Class 10 English First Flight Poem 4 Question Answer

Class 10 English First Flight Poem 4 Question Answer | How to Tell Wild Animals

Welcome to HSLC Guru. In this article, we provide a complete set of questions and answers for Class 10 English First Flight Poem 4 – How to Tell Wild Animals by Carolyn Wells. This poem is an important part of the ASSEB (Assam State Board of Secondary Education) Class 10 English syllabus. Here you will find the poem text, stanza-wise explanation, central idea, literary devices, NCERT textbook solutions (Thinking about the Poem), additional short and long answer questions, MCQs, and extract-based questions to help you prepare thoroughly for your HSLC examination.

About the Poet

Carolyn Wells (1862-1942) was an American author, poet, and humourist. She was born in Rahway, New Jersey, USA. She is well known for her humorous and witty poetry. She wrote over 170 books during her career, including mystery novels, humorous verse, and children’s literature. Her poetry often uses clever wordplay, irony, and absurd humour. “How to Tell Wild Animals” is one of her most famous humorous poems, which is included in the NCERT Class 10 English textbook “First Flight.”

Poem Text: How to Tell Wild Animals

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Word	Meaning
Tawny	Yellowish-brown colour
Dyin’	Dying (poetic form)
Roaming	Wandering, moving around
Noble	Grand, majestic, aristocratic
Greets	Meets, approaches (used ironically here)
Discern	Recognise, distinguish, identify
Strolling forth	Walking casually forward
Hide	Skin of an animal
Peppered	Covered with spots, dotted
Lept	Leapt, jumped (deliberately misspelled)
Lep	Leap, jump (deliberately misspelled)
‘Twill	It will (contracted form)
Caress	A gentle, loving touch or embrace
Distinguish	Tell apart, differentiate
Beasts of prey	Animals that hunt and kill other animals for food
Novice	A beginner, an inexperienced person
Nonplus	To confuse or bewilder completely
Merry	Happy, cheerful
‘Tis	It is (contracted form)
Chameleon	A small lizard-like reptile that can change its body colour

Stanza-wise Explanation

Stanza 1: The Asian Lion

“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.”

Explanation: The poet begins the poem by saying that if you happen to visit the jungles in the eastern part of the world, and a large, yellowish-brown coloured animal comes towards you, and if it roars at you so loudly that you feel like you are dying of fear, then you can be sure that it is an Asian Lion. The humour lies in the fact that by the time you identify the animal, it may already be too late for you.

Stanza 2: The Bengal Tiger

“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.”

Explanation: The poet says that if sometime while roaming around in the jungle, a grand and majestic wild animal comes to meet you, and you notice that it has black stripes on a yellow body, just check whether it eats you or not. This simple rule will help you identify the Bengal Tiger. The humour here is in the ironic suggestion that you should “just notice” if the tiger eats you, as if being eaten is a minor observation.

Stanza 3: The Leopard

“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.”

Explanation: The poet says that if you are walking casually and you see a beast whose skin is covered with spots, and as soon as it jumps on you, you will know that it is a Leopard. It will be of no use to cry out in pain because the leopard will only jump on you again and again. The poet uses the deliberately misspelled words “lept” and “lep” (instead of “leapt” and “leap”) to create rhyme and add humour to the poem.

Stanza 4: The Bear

“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.”

Explanation: The poet says that if you are walking around your yard and you meet a creature that hugs you very tightly, then you can be sure that it is a Bear. If you still have any doubts about its identity, do not worry — the bear will give you one more tight “caress” (embrace). The humour lies in calling the bear’s deadly, bone-crushing hug a gentle “caress.” The bear can even be found in residential areas, unlike lions and tigers.

Stanza 5: The Hyena and the Crocodile

“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.”

Explanation: The poet says that although it may be confusing for a beginner (novice) to tell different predatory animals apart, there is a simple way to distinguish a Crocodile from a Hyena. Hyenas always come with happy, merry smiles on their faces. But if the animal weeps (sheds tears), then it is a Crocodile. This refers to the popular expression “crocodile tears,” meaning insincere or fake tears. The poet also deliberately uses “nonplus” incorrectly (instead of “be nonplussed”) to maintain the rhyme scheme with “thus.”

Stanza 6: The Chameleon

“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.”

Explanation: The poet describes the Chameleon as a small creature that looks like a lizard. It has no ears and no wings. The most humorous and paradoxical line is the last couplet: if you look at a tree and see nothing there, then what you are seeing (or rather, not seeing) is the Chameleon. This refers to the chameleon’s remarkable ability to camouflage itself by changing its colour to match its surroundings. The contradiction of “seeing nothing” and yet identifying it as a chameleon is the clever twist in this stanza.

