NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English (First Flight) Poem 4: How to Tell Wild Animals (NCERT 2026–27)

Complete solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem 4 – “How to Tell Wild Animals” by Carolyn Wells: a short original summary, the central theme, word meanings and every Thinking about the Poem question answered in full. The textbook questions are reproduced exactly as in the NCERT book; the explanations and answers are written originally by ClearStudy.

Class: 10 Subject: English Book: First Flight Type: Poem (Poem 4) Poet: Carolyn Wells Session: 2026–27
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About the poet

Carolyn Wells (1862–1942) was an American writer and poet known for her humorous and light verse as well as her popular mystery novels. She wrote a great many books during her lifetime, and is especially remembered for her witty, playful poetry and parodies. “How to Tell Wild Animals” is a fine example of her comic style, in which she uses absurd advice and clever wordplay to amuse the reader while gently mocking the idea of ‘identifying’ dangerous beasts at close range.

Summary

“How to Tell Wild Animals” is a humorous poem in which the poet pretends to give the reader a handy guide for recognising various wild animals. The joke, of course, is that her ‘tips’ require you to get dangerously close to the very creatures that can kill you, so the ‘identification’ happens just as the animal attacks.

The poet says that if you travel to the jungles of the east and a large, tawny beast comes towards you and roars while you are dying, you will know it is the Asian Lion. If a magnificent beast with black stripes on a yellow body greets you and eats you, that is how you recognise the Bengal Tiger. If a creature whose skin is dotted with spots leaps on you, it is the Leopard, and crying out in pain will not help because it will only keep leaping. If, in your own yard, a creature hugs you very hard, it is surely a Bear, and any further doubt will be cleared by one more crushing ‘caress’.

The poet then explains how to tell beasts of prey apart even though a beginner might be confused. The Crocodile and the Hyena can be distinguished by their expressions: the Hyena comes with a merry smile, while the Crocodile sheds tears even as it devours its victim. Finally, the small Chameleon, a lizard-like creature with no ears and no wings, can be identified by the fact that if you look at a tree and see nothing there, it is the well-camouflaged Chameleon. Through this nonsense the poet creates laughter from both the funny ideas and her clever, deliberately wrong use of language.

Theme & message

The poem is pure humour and nonsense verse: its purpose is to entertain, not to instruct. The deeper charm lies in how language is used – the poet twists spellings (‘dyin’, ‘lept’, ‘lep’) and bends grammar (“A novice might nonplus”) to force comic rhymes and rhythm. The message, if any, is light: the ‘rules’ for telling animals apart are useless because you only learn the answer at the very moment the animal harms you. The poem celebrates wit, wordplay and the freedom poets take with language.

Word meanings

WordMeaning
tawnyyellowish-brown in colour
beasta wild animal
dyin’ (dying)losing one’s life
roamingwandering about
discernmake out; identify
strolling forthwalking out leisurely
hidean animal’s skin
pepperedhere, covered with spots
lept / lep (leapt / leap)jumped / jump
hugsholds tightly in the arms
caressa gentle, loving touch
beasts of preyanimals that hunt others for food
novicesomeone new to a job; a beginner
(be) nonplus(sed)(be) puzzled, confused, surprised
merrycheerful; happy
weepcry; shed tears
chameleona small lizard that changes colour to blend in
groundhere, background
’Tis / ’Twillold/poetic forms of ‘It is’ / ‘It will’

Thinking about the Poem

Questions reproduced verbatim from the NCERT First Flight textbook; answers written originally by ClearStudy.

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

ANSWERNo, ‘dying’ does not naturally rhyme with ‘lion’. The poet deliberately shortens ‘dying’ to ‘dyin’’ to make it sound closer to ‘lion’.Yes – if we drop the final ‘g’ and stretch the word as “dy-in” (rhyming with “ly-on”), the two words can be made to rhyme. This intentional mispronunciation is part of the poem’s humour.

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

ANSWERThe poet says you can identify the Asian Lion as a large, tawny (yellowish-brown) beast that roars at you – and you can be sure of this only when it roars while you are dying.The Bengal Tiger is recognised by its black stripes on a yellow body – and you can confirm it only when it ‘greets’ you by eating you. In both cases the ‘identification’ is possible only when the animal is attacking and killing you, which is the comic point.

