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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"On Inclusion of Miniature Dinosaurs in Breakfast Cereal Boxes" by John Updike playfully explores the whimsical integration of education and entertainment found in everyday life, specifically through the lens of childhood and consumer culture. Updike uses the presence of miniature dinosaurs in breakfast cereal boxes as a metaphor to juxtapose the mundane act of eating breakfast with the grandeur and mystery of prehistoric life. The poem is lighthearted and humorous, imbuing a routine morning scenario with a touch of historical wonder. The poem opens with the speaker identifying themselves humorously as a "post-historic herbivore," coming to breakfast seeking something to eat. This self-description sets the tone, suggesting a connection across time between the consumer (the speaker) and the ancient creatures featured as toys in the cereal boxes. The mention of looking for "A bite" cleverly plays on the dual meaning of seeking food and the potential danger had these dinosaurs been real rather than plastic figurines. Updike then delves into the discovery of various dinosaur figures hidden among the cereal boxes. Each line introduces a different dinosaur, starting with the fierce "Tyrannosaurus rex" found behind a box of Brex, a fictitious cereal that sounds humorously close to 'T-rex'. The discovery continues with "an acetate Triceratops" behind the Sugar Pops and the "spoor of Brontosaurus feet" across the shredded wheat. These playful findings not only enhance the magic of the morning routine but also subtly educate the reader about different dinosaur species, blending the domestic with the prehistoric. The imagery of finding dinosaurs in cereal boxes evokes a childlike excitement and wonder, transforming an ordinary kitchen into a site of archaeological discovery. Each cereal box becomes a new terrain to explore, echoing the real scientific excitement of unearthing dinosaur fossils, yet within a completely domestic and safe context. By the fourth stanza, the speaker, still "Too unawake to dwell upon / A model of Iguanodon," finds refuge and perhaps a hint of identity in Raisin Bran, suggesting a return to the familiar and mundane after the brief imaginative journey. The conclusion, "And thus begins the dawn of Man," humorously elevates the act of eating breakfast to a monumental, evolutionary event. It plays on the idea that the simple act of choosing a cereal and discovering a dinosaur can be seen as a beginning of consciousness, curiosity, and perhaps the evolution of learning itself. Overall, Updike’s poem is a delightful meditation on how imagination and reality intersect in the playful context of a child's breakfast. It captures the essence of how mundane daily routines can be infused with joy and discovery when seen through the lens of creativity and play. The poem itself acts much like the miniature dinosaurs hidden in the cereal boxes: as a small addition to the day that provides a disproportionate amount of delight and thoughtfulness, inviting both children and adults to ponder the vast stretches of time that separate us from these ancient creatures, all while simply enjoying a morning meal.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON INCLUSION OF MINIATURE DINOSAURS. BREAKFAST CEREAL BOXES by JOHN UPDIKE HAD I THE CHOICE (AFTER WALT WHITMAN) by GEORGE SANTAYANA ALAS! POOR QUEEN by MARION ANGUS CANCIONEROS: 2 by CRISTOBAL DE CASTILLEJO THE GODS OF THE COPYBOOK HEADINGS by RUDYARD KIPLING SUMMER BY THE LAKESIDE by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER A FAERY SONG, SUNG BY THE PEOPLE OF FAERY OVER DIARMUID by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS HOPE DEFERRED by LOUISA SARAH BEVINGTON THE COACHMAN'S YARN by EDWIN JAMES BRADY |
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