Central Idea of the Poem

The central idea of “How to Tell Wild Animals” is presented through dark humour and irony. The poet, Carolyn Wells, humorously describes the distinguishing features of various wild animals — the Asian Lion, the Bengal Tiger, the Leopard, the Bear, the Hyena, the Crocodile, and the Chameleon. However, the twist is that the methods of identification she suggests are extremely dangerous. You can identify the lion by its terrifying roar (while you are dying), the tiger by noticing if it eats you, and the leopard by the pain of its repeated leaps on you. The poem gently mocks the idea of wildlife identification guides by presenting absurd and life-threatening scenarios as simple “rules” for identification. Through this humour, the poet also highlights the dangerous and powerful nature of these wild animals.

Literary Devices Used in the Poem

1. Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows an ABABCC rhyme scheme throughout all six stanzas. For example, in Stanza 1: chance/advance (A), east/beast (B), dyin’/Lion (C). This consistent pattern gives the poem a musical, song-like quality.

2. Irony: The entire poem is built on irony. The poet suggests that you can identify animals only when they are attacking or killing you. For example, “Just notice if he eats you” — as if being eaten is a casual observation one can make.

3. Humour: The poem is rich in dark humour. Deadly encounters with wild animals are presented as simple identification exercises. The bear’s lethal hug is called a “caress,” and the tiger is described as a “noble wild beast” that “greets” you.

4. Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words close together. Examples: “roaming round” (repetition of ‘r’ sound), “lep and lep” (repetition of ‘l’ sound), “very, very” (repetition of ‘v’ sound).

5. Personification: Animals are given human qualities. The Hyena “comes with merry smiles,” the Crocodile “weeps,” and the tiger “greets” you. These are human actions attributed to animals.

6. Hyperbole (Exaggeration): The poet uses exaggeration for comic effect. For instance, the lion’s roar is so loud that you feel like you are dying, and the bear hugs you “very, very hard.”

7. Poetic Licence: The poet deliberately misspells words and uses incorrect grammar to maintain rhyme and rhythm. Examples include “dyin’” (dying), “lept” (leapt), “lep” (leap), and “A novice might nonplus” (instead of “A novice might be nonplussed”).

8. Enjambment: The continuation of a sentence beyond the end of a line without a pause. For example: “Or if some time when roaming round, / A noble wild beast greets you” — the thought flows from one line to the next.

9. Imagery: The poet creates vivid mental pictures through descriptive language. “A large and tawny beast” (visual imagery of the lion), “black stripes on a yellow ground” (visual imagery of the tiger), “hide with spots is peppered” (visual imagery of the leopard).

10. Paradox: In the last stanza, “If there is nothing on the tree, / ‘Tis the Chameleon you see” is a paradox — you see something by seeing nothing.

Thinking about the Poem (NCERT Textbook Questions and Answers)

Q1. Does ‘dyin’ really rhyme with ‘lion’? Can you say it in such a way that it does?

Ans: No, “dyin’” does not naturally rhyme with “lion” in standard English pronunciation. “Dyin’” is pronounced as “dye-in” while “lion” is pronounced as “ly-un.” However, if we pronounce “lion” in a non-standard way as “li-on” (to sound like “dyin’”), or if we pronounce “dyin’” more casually as “dye-un,” then a near-rhyme can be created. The poet deliberately uses the shortened form “dyin’” instead of “dying” to create this approximate rhyme and add to the humorous, casual tone of the poem.

Q2. How does the poet suggest that you identify the lion and the tiger? When can you do so, according to him?

Ans: According to the poet, the Asian Lion can be identified by its large size, tawny (yellowish-brown) colour, and its terrifyingly loud roar. If a large, tawny-coloured beast advances towards you and roars at you so fiercely that you feel like dying, then it is definitely the Asian Lion. The Bengal Tiger, on the other hand, can be identified by its black stripes on a yellow body. The poet humorously says that if a noble wild beast with black stripes on a yellow background meets you and tries to eat you, then it is the Bengal Tiger. According to the poet, you can identify these animals only when they are attacking you — the lion when it is roaring at you and the tiger when it is eating you. This is, of course, the poet’s way of creating humour.

Q3. Do you think the words ‘lept’ and ‘lep’ are spelled correctly? Why does the poet spell them like this?

