How to Tell Wild Animals Poem Class 10 English, First Flight – Summary, Explanation, Word Meanings

How to Tell Wild Animals Poem Class 10 English, First Flight Poem

Detailed summary and explanation of “How to Tell Wild Animals” Poem along with meanings for difficult words is provided here. Also, NCERT Question and Answers are also provided to help students understand this Poem and do well in their exams.

Introduction

The poem revolves around the dangerous ways to identify wild animals. The poet tries to distinguish one animal from the other in a humorous way. The poem is, thus, very educative and informative which tells us about various features of wild animals.

Summary

It is a humorous poem. The poet suggests some dangerous ways of identifying wild animals. The suggested ways create humour. He says if you ever visit the jungles in the east and you happen to encounter a lion, a tiger or a leopard, you’ll be able to identify them by the way they attack upon you. The idea of ‘Identifying while dying’ makes you laugh. He also tells you to identify a bear from its friendly, hard bear-hug, a hyena from its laugh and a crocodile from its weeping while swallowing its victim. If you see nothing on the tree, then there is a chameleon as it has the quality to change its colour according to its surroundings.

Explanation

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 here says if by chance you happen to go to any forest in the east, you are likely to encounter a huge and terrible animal moving towards you. You will notice that a large beast roars loudly at you and you feel that you are going to die due to fear, then you will come to know that 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.

Explanation : The poet says that it is very likely that while roaming in the forest, you are greeted by a wild beast. His majestic body is covered with black stripes on a yellow hide. The poet cautions if you notice this beast and if he eats you, then this simple rule will teach you that it is a ‘Bengal Tiger’.

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 here helps the readers to identify a Leopard. He says if you happen to walk in the forest, you might encounter a beast with spots on his skin. When this wild beast will jump at you, you will understand that it is a Leopard as he will keep jumping on you and will tear you apart. Moreover, it will be of no use then to shout or cry with pain because he will continue pouncing on you. So you should be careful.

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 while you are walking in your yard, you may encounter a creature there. When this creature hugs you very very tightly, then believe that it is a Bear. The poet further says that in case of any doubt, you will find that the Bear will embrace you once again till death.

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, here, helps to differentiate the Crocodile from the Hyena. He says that a Hyena always laughs as it swallows its victim. A laughing Hyena’s voice resembles human’s laughing sound. A crocodile on the other hand, is said to shed tears while eating its prey.

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 a chameleon in this stanza. He says a chameleon is a small garden lizard. It doesn’t have ears or wings. The poet, further, says if you are unable to see a thing on the tree, then chances are that a chameleon is sitting there.