Class 10 English - RAJASTHAN

Poetry: How to Tell Wild Animals

The chapter 'How to Tell Wild Animals' by Carolyn Wells is a delightful and humorous poem prescribed in the Class 10 English syllabus for Rajasthan (RBSE) students. The poet introduces various dangerous wild animals, such as the Asian Lion, Bengal Tiger, Bear, Hyena, and Crocodile, using witty and clever identification techniques. For board exams, this chapter is crucial as it tests students' understanding of poetic devices, particularly humor, rhyme scheme, and irony. Scoring well in questions from this poem requires a clear grasp of the characteristics of each animal and the poet's unique satirical style.

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Key Concepts

Humor and Satire

The poet uses gentle humor and witty descriptions to suggest dangerously risky ways to identify wild animals, making it both entertaining and educational.

Rhyme Scheme

The poem is written in a consistent rhyme scheme, mostly following an ABABCC pattern across its stanzas, which gives it a song-like rhythm.

Poetic Device: Enjambment

The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, stanza, or couplet, frequently used by the poet to maintain flow.

Poetic Device: Allusion

A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, or literary significance, such as mentioning the 'Hyena' and 'Crocodile'.

Poetic Device: Poetic License

The freedom allowed to poets to alter normal rules of language or spelling for the sake of rhyme and rhythm, such as spelling 'lep' instead of leap.

Important Formulas

Rhyme Scheme Pattern: Stanzas generally follow the ABABCC rhyme scheme.
Identification Structure: Animal introduction -> Distinctive physical or behavioral trait -> Humorous warning.

Board Exam Info

In the Rajasthan (RBSE) Class 10 English board examination, this chapter typically carries around 2 to 4 marks. Questions commonly include reference to context (RTC) from the poem, short answer questions about the characteristics of specific animals, and identification of poetic devices like rhyme scheme or alliteration.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can we identify a Bengal Tiger according to the poem?

According to the poet, if a noble wild beast greets you while roaming in the eastern jungles, and he has black stripes on a yellow ground, you can easily identify that it is the Bengal Tiger.

What is the difference between a hyena and a crocodile as described in the poem?

The poet states that a hyena always comes with a merry smile, whereas a crocodile can be known by the tears it sheds while catching its prey.

What is the tone of the poem 'How to Tell Wild Animals'?

The tone of the poem is humorous, witty, and satirical, as the poet dangerous situations with funny and absurd suggestions.

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