Rohit Yadav
Thinking about the Poem
In pairs, attempt the following questions
1. Why does the poet say, “I would not intrude on him”? Why doesn’t he offer him money to buy another ball?
Answer
The poet wants the boy to experience the loss. He should learn that it is a part of life. That’s why the poet doesn’t want to interfere with the boy and doesn’t want to offer him money to buy another ball.
2. “… staring down/All his young days into the harbor where/His ball went…” Do you think the boy has had the ball for a long time? Is it linked to the memories of days when he played with it?
Answer
Yes, it seems like the boy has had the ball for a long time. When it bounced into the water, all his memories of the days of childhood flashed in front of him. This led to a realization that those moments would not come back, just like the ball. He can buy new balls and can similarly create new moments, but those that are gone will not return.
3. What does “in the world of possessions” mean?
Answer
In the world of possessions, people like to possess all sorts of things in the world. Money is external because it can buy only material objects; it cannot buy everything that one loses.
4. Do you think the boy has lost anything earlier? Pick out the words that suggest the answer.
Answer
No, it seems that the boy had not lost anything earlier. The words that suggest so are ‘senses first responsibility in a world of possessions’.
5. What does the poet say the boy is learning from the loss of the ball? Try to explain this in your own words.
Answer
The poet says that the boy is learning to cope with the loss of the ball. He is experiencing grief and learning to grow up in this world of possessions. He learns that there are so many things in life that are to be lost and cannot be brought back. It is useless to feel sorrow for it.
MCQs
Question 1.
Who is the poet of the poem ‘The Ball Poem’?
(a) Sylvia Plath
(b) W.B Yeats
(c) Robert Frost
(d) John Berryman.
Answer
(d) John Berryman.
Question 2.
Why are the boy’s eyes desperate?
(a) Because he has lost his ball.
(b) Because he has lost his money.
(c) Because he has lost his gloves
(d) None of the Above
Answer
(a) Because he has lost his ball.
Question 3.
What does ‘in the world of possessions’ mean?
(a) Love
(b) Lust
(c) Materialistic things
(d) None of the Above
Answer
(c) Materialistic things
Question 4.
Where was the boy staring down?
(a) the sea
(b) the ocean
(c) the harbour
(d) the lake
Answer
(c) the harbour
Question 5.
Name the literary device used in “And No One Buys a Ball Back.”
(a) Metaphor
(b) Simile
(c) Alliteration
(d) Anaphora
Answer
(c) Alliteration
Question 6.
Why does the poet decide not to condone the boy?
(a) He is busy
(b) He is indifferent
(c) It will be of no use
(d) He is happy
Answer
(c) It will be of no use
Question 7.
According to the poet, what is the child learning?
(a) to bear loss
(b) to take care of things
(c) to be responsible
(d) to be careful
Answer
(a) to bear loss
Question 8.
What does a ball cost?
(a) 5 dimes
(b) 10 dimes
(c) 1 dime
(d) 4 dimes
Answer
(c) 1 dime
Question 9.
What is the boy playing with?
(a) bat
(b) ball
(c) car
(d) bus
Answer
(b) ball
Question 10.
Name the literary device used in “Merrily bouncing, down the street, and then Merrily over — there it is in the water!”
(a) Metaphor
(b) Simile
(c) Alliteration
(d) Anaphora
Answer
(d) Anaphora
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