“This Is Going to Hurt Just a Little Bit” is a poignant and insightful poem by renowned American poet Ogden Nash. In this literary masterpiece, Nash skillfully navigates the realm of humor and irony to provide readers with a candid glimpse into the world of medicine and the intricate dance between doctors and patients. Read More Class 12 English Summaries.
This is Going to Hurt Just a Little Bit About The Poet:
Frederick Ogden Nash (1902-1971) was an American poet. He is well known for his humorous poems. His poems are noted for their surprising pun and comic effect when words are deliberately misspelt. The exaggeration he uses gives his poems a special charm. The poem ‘This is Going to Hurt Just a Little Bit’ tells the poet’s experiences when he visits a dentist.
This is Going to Hurt Just a Little Bit Summary
Stanza 1: One thing 1 least like is sitting in a dentist’s chair with my mouth wide open. I always hope against hope that I will never have to do it again.
Stanza 2: Some tortures are physical and some are mental but the dental torture has both. It is difficult to be in self control, when your jaw is down into your chest.
Stanza 3: It is difficult to retain your calm when your fingernails are scratching your palm making serious changes in your life line, love line or some other important line.
Stanza 4: It is hard to give your usual cheerful goodness when you know that you are in a position in life which lacks dignity. There are only 2 or 3 occasions in life when this happens.
Stanza 5: Your mouth is like a section of the road on. which repair work is going on. It is all cluttered up with stone, crushers and concrete mixers and drills and steam rollers. All the nerves in your head are affected.
Stanza 6: Some people are unfortunate enough to be strung up by thumbs. Others have things done to their gums. Your teeth are supposed to get polished. But you think they are demolished. What terrifies you more is that it is done with a mirror. The dentist looks like a bear. The Romans call a bear ‘ursa’. The bear (dentist) takes a crow bar in one hand and a mirror in the other. How can we be sure he won’t make a mistake? Because in the mirror the left is right and the right is left. When we try to tie a bow tie with the aid of a mirror we tend to get mixed up.
Stanza 7: At last he says that is all. He coats your mouth with something that is used to shine a horse’s hoof. You get on to your feet with difficulty and think that | it’s all over now. After all, it was just once this time. But then he says we should go back to him before the end of three months. The poet feels that Fate sends this most vicious circle to man. Man has to go to the dentist continually to keep his teeth in good condition. The man wants his teeth in good condition because he does not want to go to the dentist. It is a real paradox.
conclusion:
In conclusion, Ogden Nash’s “This Is Going to Hurt: Just a Little Bit” is a remarkable poetic work that artfully combines humor and introspection to shed light on the world of medicine. Through the clever use of wit and irony, Nash not only elicits laughter but also prompts readers to reflect on the intricate dynamics between doctors and patients, the sacrifices made in the name of healing, and the sometimes bewildering experiences encountered in the medical realm.