Why? by Gelett Burgess (1906)
The poem "Why?" by Gelett Burgess is a humorous and satirical piece that explores the absurdity of human behavior. It consists of a series of questions posed to various animals, such as why do cats meow or why do dogs bark? The poem ends with the question "And why does man behave like he does?" which suggests that humans are just as strange and irrational as other creatures.
By Gelett Burgess · First published 1906 · Genre: Children's Literature, Poetry, Humor · 79 words
First lines
Josephus never yet was heard To say but just one single word!
When father said to go to bed, Then "_Why? _" was all Josephus said.
When mother bade him stop his play, Then "_Why? _" Josephus used to say.
He always made the same reply. 'Twas never anything but "WHY? "
What this Textopian page supports
Why? is listed on Textopian as a short story by Gelett Burgess, dated 1906 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: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Poetry, Humor, Family
- Length: 79 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Why? 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 Why??
- 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
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- Noise Noise Noise by Gelett Burgess
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- The Goop Picnic by Gelett Burgess
- Wet Feet by Gelett Burgess
- Mr Philosopher by Robert Graves
Genres
- Children's Literature — The simple language, repetitive structure, and focus on a child's behavior are characteristic of children's literature.
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse form with rhyming lines, typical of poetry.
- Humor — The exaggerated repetition of a single word in various situations is intended to amuse and entertain.
- Family — The interactions between Josephus and his parents highlight family dynamics.
Tags
humor · children's literature · poetry · nonsense · whimsy · illustrated · rhyme · curiosity · imagination · playfulness · absurdity · language