Class 10 English Poem How to Tell Wild Animals Text Book Question Answer

How to Tell Wild Animals Text Book Question Answer : Here are the answers to the questions from the NCERT English 10th textbook First Flight (poem “How to Tell Wild Animals” by Carolyn Wells) in simple English, tailored for Hindi medium students studying English as a second language in Madhya Pradesh:

Thinking About the Poem

1. Does ‘dyin’ really rhyme with ‘lion’? Can you say it in such a way that it does?
   The word ‘dyin’ (short for dying) doesn’t perfectly rhyme with ‘lion’ in standard English because ‘dyin’ sounds like “dye-in” and ‘lion’ sounds like “lie-on.” However, you can make them rhyme by pronouncing ‘dyin’ in a casual or poetic way, like “dye-on,” to match the sound of ‘lion.’ The poet uses this informal spelling to create a playful tone and make the rhyme work for the poem’s humorous effect.
2. How does the poet suggest that you identify the lion and the tiger? When can you do so, according to him?
   The poet humorously suggests identifying a lion by its tawny (yellowish-brown) color and loud roar, which you’ll notice when it attacks you. For a tiger, she says it has black stripes on a yellow body, and you’ll know it’s a tiger when it starts eating you. According to the poet, you can identify these animals when they are attacking or eating you, which is a funny way of saying it’s too late by then.
3. Do you think the words ‘lept’ and ‘lep’ in the third stanza are spelt correctly? Why does the poet spell them like this?
   The words ‘lept’ and ‘lep’ are not spelled correctly; the correct spellings are ‘leapt’ and ‘leap.’ The poet uses these incorrect spellings to create a humorous and informal tone. By dropping letters, she makes the words sound quick and playful, matching the fast movement of the leopard and the light, funny mood of the poem.
4. Do you know what a ‘bearhug’ is? It’s a friendly and strong hug — such as bears are thought to give, as they attack you! Again, hyenas are thought to laugh, and crocodiles to weep (‘crocodile tears’) as they swallow their victims. Are there similar expressions and popular ideas about wild animals in your own language(s)?
   A ‘bearhug’ is a strong, tight hug, but in the poem, it humorously refers to a bear’s attack, as if the bear is hugging you to harm you. Similarly, hyenas are said to laugh (their cry sounds like laughter) and crocodiles are said to cry ‘crocodile tears’ (fake tears) while eating their prey.
   In Hindi or other Indian languages, similar expressions exist. For example:
   • “Sher ka dil” (lion’s heart) means someone very brave.
   • “Bhediya aaya” (the wolf is coming) is used to scare children, like a warning of danger.
   • “Saap ka dansh” (snake’s bite) refers to something sneaky or harmful.
   • These expressions use animal traits to describe behaviors, just like in the poem.
5. Look at the line “A novice might nonplus”. How would you write this ‘correctly’? Why is the poet’s ‘incorrect’ line better in the poem?
   The correct way to write the line would be, “A novice might be nonplussed.” The word ‘nonplussed’ means confused or puzzled, and it’s the proper form.
   The poet’s ‘incorrect’ line, “A novice might nonplus,” is better because it keeps the poem’s playful and simple tone. By using ‘nonplus’ as a verb, the poet makes the line shorter and funnier, fitting the humorous rhythm and rhyme of the poem.
6. Can you find other examples of poets taking liberties with language, either in English or in your own language(s)? Can you find examples of humorous poems in your own language(s)?
   Poets often play with language to create fun or unique effects. In English, poets like Ogden Nash use funny spellings or made-up words for humor, like in his poem “The Panther,” where he twists words for laughs.
   In Hindi, poets like Kaka Hathrasi write humorous poems using simple, playful language. For example, his poem “Hathi Ghoda Palki” uses funny descriptions of animals and people to make readers laugh. Another example is Surender Sharma’s humorous poetry, where he uses everyday Hindi words in a clever, funny way to talk about daily life.
   These poets change spellings, use slang, or create new words to make their poems lively and entertaining.
7. Much of the humour in the poem arises from the way language is used, although the ideas are funny as well. If there are particular lines in the poem that you especially like, share these with the class, speaking briefly about what it is about the ideas or the language that you like or find funny.
   One line I like is: “If he roars at you as you’re dyin’, You’ll know it is the Asian Lion.”
   This is funny because the poet says you’ll know it’s a lion only when it’s attacking you, which is too late! The use of ‘dyin’ instead of ‘dying’ adds a playful tone, and the idea of identifying an animal during an attack is absurd and humorous.
   Another line is: “A novice might nonplus.” It’s funny because it uses an unusual word in a casual way, making it sound like confusion is a simple thing. The wrong form of the word adds to the poem’s light, silly style.
   (You can share your favorite lines with your class and explain why you find them funny, like the playful words or the silly ideas about animals attacking.)