Ans: No, “lept” and “lep” are not spelled correctly. The correct spellings are “leapt” (past tense of leap) and “leap.” The poet deliberately uses these incorrect spellings for two reasons. First, “lept” rhymes with “peppered” (when read as “lep-t”), and “lep” creates a playful sound that matches the light-hearted tone of the poem. Second, the word “lep” appears to be humorously derived from “leopard,” as if the animal has its own special way of jumping called “lepping.” This is an example of poetic licence, where the poet takes liberties with language to maintain rhythm, create rhyme, and enhance the humorous effect of the poem.

Q4. Do you know what a ‘bearhug’ is? It’s a friendly and strong hug — such as bears are thought to give, as described in the poem. Can you name any similar expression or idiom based on animals in your language?

Ans: Yes, a “bearhug” is a very tight, strong embrace, similar to the way a bear wraps its powerful arms around its prey. In the poem, the poet describes the bear hugging people “very, very hard” — so hard that it can kill. Some similar animal-based expressions and idioms in common use are: “crocodile tears” (meaning fake or insincere tears, also mentioned in this poem), “snail’s pace” (meaning very slow speed), “eagle eye” (meaning very sharp observation), “cat nap” (meaning a short sleep), “monkey business” (meaning mischievous or dishonest behaviour), and “dog’s life” (meaning a miserable existence).

Q5. 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: The grammatically correct version of this line would be: “A novice might be nonplussed.” The word “nonplussed” means to be confused or bewildered, and it is used as an adjective that requires the verb “be” before it. However, the poet’s “incorrect” version — “A novice might nonplus” — is better suited for the poem because it maintains the rhyme scheme. “Nonplus” rhymes perfectly with “thus” in the fourth line of the stanza (“Tell from the Hyena thus”). If the poet had written “be nonplussed,” it would have broken the rhyme and disrupted the rhythm of the poem. This is another example of poetic licence used throughout the poem.

Q6. Can you find other examples of poets taking liberties with language, either in English or in your own language?

Ans: Yes, poets frequently take liberties with language to maintain rhyme, rhythm, and metre. Some well-known examples include: In the poem “Trees” by Joyce Kilmer, the poet writes “A tree whose hungry mouth is prest / Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast” — here “prest” is used instead of “pressed” to rhyme with “breast.” Similarly, poets often use shortened forms like “o’er” for “over,” “ne’er” for “never,” “e’en” for “even,” and “’tis” for “it is.” In Robert Frost’s poetry, words are sometimes rearranged from their natural order (inversion) to fit the metre. Samuel Taylor Coleridge uses “ne” instead of “not” and “eftsoons” instead of “soon after” in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” These liberties are called poetic licence and are a common and accepted practice in poetry.

Q7. Much of the humour in the poem arises from the aquiet aquiet matter-of-fact tone in which dangerous and deadly situations are described. Can you find lines in the poem that demonstrate this?

Ans: Yes, the entire poem is filled with lines where deadly encounters are described in a calm, casual, matter-of-fact tone, which creates humour. Some notable examples are:

“Just notice if he eats you” — Being eaten by a tiger is described as casually as noticing the weather. The word “just” makes it sound like a simple, everyday observation.
“A noble wild beast greets you” — A tiger attacking you is described as a friendly greeting, as if the tiger is being polite.
“He’ll give you just one more caress” — The bear’s bone-crushing, deadly hug is called a gentle “caress,” as if it is a sign of affection.
“If he roars at you as you’re dyin’” — Dying is mentioned casually, as if it is a minor inconvenience while trying to identify an animal.
“‘Twill do no good to roar with pain, He’ll only lep and lep again” — The victim’s pain is dismissed as useless, and the leopard’s repeated attacks are described in a cheerful, rhythmic manner.

Short Answer Type Questions (2-3 Marks)

Q1. What is the theme of the poem “How to Tell Wild Animals”?

Ans: The theme of the poem is humour and irony. The poet humorously describes how to identify various wild animals by their distinctive features. However, the irony is that all the methods of identification involve being attacked or killed by the animal. The poem creates comedy out of dangerous situations and gently mocks the idea of simple wildlife identification guides.

Q2. How does the poet describe the Asian Lion?

Ans: The poet describes the Asian Lion as a large and tawny (yellowish-brown) beast that is found in the jungles of the east. Its most distinctive feature is its terrifyingly loud roar. The poet says that if the beast roars at you so loudly that you feel like you are dying, then you can be sure it is the Asian Lion.

Q3. How can you identify a Bengal Tiger according to the poet?

Ans: According to the poet, the Bengal Tiger can be identified by its noble and majestic appearance, with distinctive black stripes on a yellow body. The poet humorously says that if the animal tries to eat you after meeting you, then you can be sure it is a Bengal Tiger. This “simple rule” is the poet’s ironic way of describing the tiger’s predatory nature.

