MP Board Class 10 English The Ball Poem Text Book Question Answer

MP Board Class 10 English The Ball Poem Text Book Question Answer : Here are the answers to the questions from the NCERT English 10th textbook First Flight (poem “The Ball Poem” by John Berryman) in simple English, tailored for Hindi medium students studying English as a second language in Madhya Pradesh:

Thinking About the Poem

1. Why does the poet say, “I would not intrude on him”? Why doesn’t he offer him money to buy another ball?
   The poet says, “I would not intrude on him,” because he does not want to disturb the boy’s feelings or stop him from learning an important lesson. The boy is sad after losing his ball, and the poet believes this sadness will teach him how to handle loss.
   The poet doesn’t offer money to buy another ball because giving a new ball would not help the boy learn. The lesson of accepting loss is more valuable than replacing the ball. The poet wants the boy to understand that losing things is part of life.
2. “… staring down/All his young days into the harbour where/His ball went …” Do you think the boy has had the ball for a long time? Is it linked to the memories of days when he played with it?
   Yes, the boy likely had the ball for a long time. The phrase “all his young days” suggests the ball was part of many happy moments in his life. It is linked to memories of playing with it, as the ball represents joy and fun from his childhood. When he stares at the water where the ball went, he is thinking about those special times, which makes the loss even harder.
3. What does “in the world of possessions” mean?
   “In the world of possessions” means a world where people own things, like toys, clothes, or other items, and value them. The poet is saying that in this world, people become attached to their belongings, but they must learn that these things can be lost. The boy’s loss of his ball teaches him about the reality of losing things we own.
4. Do you think the boy has lost anything earlier? Pick out the words that suggest the answer.
   The boy probably has not lost anything important before. The words “his first loss” in the poem suggest this is the first time he is experiencing the pain of losing something he loves. This makes the loss of the ball a big moment for him.
5. What does the poet say the boy is learning from the loss of the ball? Try to explain this in your own words.
   The poet says the boy is learning the “epistemology of loss,” which means understanding how to deal with losing something important. In simple words, the boy is learning that losing things, like his ball, is a part of life. He is discovering how to feel the sadness, accept it, and move on. This experience teaches him to be strong and responsible when facing losses in the future.
6. Have you ever lost something you liked very much? Write a paragraph describing how you felt then, and saying whether — and how — you got over your loss.
   Once, I lost my favorite pen that my best friend gave me on my birthday. It was special because it had my name on it, and I used it every day for school. When I couldn’t find it, I felt very sad and kept searching everywhere, hoping it would turn up. I was upset for a few days because it reminded me of my friend. But slowly, I got over it by remembering that the pen was just a thing, and my friendship was more important. My parents also encouraged me to focus on the happy memories rather than the loss. Eventually, I bought a new pen and started using it, which helped me move on. This experience taught me that while losing something hurts, we can learn to accept it and keep going.