.svg)
Have you ever wondered how you would recognise a wild animal if you met one in the jungle? Would you be able to tell the difference between a leopard and a tiger just by looking at them? What if an animal smiled at you before attacking – would you trust it?
These curious questions are exactly what Caroline Ann Duffy’s humorous poem How to Tell Wild Animals explores. Part of the Class 10 English Syllabus (First Flight book), this poem takes a light-hearted and witty approach to describing dangerous wild creatures. Through playful language and unexpected comparisons, the poet makes us laugh while helping us picture animals like lions, tigers, bears, and leopards in surprisingly memorable ways.
In this blog, we’ll explore the theme, summary, literary devices, and meaning behind the poem in a simple and easy-to-understand format. Whether you're preparing for your Class 10 exams or just want to enjoy some clever poetry, this post will help you understand the poem better—and maybe even teach you how not to tell wild animals!
How to Tell Wild Animals class 10 notes will provide a summary and topic-wise details to help students understand what the story is about. Below, we have provided the links to downloadable PDFs of chapter-wise Notes for class 10 English and that too for different categories of marks.
How to Tell Wild Animals is a humorous poem written by Carolyn Wells, not Carol Ann Duffy (a common confusion). It is included in the CBSE Class 10 English First Flight book. The poem describes various wild animals in a funny and exaggerated manner, offering ‘advice’ on how to identify them in the wild.
Central Theme
The central theme of the poem is humour in the face of danger. While wild animals are naturally dangerous, the poet uses playful language, irony, and poetic exaggeration to describe them in a way that entertains and educates at the same time.
Carolyn Wells’ poem How to Tell Wild Animals describes fierce animals humorously and imaginatively. Each stanza gives a playful guide to identifying wild creatures if you ever come across them. Let’s look at the poem stanza by stanza to understand it better.
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 tells us that if we happen to walk into a jungle in the East (like India or Asia) and see a large, yellowish-brown (tawny) coloured animal coming towards us, it might be an Asian Lion. If the animal’s roar is so loud and frightening that it feels like you might die from shock, then you can be sure it is the Asian Lion.
The description uses humour to show the power and ferocity of the lion.
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:
Here, the poet explains that if you are wandering around and see a majestic wild animal with black stripes on a yellow coat, be careful! If it attacks and eats you, you can be sure it was a Bengal Tiger.
Again, the poet uses dark humour by calmly mentioning being eaten, making the serious situation seem funny.
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:
In this stanza, the poet says that if you come across an animal whose skin is covered with spots, and it jumps on you immediately, it’s a leopard. Even if you scream or cry in pain, it won't stop attacking.
The repetition of "lep and lep" (jump and jump) adds a playful, rhythmic tone to the scene.
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 describes a situation where if a heavy animal suddenly hugs you very tightly, it is most likely a bear. The ‘hug’ is actually a deadly attack. If you are still unsure, the bear will squeeze you even tighter to make you certain!
The playful description hides the real danger behind the bear’s deadly hug.
Stanza 5: The Crocodile and the Hyena
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 jokes that a beginner might find it hard to identify wild animals, but there’s an easy trick to tell crocodiles and hyenas apart. Hyenas are known for their ‘laughing’ expressions, while crocodiles are said to shed fake tears while killing their prey.
This stanza plays on common phrases like "crocodile tears" and the idea of a "laughing hyena".
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:
Finally, the poet talks about the chameleon, a small, lizard-like creature. It has no ears or wings and can blend perfectly into its surroundings. If you look at a tree and see nothing there, it could actually be a chameleon camouflaged against the bark or leaves!
This stanza highlights the cleverness of the chameleon’s natural disguise.
Important Points to Remember
Exam Preparation Tips
How to Tell Wild Animals is a clever, funny, and imaginative poem that makes learning about dangerous creatures both enjoyable and memorable. Its playful tone, paired with vivid imagery, makes it a favourite among students and teachers alike. By turning fear into fun, Carolyn Wells gives us a refreshing perspective on the animal kingdom.
The poem "How to Tell Wild Animals" is included in the Class 10 English curriculum to achieve several educational objectives:
By combining humor, education, and literary appreciation, the poem aligns with CBSE's goals of holistic learning.
Carolyn Wells’ poem How to Tell Wild Animals presents a funny and clever guide to identifying dangerous creatures. Through light-hearted descriptions and creative language, the poet entertains readers while painting vivid pictures of wild animals.
Theme of "How to Tell Wild Animals":
The primary theme of the poem "How to Tell Wild Animals" by Leslie Norris is the contrast between freedom and captivity, highlighting the impact of confinement on a wild creature. The poem explores how a tiger, which is naturally a powerful and free animal, is reduced to a mere shadow of itself when placed in a zoo. The theme emphasizes the loss of the tiger's dignity and grace in captivity. It also touches on the loss of natural habitat, where animals are forced to live in unnatural, confined spaces that stifle their instincts and natural behaviour. The poet's message is a critique of the cruelty of keeping wild animals in captivity for human entertainment.
Literary Devices/Tools Used:
Imagery: The poet uses vivid imagery to create a clear picture of the tiger's physical and emotional state.
"His strength behind bars" — This evokes the image of a tiger’s power being held back by the cage.
"His quiet rage" — This gives us a sense of the tiger’s frustration and anger, even though it doesn’t roar.
