How To Tell Wild Animal

 

Poem – How to Tell Wild   Animal

 

Introduction:

The poem “How to Tell Wild Animals” by Carolyn Wells is a kind of dark comedy. To help identify various wild animals, the poet describes their characteristics in a humorous and exaggerated manner. Although she suggests dangerous and unrealistic ways to recognize these animals—such as being eaten by a tiger—her playful use of language creates a strong sense of humour. The poem combines wit and irony, making the descriptions both amusing and memorable.

Summary:

In the first stanza, the poem describes how to identify an Asian lion. It says that if someone goes into the jungles of the East and sees a large, tawny beast whose loud roar is enough to scare or even kill a person, then it must be an Asian lion.

Similarly, when an animal with black stripes on a yellow body attacks and eats a person, it can be identified as the Bengal tiger.

If an animal with black spots all over its body leaps at someone suddenly, then it is a leopard. The bear is known for giving a strong hug, which may be fatal.

The difference between a hyena and a crocodile is that crocodiles shed tears while hyenas appear to smile cheerfully.

Finally, the poet humorously explains that if someone cannot see anything on a tree, it could be a chameleon, as it changes its colour to blend with its surroundings, making it difficult to spot.

Poetic Devices:

Rhyme: Rhyme scheme ababcc is followed

Enjambment: Continuation of a sentence to the next line

         Example:

·         and if there…..tawny beast

·         if you were walking….creature there

Inversion: Change in the format of a sentence.

       Example: 

·         if there should to you advance

·         The Bengal Tiger to discern

Assonance: repetition of vowel sound.

           Example:  

·         you should go, should to you, roars, (sound of ‘o’)

·         or if some time when roaming round (sound of ‘o’)

·         strolling-forth-you, whose-spot, do no good to roar (sound of ‘o’)

·         meet a creature there (sound of ‘e’)

Allusion: Reference to a famous thing, place, species of animal, etc. (Asian Lion, Bengal Tiger)

Alliteration: repetition of consonant sound.

Example

·         ‘r’ at start of two or more closely connected words (roaming round)

·         Use of ‘h’ (he has)

·         use of ‘w’ sound (when-walking),

·         use of ‘b’ sound (be-bear)

Poetic license: A liberty to the poet to change the spellings in order to create rhyme or rhythm in a poem (use of lept instead of leapt)

Repetition: use of ‘lep’ word in the last line.

 

Additional Questions

1.    How can you identify the Asian lion and the Bengal Tiger?

2.    How can you distinguish between a hyena and a crocodile?

3.    How does a leopard behave when he sees someone?  

4.    What is so weird about the Hyena and the crocodile?

5.    Read the following extract and answer the following questions.

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.

 

(a) Who is going to hug and why?

(b) This hug is also called?

(c) What is the antonym of ‘Caress’?

(d) Where can a bear be found?

 

2025 CBSE Board Exam

Q. Every creature has a unique characteristic—highlight how this is illustrated in the poem. (40–50 words)

Ans. As outlined by the poet, if a tawny beast roars at you, it’s the Asian Lion; if an animal eats you silently, it’s the Bengal Tiger; if the creature’s hide is peppered with spots and it leaps at you, it’s a Leopard; if you’re hugged very hard, you know it's a Bear

2024 CBSE Board Exam (Extract-Based)

Extract:

“The true Chameleon is small_____ If there is nothing on the tree, ‘Tis the Chameleon you see.”

(i) Fill in: When the poet says there is “nothing on the tree”, he refers to the chameleon’s ability to camouflage.

2019 CBSE Board Exam (Extract-Based)

Extract:

“If ever you should go by chance … large and tawny beast … If he roars … you’ll know it is the Asian Lion”

(a) Where can you find the Asian Lion? — Jungles in the east

(b) Physical traits of the Asian Lion? — Large and tawny, with a loud roar

(c) Effect of its roar? — It makes one feel as if dying

(d) Name of poem and poet? — “How to Tell Wild Animals” by Carolyn Wells

Also in 2015:

Q. How can you identify an Asian Lion and a Bengal Tiger? (40–50 words)

Ans. The Asiatic Lion is a huge creature with brownish‑yellow hide; its powerful roar gives the sense of death. The Bengal Tiger is noble, yellow with black stripes, and attacks silently.

 

Terminal Questions

1. Does ‘dyin’ really rhyme with ‘lion’? Can you say it in such a way that it does?

2. How does the poet suggest that you identify the lion and the tiger? When can you do so, according to him?

3. Do you think the words ‘lept‘ and ‘lep’ in the third stanza are spelt correctly? Why does the poet spell them like this?

4. Do you know what a ‘bearhug’ is? It’s a friendly and strong hug — such as bears are thought to give, as they attack you! Again, hyenas are thought to laugh, and crocodiles to weep (‘crocodile tears’) as they swallow their victims.Are there similar expressions and popular ideas about wild animals in your own language(s)?

5. Look at the line “A novice might nonplus”. How would you write this ‘correctly’? Why is the poet’s ‘incorrect’ line better in the poem?

6. Can you find other examples of poets taking liberties with language, either in English or in your own language(s)? Can you find examples of humorous poems in your own language(s)?

 

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