How to Tell Wild Animals and The Ball Poem — AP Board Class 10 English (First Flight)
About These Poems
This chapter combines TWO VERY DIFFERENT poems:
- 'How to Tell Wild Animals' by Carolyn Wells — A HUMOROUS poem that gives 'helpful' (and hilariously useless) advice on identifying wild animals
- 'The Ball Poem' by John Berryman — A SERIOUS, PHILOSOPHICAL poem about a boy who loses his ball and learns about loss and responsibility
Together, they show poetry's RANGE — from pure comedy to profound meditation. Both are part of the AP Board (BSEAP) Class 10 English First Flight textbook under the new 2025-26 NCERT-aligned syllabus.
About the Poets
Carolyn Wells (1862-1942)
- American writer and poet
- Wrote over 170 books — poetry, mystery novels, children's literature
- Known for her LIGHT VERSE and HUMOROUS POETRY
- 'How to Tell Wild Animals' is her most famous poem in Indian syllabi
- Her style: WITTY, RHYMING, ABSURD
John Berryman (1914-1972)
- American poet, a major figure in 20th-century poetry
- Known for his DREAM SONGS — a series of 385 poems
- Wrote about personal EXPERIENCE, LOSS, and MENTAL STRUGGLE
- 'The Ball Poem' is from his early work — simple surface, deep meaning
- His style: CONFESSIONAL, INTROSPECTIVE, SYMBOLIC
Part I: How to Tell Wild Animals by Carolyn Wells
1. The Full Poem
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 the 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.
2. Summary
The poem is a HUMOROUS, SATIRICAL guide to identifying wild animals in the jungle. The 'advice' is intentionally RIDICULOUS and SUICIDAL:
- Asian Lion: If a large tawny beast ROARS as you're dying — that's your clue
- Bengal Tiger: If he EATS you — that identifies him
- Leopard: If it LEAPS on you and keeps LEAPING — leopard
- Bear: If it HUGS you very hard — bear (the last hug you'll ever feel)
- Crocodile vs Hyena: Hyenas SMILE; Crocodiles WEEP (crocodile tears)
- Chameleon: If there's NOTHING ON THE TREE — you're looking at a chameleon (because it blends in)
The joke: By the time you've identified the animal, you're DEAD.
3. Stanza-by-Stanza Breakdown
Stanza 1 — Asian Lion: 'If he roars at you as you're dyin'' — you've found the lion. The humour is in the TIMING — during death itself, you confirm your identification.
Stanza 2 — Bengal Tiger: 'Just notice if he eats you' — the identification method requires BEING EATEN. Self-sacrifice for classification!
Stanza 3 — Leopard: 'He'll only lep and lep again' — the leopard's repetitive leaping (stylised as 'lep') is the identifying feature. A pun on 'leap' and 'lep'.
Stanza 4 — Bear: The bear 'hugs' very hard — a tight HUG is actually a DEATH GRIP.
Stanza 5 — Crocodile vs Hyena: The MOST FAMOUS distinction. Hyenas SMILE (seem friendly). Crocodiles WEEP ('crocodile tears' — fake sadness). But NEITHER is safe to approach.
Stanza 6 — Chameleon: The chameleon is INVISIBLE against its background. If you see 'nothing on the tree' — that's the chameleon. A perfect absurd ending.
4. Key Themes
Humour through Absurdity The central 'joke' is that identifying wild animals will KILL you. The poem takes a serious topic (wildlife identification) and makes it hilarious by focusing on the WRONG details.
Satire of Guides and Manuals The poem mocks the 'helpful guide' genre. It pretends to be EDUCATIONAL but gives USELESS advice. A satire of how-to books.
The Danger of the Wild Beneath the humour: wild animals ARE dangerous. By joking about death, the poem makes us think about our VULNERABILITY in nature.
Wordplay Wells uses PUNS and PLAYFUL LANGUAGE: 'lep', 'nonplus', 'crocodile tears'. The poem is a celebration of LANGUAGE.
5. Literary Devices
Humour The primary device. The poem is FUNNY in both concept and execution.
Exaggeration
- 'Roars at you as you're dyin''
- 'Just notice if he eats you'
- 'He'll only lep and lep again' Everything is OVER THE TOP.
Verbal Irony The speaker gives 'helpful' advice that is COMPLETELY USELESS. The more 'helpful' the tone, the funnier it is.
