examples of what not to do.
Tags
etiquette · humor · social manners · dining · food culture · satire · Victorian era · guidelines · politeness · table settings · civility · lifestyle