Q4. What are the distinguishing features of a Leopard as described in the poem?

Ans: The Leopard is described as an animal whose skin (hide) is covered with spots (“peppered with spots”). It is extremely agile and pounces on its prey immediately. The poet says that once the leopard leaps on you, it will continue to leap on you again and again, and crying out in pain will not help at all.

Q5. How does the poet describe the Bear?

Ans: The poet says that if you are walking around your yard and meet a creature that hugs you very tightly, then it is definitely a Bear. Unlike the lion and tiger that live in jungles, the bear can be found in residential areas (your yard). If you have any doubts about its identity, the bear will remove them by giving you one more “caress” — a deadly tight embrace.

Q6. How can you distinguish between a Hyena and a Crocodile?

Ans: The poet says that although it may confuse a beginner (novice) to tell different predators apart, there is a simple way to distinguish between a Hyena and a Crocodile. Hyenas always come with merry smiles on their faces. On the other hand, if the animal weeps while catching or eating its prey, then it is a Crocodile. This is a reference to the popular saying “crocodile tears,” meaning insincere tears.

Q7. What is unique about the Chameleon as described in the poem?

Ans: The Chameleon is described as a small creature that looks like a lizard. It has no ears and no wings. The most unique thing about the Chameleon is its ability to camouflage itself by changing its colour to match its surroundings. The poet says that if you see nothing on a tree, then what you are looking at is actually the Chameleon — it is there but invisible due to its camouflage.

Q8. What is the tone of the poem? How does it create humour?

Ans: The tone of the poem is light-hearted, casual, and matter-of-fact, even when describing dangerous and deadly situations. This contrast between the serious subject matter (being attacked by wild animals) and the casual tone creates humour. The poet treats being eaten by a tiger or being hugged to death by a bear as simple, everyday events, which makes the poem very funny.

Q9. Why does the poet say that a novice might be confused while distinguishing beasts of prey?

Ans: The poet says that a novice (beginner or inexperienced person) might be confused (nonplussed) while trying to distinguish between different beasts of prey because many predatory animals may look similar to someone who is not familiar with them. However, the poet provides a humorous and easy way to tell them apart: hyenas smile while crocodiles weep. This suggests that even a beginner can learn to identify animals if they know these simple (though absurd) tricks.

Q10. What is the significance of the title “How to Tell Wild Animals”?

Ans: The title “How to Tell Wild Animals” is significant because the word “tell” has a double meaning here. It means both “to identify” and “to narrate about.” On the surface, the poem appears to be a guide for identifying wild animals. However, the poet’s real purpose is to entertain the reader with humorous descriptions of these animals. The title sets up the expectation of a serious wildlife guide but delivers a comic poem instead.

Q11. Explain the irony in the line “Just notice if he eats you.”

Ans: The line “Just notice if he eats you” is deeply ironic because the word “just” makes the act of being eaten sound like a simple, casual observation. In reality, if a tiger is eating you, you would be in extreme pain and terror and would hardly be able to calmly “notice” anything. The irony lies in the contrast between the horrifying reality of being eaten alive and the poet’s calm, casual suggestion to simply observe it happening.

Q12. Why does the poet call the Bengal Tiger a “noble wild beast”?

Ans: The poet calls the Bengal Tiger a “noble wild beast” because of its grand, majestic, and impressive appearance. The tiger, with its striking black stripes on a yellow coat, looks regal and dignified. The word “noble” also adds to the humour of the poem because the tiger’s “noble” greeting turns out to be an attempt to eat the person. The contrast between the noble description and the deadly reality creates an ironic and humorous effect.

Q13. What is the meaning of the expression “crocodile tears”? How is it used in the poem?

Ans: “Crocodile tears” is a well-known expression that means fake or insincere tears, or pretending to be sad when one is not actually sad. It comes from the old belief that crocodiles shed tears while eating their prey. In the poem, the poet uses this expression to distinguish crocodiles from hyenas: hyenas come with merry smiles, while crocodiles weep (shed crocodile tears). The poet is being humorous here, using this popular expression as a genuine method of wildlife identification.

Q14. How does the poet use poetic licence in the poem? Give examples.

Ans: Poetic licence refers to a poet’s freedom to deviate from the rules of language, grammar, or spelling for artistic effect. In this poem, the poet uses poetic licence in several ways: (i) “dyin’” is used instead of “dying” to create a rhyme with “lion,” (ii) “lept” is used instead of “leapt” and “lep” instead of “leap” to maintain rhythm, (iii) “A novice might nonplus” is used instead of “A novice might be nonplussed” to rhyme with “thus,” and (iv) “‘Twill” and “‘Tis” are contracted forms used for rhythmic purposes.