Rhyme and Rhythm The poem uses a REGULAR RHYME SCHEME (AABB) that makes it BOUNCY and ENJOYABLE to read aloud — like a nursery rhyme for adults.
Puns
- 'Lep' (leap + ... just leap)
- 'Nonplus' (confuse)
- 'Crocodile tears' (idiom)
Repetition
- 'Lep and lep' — stylised repetition makes it MEMORABLE
Part II: The Ball Poem by John Berryman
1. The Full Poem
What is the boy now, who has lost his ball, What, what is he to do? I saw it go Merrily bouncing, down the street, and then Merrily over — there it is in the water! No use to say 'O there are other balls': An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down All his young days into the harbour where His ball went. I would not intrude on him, A dime, another ball, is worthless. Now He senses first responsibility In a world of possessions. People will take balls, Balls will be lost always, my little boy, And no one buys a ball back. Money is external. He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes, The epistemology of loss, how to stand up Knowing what every man must one day know And most know day after day — how to be brave. And I will not intrude on him, not now, And I will not intrude on him.
2. Summary
A boy is playing with his ball. The ball BOUNCES into the water and is lost.
The boy is DEVASTATED. He stands 'rigid, trembling, staring'. This is his FIRST EXPERIENCE of loss.
An adult observes the boy. The adult could easily BUY another ball ('a dime, another ball, is worthless') — but he CHOOSES not to.
Why? Because the boy needs to LEARN FROM THIS LOSS. He needs to understand:
- That LOSS is a part of life
- That objects and people can be LOST FOREVER
- That MONEY can buy a new ball but cannot undo the loss
- How to be BRAVE in the face of loss
The adult says: 'I will not intrude on him' — the boy must go through this ALONE.
3. The Deeper Meaning
The Ball as Symbol The ball is NOT just a ball. It represents:
- CHILDHOOD itself — the ball was part of the boy's 'young days'
- INNOCENCE — the first understanding that things don't last
- EXPERIENCE — learning through loss
'Epistemology of Loss' A KEY PHRASE. 'Epistemology' means the study of how we KNOW things. Berryman says the boy is learning 'the epistemology of loss' — he is understanding loss not as a concept but as a LIVED REALITY.
'Money is external' Another key phrase. Money cannot solve EMOTIONAL loss. The ball is GONE — a new ball doesn't erase the experience. Loss must be ACCEPTED.
'How to be brave' The ULTIMATE LESSON. The boy is learning how to LIVE with loss — how to 'stand up' knowing that loss is inevitable.
4. Key Themes
Loss and Grief The boy experiences 'ultimate shaking grief'. His first real loss. The poem validates this grief — it is SERIOUS, even for a ball.
Growing Up Loss is an ESSENTIAL part of growing up. The boy's innocence is shattered. He now understands that things CAN be lost forever.
Responsibility 'He senses first responsibility in a world of possessions.' He is learning that OWNERSHIP means also understanding LOSS.
The Necessity of Pain The adult COULD stop the pain (buy another ball) but CHOOSES NOT TO. Sometimes PAIN is necessary for GROWTH.
Money vs Meaning 'Money is external.' A new ball doesn't replace the LOST ball. Some losses cannot be bought back.
Bravery The poem ends with 'how to be brave' — the ultimate life skill. Facing loss with COURAGE.
5. Literary Devices
Symbolism
- BALL: Childhood, innocence, things we love and lose
- WATER: The unknown, the unrecoverable
- HARBOUR: Where all lost things go
Metaphor
- 'All his young days into the harbour' — his childhood is IN the ball
- 'Epistemology of loss' — loss as a subject to be studied
Repetition
- 'What, what' — emphasises the boy's confusion
- 'Merrily bouncing, merrily over' — the ball's carefree movement contrasts with the boy's grief
- 'I will not intrude on him, not now, and I will not intrude on him' — the adult's conscious decision
Tone The tone is GENTLE and PHILOSOPHICAL. The adult speaks with tenderness and understanding.
Free Verse Unlike the regular rhyme of 'How to Tell Wild Animals', this poem uses FREE VERSE — no fixed rhyme or rhythm, like natural thought.
