The Table and the Chair
Summary
Summary
‘The Table and the Chair’ by Edward Lear is a humorous and imaginative poem that describes
the adventures of a table and a chair.
The poem is a fairly straightforward depiction of the Table’s desire to go outside, the Chair’s
resistance, and then their discovery of their ability to walk. The two “toddle” on two of their
four legs outside to “take the air”. Everyone celebrates this and the poem is quite light-
hearted until the two get lost. This is quickly remedied by three small creatures who direct
them back home.
Lear creates the characters and allows them to talk and act as human beings would. The
Table complains to the chair about the heat and the sores on its “feet”. Even though, as the
second stanza states, the two cannot walk, the Table suggests that they “take the air” and
take a “little walk”.
The Chair’s response follows in the second stanza. It reminds the Table that they are only
pieces of furniture and can’t walk even if they wanted to. The Table isn’t deterred. It
determines that it would “do no harm to try” to walk on the legs that they have. Two out of
the four should be good enough.
The Table and the Chair attempt their walk and are quite successful. They are out to “take the
air” they announced and everyone “cried” out in excitement when they saw them. The two
“toddled” on their legs but enjoyed it all the same. The two were certainly a spectacle.
Suddenly, in the fourth stanza of ‘The Table and the Chair,’ things take a darker turn. They
get “lost” as they wander around. In their excitement, they forgot how to get back to their
home. The duck, beetle, and mouse took them to “their house”. The darkness comes into the
poem and exits just as quickly.
The final stanza sees the two back in their home speaking to one another again. They’re
excited but also tired out by the day. Their new friends, the “Browny-Mousy” “Beetle” and
“Ducky” stayed with them until it was time to go to bed. The word “toddled” appears again in
the last line, suggesting that the two are not going to give up their new-found walking ability.
Answer the following
1. Who wanted to take a walk and why?
The table wanted to take a walk because he was suffering from the heat and from
chilblain on his feet. A walk would let the table have a little conversation with the
chair and it would also be a change of air.
2. Who felt that it was not possible for them to take a walk?
The chair felt it was not possible to take a walk.
3. How did the table convince the chair to take a walk?
The table convinced the chair by assuring him of the fact that a walk could mean
no harm for both of them has many legs and they could just as well walk in two.
4. Where did they both walk about?
They both walked about the town. And trotted about in rounds.
5. How did they lose their way?
While going down an alley to reach a castle in a valley, the table and the chair
lost their way.
6. Who took them back to their house?
A Ducky-quack, a Beetle and a Mouse took them back to their house.
7. What did they want to eat after the lovely walk?
After the lovely walk, the duo wanted to dine on Beans and Bacon.
8. Who danced and enjoyed until they toddled to their bed?
The Chair, the Table, the Ducky-quack, the Beetle and the little Browny-Mouse
danced and enjoyed until they toddled to their beds
9. Who is suffering from the heat?
Answer: The table is suffering from the heat.
10. Why did the table and the chair go for a walk?
Answer: The table and the chair went for a walk to get some fresh air.
11. How does the table and the chair want to take a walk?
Answer: The table and the chair want to take a walk with a little talk.
12. What sound did the table and the chair make?
Answer: The table and the chair made a bumpy sound.
13. What did the people say about the table and the chair?
Answer: The town people said that the table and the chair have come out to take some air.