Q15. What is a paradox? How is it used in the last stanza of the poem?

Ans: A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory or absurd but may actually be true. In the last stanza of the poem, the poet says: “If there is nothing on the tree, / ‘Tis the Chameleon you see.” This is a paradox because the poet is saying that you can see the Chameleon by seeing nothing. The statement seems contradictory — how can you see something by seeing nothing? However, it makes sense because the Chameleon changes its colour to match the tree and becomes invisible. So, when you see nothing on the tree, you are actually looking at a perfectly camouflaged Chameleon.

Q16. What message does the poet convey through the poem?

Ans: Through the poem, the poet conveys the message that wild animals are extremely dangerous and powerful. Each animal has its own distinctive features and way of attacking. While the poem is humorous on the surface, it also reminds us that these wild animals should be respected and feared. The poet also conveys that we should not take nature lightly and should be cautious in the wild. The humour serves to make the information about these animals memorable and engaging.

Q17. Why does the poet describe the Chameleon differently from the other animals?

Ans: The poet describes the Chameleon differently from the other animals because, unlike the lion, tiger, leopard, bear, hyena, and crocodile, the Chameleon is not a dangerous predator. All the other animals are described through their dangerous attacks on humans, but the Chameleon is described through its physical features (small, lizard-like, no ears, no wings) and its unique ability to camouflage. The Chameleon stanza provides a contrast to the rest of the poem and ends the poem on a lighter, less violent note.

Long Answer Type Questions (5-6 Marks)

Q1. How does Carolyn Wells use humour and irony in “How to Tell Wild Animals”? Discuss with examples from the poem.

Ans: Carolyn Wells masterfully uses humour and irony throughout “How to Tell Wild Animals” to create an entertaining poem that also educates readers about wild animals.

The primary source of humour is the ironic contrast between the casual tone and the deadly subject matter. The poet describes being attacked or killed by wild animals as if it were a simple, everyday experience. For example, she says “Just notice if he eats you” about the Bengal Tiger, as if being eaten is a minor observation one can calmly make. Similarly, the lion’s terrifying roar is mentioned while “you’re dyin’” — dying is presented as a passing inconvenience.

The use of euphemisms adds another layer of humour. The bear’s lethal, bone-crushing embrace is called a “caress,” a word associated with gentleness and love. The tiger does not attack you — it “greets” you, as if it is being polite and friendly. These euphemisms create a humorous gap between what is actually happening (a deadly attack) and how it is described (a friendly encounter).

The poet also creates humour through absurd logic. The entire premise of the poem is absurd — that you can identify a wild animal only when it is in the process of killing you. The poem treats this absurd idea with complete seriousness, which makes it funnier. The last stanza about the Chameleon is perhaps the most cleverly humorous: “If there is nothing on the tree, ‘Tis the Chameleon you see” — you identify it by seeing nothing at all.

Additionally, the poet uses poetic licence for humorous effect, deliberately misspelling words like “lept” and “lep” and using incorrect grammar like “A novice might nonplus.” These intentional errors add a playful, lighthearted quality to the poem.

Q2. Describe each animal mentioned in the poem and the method the poet suggests for identifying it.

Ans: The poem describes seven wild animals with humorous methods of identification:

(i) Asian Lion: Found in the jungles of the east, it is a large beast with a tawny (yellowish-brown) colour. The identification method is its terrifyingly loud roar — if it roars at you so loudly that you feel like dying, it is the Asian Lion.

(ii) Bengal Tiger: A noble-looking wild beast with distinctive black stripes on a yellow body. The identification method is to notice if it eats you — if it does, it is the Bengal Tiger.

(iii) Leopard: Its skin (hide) is covered with spots (“peppered”). The identification method is that as soon as it leaps on you, you will know it is the Leopard. It will continue to leap on you repeatedly, and crying out in pain will not stop it.

(iv) Bear: Found even in residential areas (your yard). It can be identified by its extremely tight hug. If you still have doubts, it will give you one more deadly “caress” to confirm its identity.

(v) Hyena: It can be identified by its merry smile. It always approaches its prey with what appears to be a happy, smiling expression.

(vi) Crocodile: It can be distinguished from the Hyena by its tears. If the beast weeps while catching its prey (crocodile tears), then it is a Crocodile.

(vii) Chameleon: A small, lizard-like creature without ears or wings. Unlike the other animals, it is identified by its invisibility — if you see nothing on a tree, then the Chameleon is there, camouflaged to match its surroundings.

Q3. What are the different poetic devices used in the poem “How to Tell Wild Animals”? Explain with examples.