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

ANSWERNo, the correct words are ‘leapt’ and ‘leap’. The poet spells them as ‘lept’ and ‘lep’ on purpose.She does this to create a perfect rhyme with ‘Leopard’ (which is pronounced ‘lep-erd’) and to keep the playful, humorous tone of the poem. Such intentional misspelling is a liberty poets take to maintain rhythm and rhyme.

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)?

ANSWERYes. Many languages have such expressions and beliefs. In Hindi and other Indian languages we use ‘magarmach ke aansu’ (crocodile’s tears) for fake or pretended sorrow – the same idea as the English ‘crocodile tears’.Other common ideas include calling a sly person a ‘fox’ (chalak lomdi), a sleepy or lazy person a ‘kumbhakaran’, an angry/fierce person a ‘lion’ or ‘tiger’, and a cunning, harmful person a ‘snake’. (Share examples from your own language with the class.)

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?

ANSWERGrammatically ‘nonplus’ should be used in the passive voice, so the ‘correct’ line would be: “A novice might be nonplussed” (i.e. a beginner might be puzzled or confused).The poet’s ‘incorrect’ line is better in the poem because it rhymes neatly with ‘thus’ in the next line and keeps the regular rhythm and humorous tone. Correcting it would spoil both the rhyme and the comic effect.

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)?

ANSWERYes. Poets often take liberties with language for rhyme, rhythm or effect – for example, in this very poem (‘dyin’’, ‘lept’, ‘lep’, ‘nonplus’). Edward Lear’s limericks and nonsense verse, and Lewis Carroll’s ‘Jabberwocky’ (with invented words like ‘brillig’ and ‘slithy’), are famous English examples.In Hindi and other Indian languages there are many humorous poems (hasya kavita) by poets such as Kaka Hathrasi, and folk rhymes that bend grammar and spelling for fun. (Collect and share a few from your own language with the class.)

7. Much of the humour in the poem arises from the way language is used, although the ideas are funny as well. If there are particular lines in the poem that you especially like, share these with the class, speaking briefly about what it is about the ideas or the language that you like or find funny.

ANSWER(Sample – share your own favourite lines.) Many readers enjoy the line about the Bengal Tiger where the poet says you should “just notice if he eats you” – the calm, matter-of-fact advice about being eaten is hilarious.The Crocodile–Hyena distinction is also a favourite: the Hyena comes with a merry smile, but if it weeps it is a Crocodile. The fun comes both from the absurd ideas (identifying an animal only as it kills you) and from the playful language (twisted spellings and forced rhymes like ‘dyin’’/‘lion’ and ‘lept’/‘Leopard’).

Extra questions

Short answer

1. What is the tone of the poem ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’?

ANSWERThe tone is light, humorous and playful. The poet writes nonsense verse meant only to amuse the reader, not to give any real information.

2. How can one recognise a Leopard, according to the poet?

ANSWERA Leopard has a spotted hide and leaps on you. Even if you roar with pain it will be of no use, because the Leopard will simply keep on leaping again and again.

3. How does the poet describe a Bear’s way of ‘greeting’ you?

ANSWERIf a creature in your yard hugs you very, very hard, it is a Bear. If you still have any doubt, it will give you one more crushing ‘caress’ (a tight, dangerous hug) to confirm it.

4. How can a Crocodile be told apart from a Hyena?

ANSWERBy their expressions: a Hyena comes with a merry smile, while a Crocodile weeps (sheds ‘crocodile tears’) even as it devours its victim.

5. How can one identify a Chameleon, according to the poem?

ANSWERA Chameleon is a small, lizard-like creature with no ears and no wings. Since it blends with its surroundings, if you look at a tree and see nothing on it, the thing you cannot see is the Chameleon.

Long answer

6. How does the poet create humour in ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’? Explain with examples.

ANSWERThe poet creates humour in two ways – through funny ideas and through clever use of language. The ideas are absurd: she pretends to teach us how to recognise dangerous animals, but every ‘rule’ requires the animal to attack you first – you know it is a Lion when it roars as you are dying, and a Tiger when it eats you. The advice is useless and therefore comic.The language adds to the fun. The poet twists spellings (‘dyin’’ to rhyme with ‘lion’; ‘lept’ and ‘lep’ to rhyme with ‘Leopard’) and bends grammar (“A novice might nonplus”) to force neat rhymes and a strong, regular rhythm. Words like ‘caress’ for a bear’s deadly hug, and the calm tone while describing terrible attacks, make the poem delightfully ridiculous.

