๐ฆ Class 10 English Poem 4 – How to Tell Wild Animals Notes
Book: First Flight
Poem: How to Tell Wild Animals
Poet: Carolyn Wells
Chapter: 4
Board: CBSE Class 10 (2025)
✍️ Introduction
“How to Tell Wild Animals” by Carolyn Wells is a humorous poem that describes various wild animals in a lighthearted and playful manner. The poet gives funny and exaggerated suggestions on how to identify wild animals, using rhymes and wit to engage readers while subtly hinting at the dangers of being near them.
๐ Summary of the Poem
The poem presents a series of amusing tips on how to recognize different wild animals. It begins with the suggestion that if a beast roars loudly and kills you before you can react, it's likely an Asian lion. If a striped creature grins as it attacks, it might be a Bengal tiger.
Further, the poet says if an animal hugs you tightly until you can’t breathe, it’s probably a bear. If you spot a beast that looks like a leopard and leaps to attack you repeatedly, you can be sure it’s a leopard—even if you're too hurt to notice.
The poet continues her comic instructions by describing a creature that cries loudly and sways—likely a hyena—and a crocodile that looks like it's weeping but still wants to eat you. The poem ends with a note on the chameleon, which changes its color and can hardly be seen as it blends with its surroundings.
๐ Central Idea
The poem humorously explains how to identify various wild animals based on their appearance and behavior. It mocks the idea of learning about wild animals through direct and dangerous experiences, using irony and exaggeration.
๐จ Poetic Devices Used
- Humor: The entire poem is humorous and sarcastic.
- Irony: Suggesting readers will identify animals by getting killed or attacked.
- Alliteration: “Who hugs you very, very hard”
- Rhyme Scheme: AABB in most stanzas.
- Imagery: Vivid images of animals attacking or behaving strangely.
๐ Word Meanings
Word | Meaning |
---|---|
Roaring | Making a loud deep sound (like a lion) |
Grin | Smile broadly |
Leopard | A wild cat with black spots |
Weeping | Crying or shedding tears |
Chameleon | A lizard that changes its color to blend in |
❓ Important Questions and Answers
- Q1. What is the theme of the poem “How to Tell Wild Animals”?
Ans: The poem uses humor to describe the dangers of identifying wild animals and plays with the idea of observing them too closely. - Q2. How does the poet describe the Bengal tiger?
Ans: The Bengal tiger is described as a noble beast with black stripes. It attacks and kills its prey with a grin. - Q3. What does the poem say about the crocodile and the hyena?
Ans: The crocodile seems to cry while eating its prey, and the hyena is described as laughing or smiling. Both are meant to mislead and amuse the reader. - Q4. How does the poet use humor to convey her message?
Ans: The poet makes exaggerated claims—like being hugged to death by a bear or being smiled at by a tiger—making the poem funny yet memorable.
๐ฅ Download PDF Notes
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๐ Tags: Class 10 English Poem 4, How to Tell Wild Animals Summary, Carolyn Wells Poem, First Flight Notes, CBSE 2025, ToppersNoteHub
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