Class 10 English - BIHAR
Poetry: How to Tell Wild Animals
How to Tell Wild Animals is a humorous poem written by Carolyn Wells. It introduces Class 10 Bihar Board students to various wild animals like the Asian Lion, Bengal Tiger, Bear, Hyena, and Crocodile through dangerous yet funny ways to identify them. The poet uses witty descriptions, puns, and humorous poetic devices to describe the characteristics of these beasts. For the BSEB board exams, this chapter is important for scoring marks in reading comprehension, extract-based questions, and central idea questions. It teaches students how humor can be effectively blended with factual descriptions of wild animals.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Humor and Irony
The poet uses dark humor by suggesting dangerous situations, like being eaten by a tiger, to help readers identify the wild animals.
Identification of Animals
Each stanza describes specific physical traits and behaviors of distinct animals, such as the roar of a lion or the spots of a leopard.
Poetic Devices
The poem heavily features rhyme schemes (ababcc), enjambment, and poetic license (like 'lep and lep' or 'nonplus') to create rhythm and humor.
Contrast between Beasts
The poem contrasts the behavior of friendly animals like hyenas (which smile) and crocodiles (which weep) with dangerous predators.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Bihar (BSEB) Class 10 English exams, this chapter typically carries around 3 to 5 marks. Common question types include multiple-choice questions (MCQs) from stanzas, reference-to-context (extract-based questions), and short answer questions testing the theme of humor and the identification of specific animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central theme of the poem 'How to Tell Wild Animals'?
The central theme is humor and how to recognize dangerous wild animals through funny and dangerous distinguishing features.
How can you distinguish between a hyena and a crocodile according to the poem?
A hyena is said to come with merry smiles, while a crocodile always weeps as it catches its prey.
What is 'poetic license' in this poem?
Poetic license refers to the freedom poets take to alter spelling or grammar for the sake of rhyme and rhythm, such as spelling 'leopard' as 'lep'.
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