How To Tell Wild Animals: ncert solution Class 10

Thinking about the Poem: Page-45

1. Does ‘dyin’ really rhyme with ‘lion’? Can you say it in such a way that it does?

Ans: No, the word ‘dyin’ is quite different from the word ‘lion’ in pronunciation. So they do not rhyme. But it is made to rhyme with ‘lion’.

2. How does the poet suggest that you identify the lion and the tiger? When can you do so, according to him?

Ans: The poet suggests that a lion can be

identified by its body full of brownish-Yello
w colour and frightening roar. In the same way, a tiger can also be identified with its big and noble body full of stripes on the yellow background. It has a special habit of eating its prey as soon as it catches them.

3. Do you think the word ‘lept’ and ‘lep’ in the third stanza are spelt correctly? Why does the poet spell them like this?

Ans: No, I don’t think the words ‘lept’ and ‘lep’ in the third stanza are spelt correctly. The poet spelt them to put an effect of the eating attitude concerned with the tiger.

4. Do you know what a ‘bearhug’ is? It’s a friendly and strong hug – such as bears are thought of to give, as they attack you! Agin 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)?

Ans:  A bearhug is a hugging made by the bear when it attacks someone or its prey comparatively similar to its body. It is so tight that its prey cannot escape from its grip.

The visage of a hyena is made in a way it seems it laughs. But this is not at all reality. In fact, hyena does not laugh, but it is so cruel that it starts eating before the animal dies.

The tears of the crocodiles is not actually seen due to their grief or any trouble but it is the metabolism of its body that produces water-like substances in its eyes. It is also a very dangerous animal.

In our language, we have some similar expressions, like

Magarmachh ke ansu

Hanthi ke dant khaney ke aur dikhane ke aur, etc.

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?

Ans: I would write it “A novice might be nonplussed.” The poet tried to rhyme the word ‘nonplus’’ with the word ‘thus’ in the fifth stanza. The poet’s incorrect line is better than a correct one in the poem because of its suitable and effective rhyming.

6. Can you find other examples of the poet’s taking liberties with language, either in English or in your own language(s)? Can you find examples in humorous poems in your own language(s)?

Ans: We can find so many examples of poets taking liberties with language.

Examples:  ‘Wood’ ‘Stood’ in “The Road Not Taken”.

                     ‘Lay’ and ‘Day’ in “The Road Not Taken”.

In our own language, the following lines are very important.

                     Chanda  Mama Dur ke

                     Puwa Pakaye Gur ke

                     Apne Khaye Thali Mey

                     Hamko Deti Pyali Mey.

7. Much of the humour in the poem arises from the way language is used, although 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.

Ans: The funny lines which I like in the poem are as follows:

  “A noble wild beast greets you” is about the characteristics of the Bengal Tiger.

  “Who hug you very hard” is about the characteristics of a bear.

“Hyenas came with merry smile” is about the unexpected cruel habit of a hyena

.