Ans: Carolyn Wells uses a variety of poetic devices in “How to Tell Wild Animals” to create humour and maintain the rhythm of the poem:

(i) Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows an ABABCC rhyme scheme consistently. For example, in Stanza 2: round/ground (A), you/learn (B), eats/discern (C). This gives the poem a musical quality.

(ii) Irony: The poem is built entirely on irony. Deadly situations are described casually: “Just notice if he eats you” and “He’ll give you just one more caress.”

(iii) Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds is found in “roaming round” (r sound), “very, very” (v sound), and “lep and lep” (l sound).

(iv) Personification: Animals are given human qualities — the Hyena “smiles,” the Crocodile “weeps,” and the tiger “greets” you.

(v) Hyperbole: Exaggeration is used for comic effect. The lion’s roar is so loud you feel like dying, and the bear hugs “very, very hard.”

(vi) Poetic Licence: The poet deliberately misspells words (“dyin’”, “lept”, “lep”) and uses incorrect grammar (“A novice might nonplus”) to maintain rhyme and rhythm.

(vii) Imagery: Vivid descriptions create mental pictures: “large and tawny beast” (lion), “black stripes on a yellow ground” (tiger), “hide with spots is peppered” (leopard).

(viii) Paradox: “If there is nothing on the tree, ‘Tis the Chameleon you see” — seeing something by seeing nothing.

(ix) Enjambment: Sentences flow from one line to the next without pause, as in “Or if some time when roaming round, / A noble wild beast greets you.”

Q4. Compare and contrast the ways in which the poet describes the lion, the tiger, and the leopard in the poem.

Ans: The lion, the tiger, and the leopard are the three big cats described in the first three stanzas of the poem, and the poet draws clear distinctions between them while also highlighting their common danger.

Similarities: All three are powerful, dangerous predators found in the jungle. All three are described through their attack on the reader — the lion roars at you, the tiger eats you, and the leopard leaps on you. Each animal’s description follows the same pattern of a humorous identification method that involves mortal danger.

Differences in appearance: The Asian Lion is “large and tawny” (plain yellowish-brown), the Bengal Tiger has “black stripes on a yellow ground” (striped pattern), and the Leopard has a hide that is “peppered with spots” (spotted pattern). Their physical appearances are the primary way to distinguish them from each other.

Differences in behaviour: The Lion announces its presence with a terrifying roar — it is loud and aggressive. The Tiger, in contrast, is described as “noble” and appears to “greet” you before silently eating you — it is quiet and dignified. The Leopard is the most agile and persistent, leaping on its prey repeatedly (“lep and lep again”) without stopping.

Differences in tone: The Lion stanza has a sense of overwhelming terror (dying from fear). The Tiger stanza has an air of ironic politeness (a “noble” beast that “greets” you). The Leopard stanza conveys relentless, inescapable danger (continuous leaping with no escape).

Q5. “Humour is the best way to convey serious messages.” Discuss this statement with reference to the poem “How to Tell Wild Animals.”

Ans: The poem “How to Tell Wild Animals” by Carolyn Wells is an excellent example of how humour can be used to convey serious messages effectively.

On the surface, the poem is a lighthearted, funny guide to identifying wild animals. However, beneath the humour, the poem carries several serious messages. Firstly, it teaches readers about the distinctive physical features of various wild animals — the lion’s tawny colour, the tiger’s black stripes, the leopard’s spots, and the chameleon’s camouflage ability. These are genuine facts presented in an entertaining and memorable way.

Secondly, the poem subtly warns readers about the dangerous nature of wild animals. By humorously describing how each animal attacks — the lion roars, the tiger eats, the leopard leaps, and the bear hugs to death — the poet makes it clear that these animals are extremely dangerous and should not be approached carelessly. The humour makes this warning memorable.

Thirdly, the poem gently mocks the human tendency to oversimplify nature. The idea that you can identify a wild animal using a “simple rule” while it is attacking you is absurd, and this absurdity highlights how complex and unpredictable nature really is.

The effectiveness of using humour lies in its ability to engage the reader. A dry, factual description of wild animals might be forgotten quickly, but the funny imagery of a bear “hugging” you or a tiger “greeting” you stays in the reader’s mind. Thus, humour serves as a powerful tool for both entertainment and education, making the poem enjoyable while also leaving a lasting impression about the wild animals described.

Q6. How does the last stanza about the Chameleon differ from the rest of the poem? What effect does this create?

Ans: The last stanza about the Chameleon differs from the rest of the poem in several significant ways, and this creates a unique effect.