Personification: The poet gives human-like qualities to the tiger, such as feelings and emotions.
"He should be lurking in shadow" — This personifies the tiger as if it has desires and preferences like a human.
Contrast: The poem contrasts the natural, free life of a tiger in the wild with the artificial, confined life in the zoo.
The tiger is described as a majestic, powerful creature, but in the zoo, it is reduced to being a "sluggish" figure, unable to demonstrate its instincts.
Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds creates a rhythm in the poem.
"His strength behind bars" — The repetition of the 's' sound gives the line a hissing effect, adding to the image of the tiger’s restrained power.
Metaphor: A comparison between two things without using "like" or "as."
"The tiger’s roar" is described as being "like a mere whisper" due to the cage, symbolizing how the tiger’s power is muted.
Symbolism: The zoo represents the oppressive society and the loss of natural freedom, while the tiger symbolizes wildness and nature. The cage is symbolic of confinement and restriction.
Through these literary tools, Leslie Norris conveys a powerful message about the nature of captivity and the suffering of wild animals.
Chapter-wise material, such as summaries, themes, and analyses, can significantly help students in several ways, especially in preparing for exams like the Class 10 board exams. Here's how:
Understanding the Content Better:
Summaries: They provide a quick and clear overview of the chapter or poem, helping students grasp the main ideas and key points without having to read the entire text multiple times. This is particularly helpful in saving time during revision.
Themes and Analysis: Understanding the themes of a poem or chapter allows students to dive deeper into its meaning and message, which will help in answering higher-level questions that require analytical thinking.
Fostering Conceptual Clarity:
Literary Devices: By understanding literary devices like imagery, symbolism, alliteration, etc., students can analyze how the poet or author communicates deeper meanings. This helps them develop better comprehension skills, especially when interpreting unseen poems or passages during exams.
Character and Plot Analysis: For prose or drama chapters, analyzing characters, their motivations, and the plot structure can aid in writing structured, insightful answers.
Improving Answer Writing:
Structured Notes: Having chapter-wise material gives students a clear framework for answering questions. They can easily identify themes, literary tools, and character motivations, which can help in structuring essay-type or long-answer questions logically and concisely.
Sample Answers: Many chapter-wise materials include model answers to exam-type questions, giving students an idea of how to approach their answers, what points to include, and how to write effectively.
Better Exam Preparation:
Revision: Chapter-wise summaries and analyses are excellent for last-minute revisions. By reviewing these materials, students can quickly recall important details and connections between chapters, which is especially useful in short-answer and objective-type questions.
Practice Questions: These materials often include practice questions and important exam topics. Regular practice using such questions ensures that students are well-prepared for the exam format.
Time Management:
Focused Learning: With chapter-wise material, students can focus on the most important aspects of each chapter, saving time and avoiding unnecessary distractions. It helps them identify key ideas, characters, and themes that are more likely to be tested in exams.
Building Confidence:
Clarification of Doubts: When students have chapter-wise explanations, it becomes easier to clear any doubts they may have regarding complex topics or chapters. Understanding these concepts boosts their confidence when approaching both written and oral exams.
Holistic Learning:
Connecting Concepts: Chapter-wise material often helps students connect the themes or ideas from different chapters. Understanding how each chapter contributes to the overall course content can lead to a better understanding of the subject as a whole.
Carolyn Wells’ How to Tell Wild Animals is a fun and witty poem, but many students often miss important details while studying it. Knowing the common mistakes can help you avoid them and score better in exams.
Taking the Poem Too Seriously
Many students misunderstand the tone of the poem. They treat it as a serious guide about wild animals, missing the humorous and playful way the poet describes deadly creatures.
Tip: Always remember that the poem is full of jokes and exaggerations!
Confusing the Animals
It’s common to mix up the animals described in the stanzas.For example, some confuse the lion with the tiger or the hyena with the crocodile.
Tip: Focus on the special features – lion roars loudly, tiger has black stripes, hyena smiles, crocodile sheds tears.
Ignoring the Literary Devices
Students sometimes skip identifying important literary tools like irony, humour, personification, and rhyme scheme.
Tip: Always mention at least a few poetic devices when answering questions about the poem.
Missing the Underlying Message
While enjoying the funny tone, students often forget that the poet is also subtly warning about the dangers of wild animals.
Tip: Understand that the poem blends fun with caution — it’s not just nonsense!
Writing Incomplete Answers
In exams, many students write very short or vague answers. They forget to explain why something is funny or how the poet uses humour.
Tip: Always support your answers with examples from the poem.
Forgetting the Rhyme Scheme
Questions about the rhyme scheme are common, but students often ignore it.
Tip: Remember, the poem mostly follows an aabbcc rhyme pattern.
Spelling and Grammar Mistakes
While explaining the poem, students sometimes make careless spelling or grammar errors, especially with words like "chameleon", "hyena", "leopard", etc.
Tip: Double-check spelling when writing your answers!
By avoiding these small but important mistakes, you can understand How to Tell Wild Animals better and write stronger answers. Always remember the poem’s light-hearted tone, focus on the key details, and mention the literary tools used by the poet for a complete and impressive response.
In summary, chapter-wise material helps students by providing a structured, organized approach to learning. It makes complex concepts more accessible, aids in exam preparation, and enhances overall comprehension and retention of the subject matter.
.svg){kind=logo}
