How to Tell Wild Animals Poem Summary and Notes | CBSE Class 10 English First Flight

Summary of How to Tell Wild Animals

CBSE Class 10 English First Flight book Chapter 3 contains two poems. The first poem is How to Tell Wild Animals, written by Carolyn Wells. Here, we will be presenting the summary and notes of the CBSE Class 10 English First Flight Poem – How to Tell Wild Animals. While preparing for the board exam, students can use the How to Tell Wild Animals summary and explanations to understand the poem in a better way. These class 10 English notes will also help in last-minute revision and save students time during the exam.

Students can also go through CBSE Essays to improve their writing section of the English paper.

CBSE Class 10 English First Flight How to Tell Wild Animals Poem Summary

How to Tell Wild Animals is a humorous poem written by Carolyn Wells. The poem suggests some dangerous ways to identify wild animals. In the poem, clues have been given to identify the names of the animals. The poem consists of 6 stanzas, and in each stanza, a wild animal is defined by its characteristics and features. This poem is like solving a puzzle and identifying the animals. It’s an exciting and funny poem.

CBSE Class 10 English First Flight How to Tell Wild Animals Poem Explanation Notes

Below we have provided the poem, followed by the explanations. Students must go through it to get a deep understanding of the poem.

How to Tell Wild Animals Poem Explanation Notes

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 a 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.

BY CAROLYN WELLS

The poet describes the various wild animals. In the first stanza, the poet says to the readers that if they go to the jungle, then how will they recognise the various animals of the jungle? The poet then starts describing the Asian Lion. She says that if an animal with yellowish-brown skin colour roars at you and you get so afraid that you die out of fear, it then means you have met with an Asian Lion.

In the second stanza, the poet describes a royal animal having black stripes on its yellowish skin roaming freely in the jungle. She says you will be certain that it is a Bengal Tiger if he starts eating you. But there is no point in knowing the animal if you have to die to identify him!

In the third stanza, the poet describes an animal who walks in a slow, relaxed way, and his body is fully covered with small spots giving it a salt-and-pepper appearance. The little spots on the animal’s body seem like someone has hit his body with small objects. If that animal jumps on you, then you will get to know it is a Leopard. At that time, even if you cry, the leopard will not leave you. So, be careful and don’t allow him to jump on you.

In the next stanza, the poet says that if you are walking in a field and you see an animal who hugs you very tightly, then be sure that it is a Bear. If you still have some doubts, then you can confirm if it hugs you again. The poet conveys that when someone loves you and cares for you, then they show their feelings and emotions by giving you a tight hug. However, when a bear hugs you in reality, then it will kill you with his tight hug.

In the fifth stanza, the poet asks the readers if they know how to recognise animals when they hunt their prey. She further elaborates that when hyenas kill their prey, they smile. Similarly, crocodiles have tears in their eyes when they eat their prey.

In the last stanza, the poet describes a small reptile that can change its skin colour. It looks like a lizard, but it does not have any ears or wings. When there is no one on the tree, then you will spot this Chameleon or garden lizard. The ability of the Chameleon to change its skin colour saves him from hunters and other animals.

We hope the summary and explanation of the CBSE Class 10 English First Flight How to Tell Wild Animals Poem must have helped students understand the poem’s context better. Students can get the other study material and information related to CBSE by visiting BYJU’S website. Students can also download the BYJU’S App for interactive study videos.