Change in danger level: In the first five stanzas, the poet describes large, dangerous predators — the lion, tiger, leopard, bear, hyena, and crocodile — all of which can kill humans. The Chameleon, however, is a small, harmless creature that poses no threat to humans. This shift from deadly animals to a harmless one is a significant departure.

Change in identification method: All the other animals are identified through their violent attacks on the reader — being roared at, eaten, leapt on, hugged to death, smiled at, or wept over. The Chameleon, on the other hand, is identified through its physical features (small, lizard-like, no ears, no wings) and its ability to become invisible. There is no attack or danger involved.

Use of paradox: The final couplet — “If there is nothing on the tree, / ‘Tis the Chameleon you see” — introduces a paradox that is not present in the other stanzas. This is arguably the cleverest and wittiest moment in the poem.

Effect: This contrast creates a sense of anticlimax that is itself humorous. After five stanzas of increasingly dangerous animals, the reader expects another terrifying creature, but instead gets a tiny, harmless lizard. This surprise ending adds to the overall humour of the poem and provides a satisfying, gentle conclusion to what has been a comically violent poem.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Q1. Where are Asian Lions found, according to the poem?
(a) In the jungles of the west
(b) In the jungles of the east
(c) In the African plains
(d) In the mountains of the north

Ans: (b) In the jungles of the east

Q2. What colour is the Asian Lion described as in the poem?
(a) Golden yellow
(b) Dark brown
(c) Tawny (yellowish-brown)
(d) Pure white

Ans: (c) Tawny (yellowish-brown)

Q3. How is the Bengal Tiger described in the poem?
(a) A fierce wild monster
(b) A noble wild beast
(c) A dangerous jungle cat
(d) A silent jungle killer

Ans: (b) A noble wild beast

Q4. What is the distinguishing feature of the Bengal Tiger?
(a) White stripes on orange body
(b) Black stripes on a yellow ground
(c) Spotted skin
(d) Tawny colour

Ans: (b) Black stripes on a yellow ground

Q5. What does the word “peppered” mean in the context of the Leopard’s skin?
(a) Coloured
(b) Sprinkled with pepper
(c) Covered with spots
(d) Striped

Ans: (c) Covered with spots

Q6. Which animal can you meet in your yard, according to the poem?
(a) Lion
(b) Tiger
(c) Leopard
(d) Bear

Ans: (d) Bear

Q7. What does the Bear do when it meets you?
(a) Roars at you
(b) Eats you
(c) Hugs you very hard
(d) Smiles at you

Ans: (c) Hugs you very hard

Q8. Who comes with “merry smiles” according to the poem?
(a) The Crocodile
(b) The Hyena
(c) The Bear
(d) The Chameleon

Ans: (b) The Hyena

Q9. What is the special feature of the Crocodile mentioned in the poem?
(a) It smiles while eating prey
(b) It weeps while eating prey
(c) It roars while eating prey
(d) It hugs its prey

Ans: (b) It weeps while eating prey

Q10. What two things does a Chameleon not have?
(a) Nose and ears
(b) Eyes and wings
(c) Ears and wings
(d) Legs and tail

Ans: (c) Ears and wings

Q11. What is the meaning of the word “novice” as used in the poem?
(a) An expert
(b) A hunter
(c) A beginner or inexperienced person
(d) A zoologist

Ans: (c) A beginner or inexperienced person

Q12. Which literary device is used in “He’ll only lep and lep again”?
(a) Metaphor
(b) Simile
(c) Poetic licence and repetition
(d) Personification

Ans: (c) Poetic licence and repetition

Extract-Based Questions

Extract 1

“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.”

(a) Where does the poet ask the reader to go?

Ans: The poet asks the reader to go to the jungles in the east (eastern countries of the world).

(b) What does the word “tawny” mean?

Ans: “Tawny” means yellowish-brown in colour. It describes the colour of the Asian Lion’s body.

(c) How can one identify the Asian Lion according to this extract?

Ans: According to this extract, the Asian Lion can be identified by its large size, tawny (yellowish-brown) colour, and its terrifyingly loud roar that makes you feel like you are dying.

(d) What is the rhyme scheme of this stanza?

Ans: The rhyme scheme of this stanza is ABABCC: chance/advance (A), east/beast (B), dyin’/Lion (C).

(e) Name the poetic device used in the word “dyin’”.

Ans: The poetic device used in “dyin’” is poetic licence. The poet has deliberately shortened “dying” to “dyin’” to create an approximate rhyme with “Lion” and to maintain the casual, humorous tone of the poem.

Extract 2

“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.”

(a) What does “strolling forth” mean?

Ans: “Strolling forth” means walking casually forward, taking a leisurely walk.

