Megabyte by Greg O’Connell is a humorous poem about a monster who looks frightening but has surprisingly excellent table manners. Although Megabyte has “enormous hairy hands,” “five bloodshot eyes,” and “ten yellow fangs,” he prefers to dine properly at a table with candles, using a napkin and cutlery. The poem plays on the contrast between his wild appearance and his polite behaviour, creating comedy through exaggeration and vivid description.

Written in rhyme with a strong rhythm, the poem uses playful language and detailed imagery to entertain readers while gently reinforcing ideas about etiquette and manners. The bright, cartoon-style illustration supports the humour by showing the monstrous Megabyte carefully eating at a candlelit table, further emphasising the unexpected contrast at the heart of the poem.

Curriculum Phase: Phase 2
Year Level: Year 4

English: reading for meaning and inference, analysing imagery and figurative language, exploring how poetry creates mood and atmosphere, integrating visual and written texts

Text type: Poetry, rhyming verse, humorous narrative poem

Key words include: monster, humour, manners, etiquette, contrast, appearance versus behaviour, rhyme, rhythm, exaggeration, imagery, table manners, characterisation, verse, surprise, dining, politeness