6. Comparative Analysis
| Aspect | How to Tell Wild Animals | The Ball Poem |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Humorous, light-hearted | Serious, philosophical |
| Subject | Wild animals (danger) | A lost ball (loss) |
| Message | Laugh at absurdity | Learn through loss |
| Form | Rhyming, regular metre | Free verse |
| Effect | Makes us laugh | Makes us think |
| Key Device | Irony, exaggeration | Symbolism, metaphor |
7. Important Quotes
'If he roars at you as you're dyin' / You'll know it is the Asian Lion.' The PERFECT opening — hilarious, absurd, and sets the tone for the whole poem.
'Just notice if he eats you. / This simple rule may help you learn / The Bengal Tiger to discern.' The most absurd 'advice' — you're being eaten, and that's how you identify the animal.
'Hyenas come with merry smiles; / But if they weep they're Crocodiles.' The cleverest stanza — 'crocodile tears' idiom with a literal twist.
'An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy.' The POWER of this line — the boy is FROZEN by grief. 'Ultimate' shows this is his FIRST REAL LOSS.
'He senses first responsibility / In a world of possessions.' Growing up = understanding that possessions can be lost, and YOU are responsible.
'Money is external.' The KERNEL of truth — money cannot buy back what is truly lost.
'How to be brave.' The FINAL LESSON — facing loss with courage.
8. AP Board Exam-Specific Tips
Common Exam Questions
- How does Carolyn Wells identify the tiger? (2 marks) — 'If he eats you, it's a Bengal Tiger'
- Humour in 'How to Tell Wild Animals' (4 marks) — Absurd advice, death as identification method
- Why doesn't the adult buy the boy a new ball? (4 marks) — Boy needs to learn about loss and responsibility
- What does the ball symbolise? (4 marks) — Childhood, innocence, loss, growing up
- Message of 'The Ball Poem' (6 marks) — Loss is inevitable, learning through grief, bravery
9. Lessons and Values
From 'How to Tell Wild Animals':
- HUMOUR can be found in any situation — even deadly ones
- Don't take 'guides' too seriously
- LANGUAGE is fun — play with words
From 'The Ball Poem':
- LOSS is a part of life — accept it
- GROWING UP means learning to let go
- MONEY can't solve everything
- BRAVERY is facing loss with courage
- Sometimes people need to EXPERIENCE pain to grow
10. Worked Examples (AP Board Pattern)
Example 1: Short Answer (2 marks)
Q: What is the humorous method of identifying a tiger in the poem? A: According to the poem, the way to identify a Bengal Tiger is to 'notice if he eats you'. If you are being eaten, you have correctly identified the animal. The absurdity — identifying an animal AFTER it kills you — is the humour.
Example 2: Theme Analysis (4 marks)
Q: What does the boy learn from losing his ball? A: The boy learns several things: (1) that LOSS IS A PART OF LIFE and things can be lost forever, (2) that he must take RESPONSIBILITY for his possessions, (3) that MONEY ('external') cannot undo emotional loss, and (4) that the answer to loss is to be BRAVE — to 'stand up' and continue despite grief. This is his first lesson in GROWING UP.
Example 3: Comparative Question (6 marks)
Q: Compare the attitude towards life in 'How to Tell Wild Animals' and 'The Ball Poem'. A: The two poems present OPPOSITE attitudes. 'How to Tell Wild Animals' treats DANGER and DEATH with LAUGHTER — it is a comic poem that refuses to take serious threats seriously. 'The Ball Poem' treats a SMALL LOSS (a ball) with the UTMOST SERIOUSNESS — it sees in a child's grief a universal lesson about life. Together, they suggest that life requires BOTH perspectives: sometimes we need to LAUGH at danger, and sometimes we need to GRIEVE for small losses. Both responses are VALID.
11. Conclusion
Two poems, two worlds:
- 'How to Tell Wild Animals': LAUGHTER at the absurdity of danger
- 'The Ball Poem': TEARS at the reality of loss
For AP Board Class 10 students:
- Enjoy the HUMOUR of the first poem — it is meant to be fun
- Feel the DEPTH of the second poem — it is meant to be felt
- Both teach something essential: laughter and grief are both PART OF LIFE
- In exams, know the KEY PHRASES: 'epistemology of loss', 'money is external', 'how to be brave'
'How to Tell Wild Animals' and 'The Ball Poem' — one makes you laugh, one makes you think. Both are essential.
