Rohit Yadav
Thinking about the Poem
1. Does ‘dying’ really rhyme with ‘lion’? Can you say it in such a way that it does?
Answer
No, ‘dying’ does not rhyme with ‘lion’. It is for this reason that the poet has used ‘dyin’ so that when
we pronounce it, it rhymes with ‘lion’.
2. How does the poet suggest that you identify the lion and the tiger? When can you do so, according to him?
Answer
The poet suggests that if a large and tawny beast in the jungle in the east advances towards us, then it is an Asian lion. We can identify it when it roars at us while we are dying with fear. When while roaming we come across a wild beast that is yellow in colour with black stripes, it is a Bengal tiger. We can identify it when it eats us.
3. Do you think the words ‘lept’ and ‘lep’ in the third stanza are spelled correctly? Why does the poet spell them like this?
Answer
No, the words ‘lept’ and ‘lep’ are spelled incorrectly. The poet has spelled them like this in order to maintain the rhythm of the poem. When spelled this way, they rhyme with the first part of ‘leopard’, thus giving emphasis to ‘leopard’ in each line.
4. Do you know what a ‘bearhug’ is? It’s a friendly and strong hug — such as bears are thought to give, as they attack you! Again, 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)?
Answer
A ‘bearhug’ is the bear’s tight embrace. Hyenas never laugh. But their faces look like that. Crocodiles do not weep but tears come when they swallow their victims.
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?
Answer
The line “A novice might nonplus” can be correctly written as “A novice might be nonplussed”. The poet’s incorrect line is better in the poem as it maintains the rhyme scheme of the poem. By writing it incorrectly, ‘nonplus’ rhymes with ‘thus’.
6. Can you find other examples of poets taking liberties with language, either in English or in your own language(s)? Can you find examples of humorous poems in your own language(s)?
Answer
Yes, many poets take such liberties to create proper rhyming. These are for example Kirk is used for ‘church’ to rhyme with ‘work’. Ken is used for ‘see’ to rhyme with ‘pen’.
Question 7. Much of the humor in the poem arises from the way language is used. Although the ideas are funny as well. If there are particular lines in the poem that you especially like, share these lines with the class, speaking briefly about what it is about the ideas or the language that you like or find funny.
The way the poet has used language and ideas in the poem is indeed humourous. The lines from the poem that appears to be funny are “A noble wild beast greets you”. The idea that a wild beast is going to welcome you is quite funny. The language in the line, “He’ll only lep and lep again” is also very humorous. The concept of ‘lep’ from the word ‘leopard’ generates humor
4. How to Tell Wild Animals (Poem) MCQ
Question 1.
What two things does a Chameleon not have?
(a) does not have ears and nose.
(b) does not have ears and wings.
(c) does not have a nose and wings.
(d) none of the above.
Answer
(b) does not have ears and wings.
Question 2.
What is the special feature of the crocodile?
(a) weeps while eating its prey.
(b) happy while eating its prey.
(c) angry while eating its prey
(d) none of the above.
Answer
(a) weeps while eating its prey.
Question 3.
Which animal can we meet in our yard?
(a) Lion
(b) Pig
(c) Deer
(d) Bear
Answer
(d) Bear
Question 4.
How is the Bengal Tiger described?
(a) noble dinosaur.
(b) noble wild beast.
(c) noble dragon.
(d) none of the above.
Answer
(b) noble wild beast.
Question 5.
Where are the Asian Lions found?
(a) Eastern countries of the world
(b) Northern countries of the world
(c) Southern countries of the world
(d) Western countries of the world
Answer
(a) Eastern countries of the world
Question 6.
Name the literary device used in the line “He hasn’t any ears at all”.
(a) Assonance
(b) Inversion
(c) Enjambment
(d) Alliteration
Answer
(d) Alliteration
Question 7.
Who smiles while catching their prey?
(a) Hyena
(b) Crocodile
(c) Both of them
(d) None of them
Answer
(a) Hyena
Question 8.
Which animals are the beasts of prey?
(a) Hyena
(b) Crocodile
(c) Both of them
(d) None of them
Answer
(c) Both of them
Question 9.
Which animal do you find while walking in a yard?
(a) Asian Lion
(b) Bengal Tiger
(c) Leopard
(d) Bear
Answer
(d) Bear
Question 10.
Which animal’s roar is enough to kill you?
(a) Asian Lion
(b) Bengal Tiger
(c) Leopard
(d) Bear
Answer
(a) Asian Lion
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