How to Tell Wild Animals by Carolyn Wells – Complete Summary, Stanza-wise Analysis & Questions Answers Class 10 English
Introduction to How to Tell Wild Animals Class 10 English
How to Tell Wild Animals is a witty and humorous poem by Carolyn Wells, featured in the Class 10 NCERT English textbook First Flight. The poem playfully suggests some dangerously absurd ways to identify various wild animals. Instead of using scientific features, the poet uses the animal's deadly attacks as the key identifying characteristic. This poem is important for CBSE Class 10 students as it helps them understand humour in poetry, irony, and the use of poetic devices to create a comic effect.
How to Tell Wild Animals by Carolyn Wells – Complete Summary, Stanza-wise Analysis & Q\&A for Class 10 English
About the Poet
Carolyn Wells (1862–1942) was an American writer known for her light verse, humor, and children’s books. She often used wit, wordplay, and irony in her works, which is also evident in this poem.
Theme of the Poem How to Tell Wild Animals by Carolyn Wells
The central theme of the poem is humorous exaggeration in describing wild animals. Instead of giving scientific details or serious features, the poet uses the animals’ deadly attacks as the basis for identification. The poem shows how humour, irony, and imagination can be used to deal with otherwise serious or dangerous subjects like wild animals.
Summary of How to Tell Wild Animals Class 10 English
This poem is a comic masterpiece that describes a series of wild animals in a hilarious way. The speaker gives advice on how to recognise each animal based on how it kills you. If a large tawny beast roars at you as you are dying, it is an Asian Lion. If a striped beast eats you, it is a Bengal Tiger. If a spotted beast leaps on you repeatedly, it is a Leopard. If a creature hugs you very hard, it is a Bear. The poem also differentiates a Hyena from a Crocodile by their smiles and tears, and finally describes the Chameleon as a harmless, hard-to-spot creature. The entire poem is written with a straight-faced tone, which makes its dark humour even more effective.
Also Read:
Tone and Mood of How to Tell Wild Animals Class 10 English
-
The tone of the poem is playful, witty, and ironic.
-
The mood shifts between dark humour (lion, tiger, leopard, bear) and light humour (hyena, crocodile, chameleon).
Structure of the Poem of How to Tell Wild Animals Class 10 English
-
The poem has six stanzas, each focusing on a different animal.
-
The rhyme scheme is ababcc, which gives the poem a rhythmic and lyrical quality.
-
The use of rhyming words like dyin–lion, you–leopard too, smiles–crocodiles adds to the comic effect.
Analysis of the poem How to Tell Wild Animals by Carolyn Wells Class 10 English
Stanza 1
Original Text:
If ever you should go by chance
To jungles in the east;
And if there should to you advance
A large and tawny beast,
If he roars at you as you’re dyin’
You’ll know it is the Asian Lion...
Word Meanings:
By chance: accidentally
Advance: to move forward
Tawny: a light brownish-orange colour
Analysis:
The poem begins by setting a scene of adventure in the jungles of the east. The first animal introduced is the Asian Lion. The humour is dark and ironic. The poet says you will be certain of the animal's identity only at the moment of your death, when it roars at you. The advice is, of course, useless to the victim, which is the source of the comedy.
Stanza 2
Original Text:
Or if some time when roaming round,
A noble wild beast greets you,
With black stripes on a yellow ground,
Just notice if he eats you.
This simple rule may help you learn
The Bengal Tiger to discern.
Word Meanings:
Roaming: moving about aimlessly
Noble: belonging to a high rank; majestic
Ground: here, it means base colour or background
Discern: to recognise or identify
Analysis:
The second stanza describes the Bengal Tiger, which has black stripes on a yellow background. The poet continues with the same deadly humour. The identifying feature is not just its stripes, but the fact that it ‘eats you’. The phrase ‘simple rule’ is ironic because being eaten is a fatal and far from simple way to identify an animal.
Stanza 3
Original Text:
If strolling forth, a beast you view,
Whose hide with spots is peppered,
As soon as he has lept on you,
You’ll know it is the Leopard.
’Twill do no good to roar with pain,
He’ll only lep and lep again.
Word Meanings:
Strolling forth: walking out
Hide: an animal’s skin
Peppered: covered with spots (like pepper sprinkled on food)
Lep: an old-fashioned or poetic form of ‘leaped’
Analysis:
This stanza introduces the Leopard, covered in spots. The humour lies in the helplessness of the victim. Even if you cry out in pain, the leopard will not stop and will continue to ‘lep’ (leap) on you. The use of the non-standard word ‘lep’ adds to the playful, rhythmic quality of the poem.
lso Read:
Stanza 4
Original Text:
If when you’re walking round your yard
You meet a creature there,
Who hugs you very, very hard,
Be sure it is a Bear.
If you have any doubts, I guess
He’ll give you just one more caress.
Word Meanings:
Yard: a garden or courtyard next to a house
Caress: a gentle or loving touch (here used ironically for a deadly squeeze)
Analysis:
The setting shifts from deep jungles to one's own ‘yard’, making the scenario even more absurd. The bear is identified by its ‘very, very hard’ hug, which is a comical understatement for a deadly crush. The word ‘caress’ is used with heavy irony, suggesting that the bear’s second crushing hug is a form of affectionate confirmation.