(b) How is the Leopard’s skin described in this extract?

Ans: The Leopard’s skin (hide) is described as being “peppered with spots,” meaning it is covered with dark spots all over its body.

(c) Are the words “lept” and “lep” spelled correctly? Why has the poet used these spellings?

Ans: No, “lept” and “lep” are not spelled correctly. The correct forms are “leapt” and “leap.” The poet has deliberately used these misspellings as examples of poetic licence to maintain the rhyme and rhythm of the poem and to add a playful, humorous touch.

(d) What does the last couplet mean?

Ans: The last couplet means that once the Leopard has attacked you, crying out in pain will not help you at all. The Leopard will simply continue to leap on you again and again. It conveys the relentless and merciless nature of the Leopard’s attack.

(e) What literary device is used in “He’ll only lep and lep again”?

Ans: The literary devices used are: (i) Repetition — the word “lep” is repeated to emphasise the continuous nature of the Leopard’s attack, and (ii) Poetic licence — “lep” is a deliberately misspelled form of “leap.”

Extract 3

“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.”

(a) What does the word “novice” mean?

Ans: “Novice” means a beginner or an inexperienced person — someone who is new to something and lacks knowledge or skill in that area.

(b) Why might a novice be confused (nonplussed)?

Ans: A novice might be confused because it is difficult for an inexperienced person to distinguish between different beasts of prey (predatory animals). They may not know the differences between various predators like the Hyena and the Crocodile.

(c) How can you tell a Hyena from a Crocodile?

Ans: According to the poet, you can tell them apart by their expressions: Hyenas come with merry (happy) smiles on their faces, while Crocodiles weep (shed tears) when they catch or eat their prey. This refers to the expression “crocodile tears.”

(d) What is the grammatically correct way to write “A novice might nonplus”?

Ans: The grammatically correct form would be “A novice might be nonplussed.” The poet has used the incorrect form “nonplus” as an example of poetic licence to maintain the rhyme with “thus” in the following line.

(e) What is the figure of speech used in “Hyenas come with merry smiles”?

Ans: The figure of speech used is Personification. Smiling is a human expression, and the poet attributes this human quality to the Hyena. The Hyena is personified as a creature that smiles happily, just like a human being.

Extract 4

“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.”

(a) What does the Chameleon look like?

Ans: The Chameleon is described as a small creature that looks like a lizard (“a lizard sort of thing”). It does not have any ears, and it does not have any wings.

(b) What two body parts does the Chameleon lack?

Ans: The Chameleon lacks two body parts: ears (“He hasn’t any ears at all”) and wings (“And not a single wing”).

(c) What is the special ability of the Chameleon referred to in the last two lines?

Ans: The last two lines refer to the Chameleon’s remarkable ability to camouflage itself by changing its colour to match its surroundings. It becomes invisible on a tree because its body takes on the same colour as the tree.

(d) What literary device is used in the last two lines of this stanza?

Ans: The literary device used in the last two lines is Paradox. The poet says “If there is nothing on the tree, ‘Tis the Chameleon you see,” which is paradoxical because it suggests that you can see the Chameleon by seeing nothing — a seemingly contradictory but actually true statement.

(e) How is the Chameleon different from the other animals described in the poem?

Ans: The Chameleon is different from the other animals in the poem because it is small, harmless, and does not attack humans. All the other animals (lion, tiger, leopard, bear, hyena, crocodile) are described through their dangerous attacks, but the Chameleon is described through its physical features and its camouflage ability. It provides a gentle, non-violent ending to the poem.

Important Points to Remember

The poem “How to Tell Wild Animals” is written by Carolyn Wells, an American humourist and poet.
The poem describes seven wild animals: Asian Lion, Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Bear, Hyena, Crocodile, and Chameleon.
The poem uses dark humour and irony — all identification methods involve being attacked by the animal.
The rhyme scheme is ABABCC throughout the poem.
Key literary devices include irony, humour, alliteration, personification, hyperbole, poetic licence, imagery, enjambment, and paradox.
“Dyin’“, “lept“, “lep“, and “nonplus” are examples of poetic licence — deliberately altered spellings and grammar for rhyme.
“Crocodile tears” is a popular expression meaning fake or insincere tears.
The last stanza about the Chameleon is different because it describes a harmless animal and uses a paradox.
A “bearhug” means a very tight embrace, derived from how bears crush their prey.

We hope these questions and answers for Class 10 English First Flight Poem 4 “How to Tell Wild Animals” by Carolyn Wells have been helpful for your HSLC examination preparation. For more chapter-wise solutions, visit hslcguru.com.