Stanza 5
Original Text:
Though to distinguish beasts of prey
A novice might nonplus,
The Crocodile you always may
Tell from the Hyena thus:
Hyenas come with merry smiles;
But if they weep they’re Crocodiles.
Word Meanings:
Beasts of prey: animals that hunt and kill other animals for food
Novice: a beginner, someone inexperienced
Nonplus: to confuse or surprise someone
Analysis:
Here, the poet differentiates between two animals that might confuse a ‘novice’. The method is again based on behaviour rather than appearance. Hyenas are known for their laughing sound, described as ‘merry smiles’. Crocodiles are known to shed ‘crocodile tears’, which are false tears of hypocrisy. The poet uses these common idioms to create a humorous distinction.
Stanza 6
Original Text:
The true Chameleon is small,
A lizard sort of thing;
He hasn’t any ears at all,
And not a single wing.
If there is nothing on the tree,
’Tis the chameleon you see.
Word Meanings:
Chameleon: a small lizard that can change its skin colour to blend in with its surroundings
Analysis:
The final stanza breaks the pattern. The chameleon is not a deadly beast of prey. The humour here is different—it is gentle and observational. The poet points out its physical features and its amazing ability to camouflage itself. The joke is that if you see nothing on the tree, you are actually looking at a chameleon. This provides a light-hearted and harmless conclusion to the otherwise dangerous list of animals.
Poetic Devices Used in How to Tell Wild Animals Class X NCERT English
-
Rhyme scheme: ababcc
-
Alliteration: “leap and lep again”, “very, very hard”
-
Irony: deadly situations described in light words (dyin–lion, caress of a bear)
-
Imagery: descriptions of tawny lion, striped tiger, spotted leopard create vivid pictures
-
Humour: exaggeration and absurd situations create comic effect
-
Poetic license: use of non-standard spelling like dyin’ and lep to fit rhyme and rhythm
Message of the Poem How to Tell Wild Animals Class X NCERT English
The poem is not meant to be taken literally as a guide to animals. Its message is simple: literature and poetry can make us laugh even when dealing with dangerous or serious topics. It teaches us to appreciate humour in language, irony in expression, and creativity in style.
Also Read:
Questions Answers of How to Tell Wild Animals Class X NCERT English
Thinking About the Poem
1. Does ‘dyin’ really rhyme with ‘lion’? Can you say it in such a way that it does?
Yes, ‘dyin’’ does rhyme with ‘lion’ if we pronounce it in a certain way. The poet has used poetic license (the freedom to break rules) and dropped the ‘g’ from ‘dying’ to make it ‘dyin’’. When spoken aloud as ‘dy-in’, it rhymes perfectly with ‘li-on’.
2. How does the poet suggest you identify the lion and the tiger?
The poet suggests that if a large, tawny beast roars at you as you are dying, it is an Asian Lion. If a majestic beast with black stripes on a yellow body greets you and then proceeds to eat you, it is a Bengal Tiger.
3. Do you think the words ‘lept’ and ‘lep’ in the third stanza are spelt correctly? Why does the poet spell them like this?
No, the words are not spelt in their standard modern English form. The correct spellings are ‘leaped’ or ‘leapt’. The poet uses the old-fashioned spelling ‘lep’ to maintain the strong rhythm and rhyme scheme of the poem. It helps the lines “he has lept on you” and “he’ll only lep and lep again” flow better and sound more humorous.
4. What is the most obvious characteristic of the leopard according to the poet?
The most obvious characteristic of the leopard, according to the poet, is its skin which is covered with spots. She says its hide is “peppered with spots”. Furthermore, its behaviour of leaping on its victim repeatedly is its key identifying action.
5. How does the bear welcome you?
The bear welcomes you by hugging you very, very hard. The poet uses irony here, as this ‘hard hug’ is not a welcome but a deadly attack.
6. Explain the common idiom used in the poem for the crocodile. What does ‘crocodile tears’ mean?
The common idiom used is “crocodile tears”. It means to pretend to be sad or to cry fake, insincere tears. In the poem, the poet says that if a beast weeps, it is a crocodile, referring to this idiom.
7. What is the special feature of the chameleon?
The special feature of the chameleon is its ability to change its skin colour to match its surroundings, making it practically invisible. The poet says that if you see nothing on the tree, it is actually the chameleon you are seeing.
8. Why is the poem titled “How to Tell Wild Animals”? Is the title appropriate?
The title is appropriate because it perfectly captures the poem’s central theme and its humorous tone. The poem literally provides instructions on ‘how to tell’ (identify) wild animals. However, the methods are absurd and deadly, making the title ironic and funny. The reader expects a serious guide but gets a comedy instead.
Also Read:
Search Descriptions: #HowToTellWildAnimals #CarolynWells #Class10English #FirstFlight #CBSEEnglish #NCERTPoems #EnglishPoetry #HumorousPoem #CBSEClass10 #BoardExamPrep #PoemAnalysis #PoetrySummary #LiteratureGuide #StudentHelp #StudyNotes #LITFOGG #SmartClass #EnglishHumor #PoeticDevices #WildAnimalsPoem
No comments:
Post a Comment