7. The poem is an example of nonsense verse. Discuss what makes it so and what the poet’s real purpose is.

ANSWERNonsense verse is poetry written mainly for fun, using absurd situations, playful language and invented or twisted words. ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’ fits this perfectly: it gives mock-serious ‘instructions’ that no sensible person could ever follow, since the ‘identification’ happens only at the moment the animal is killing you.The poet’s real purpose is simply to entertain the reader and to show how much fun language can be. By taking liberties with spelling, grammar and logic, she gently mocks the very idea of a neat ‘guide’ to wild animals and invites us to enjoy the wit and wordplay rather than look for a serious message.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. Who is the poet of ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’?

(a) John Berryman   (b) Robert Frost   (c) Carolyn Wells   (d) Leslie Norris

ANSWER(c) Carolyn Wells.

2. The poem is best described as a:

(a) tragic poem   (b) humorous / nonsense poem   (c) patriotic poem   (d) nature elegy

ANSWER(b) humorous / nonsense poem.

3. According to the poet, you know a beast is the Asian Lion when:

(a) it has spots   (b) it hugs you   (c) it roars at you as you are dying   (d) it weeps

ANSWER(c) it roars at you as you are dying.

4. The Bengal Tiger is described as having:

(a) a spotted hide   (b) black stripes on a yellow ground   (c) a tawny coat   (d) no ears or wings

ANSWER(b) black stripes on a yellow ground.

5. ‘A beast whose hide with spots is peppered’ refers to the:

(a) Bear   (b) Hyena   (c) Leopard   (d) Crocodile

ANSWER(c) Leopard.

6. Which animal ‘hugs you very, very hard’?

(a) the Lion   (b) the Bear   (c) the Tiger   (d) the Chameleon

ANSWER(b) the Bear.

7. According to the poem, a Hyena comes with a ______, while a Crocodile ______.

(a) tear; smiles   (b) merry smile; weeps   (c) roar; hugs   (d) spot; leaps

ANSWER(b) merry smile; weeps.

8. The word ‘novice’ in the poem means:

(a) an expert   (b) a beginner   (c) a hunter   (d) a teacher

ANSWER(b) a beginner.

9. The Chameleon can be identified because:

(a) it has long ears   (b) it has big wings   (c) if there is nothing on the tree, it is the Chameleon   (d) it roars loudly

ANSWER(c) if there is nothing on the tree, it is the Chameleon.

10. Most of the humour in the poem arises from:

(a) the rhyme scheme alone   (b) the way language is used and the absurd ideas   (c) its sad ending   (d) its long descriptions

ANSWER(b) the way language is used and the absurd ideas.
MCQ Answer Key: 1-(c), 2-(b), 3-(c), 4-(b), 5-(c), 6-(b), 7-(b), 8-(b), 9-(c), 10-(b).

Assertion–Reason – choose: (a) A and R true, R explains A; (b) A and R true, R does not explain A; (c) A true, R false; (d) A false, R true.

1. Assertion (A): ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’ is a humorous poem.

Reason (R): The poet gives absurd advice for identifying animals only at the moment they attack you.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

2. Assertion (A): The poet spells ‘dying’ as ‘dyin’’ and ‘leapt’ as ‘lept’.

Reason (R): She does this to create rhymes with ‘lion’ and ‘Leopard’ and to keep the humorous tone.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

3. Assertion (A): The poem gives a practical, reliable guide for recognising wild animals.

Reason (R): Each ‘rule’ in the poem can be applied safely from a distance.

ANSWER(d) A is false (the guide is useless and meant as a joke), while R is also false, since the ‘rules’ work only when the animal is already attacking you. (Both statements are incorrect; mark it false against A.)

4. Assertion (A): A Crocodile can be told apart from a Hyena by its expression.

Reason (R): The Hyena comes with a merry smile, while the Crocodile weeps as it eats.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

5. Assertion (A): The line “A novice might nonplus” is grammatically incorrect.

Reason (R): ‘Nonplus’ should be used in the passive (‘be nonplussed’), but the poet bends grammar for rhyme.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.
A–R Answer Key: 1-(a), 2-(a), 3-(d), 4-(a), 5-(a).

Exam tips

Score full marks on this poem

• Remember the poet’s name – Carolyn Wells – and that this is a humorous / nonsense poem.

• Learn the animals in order: Asian Lion, Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Bear, Crocodile & Hyena, Chameleon, and the comic ‘way’ to identify each.

• For value-based or HOTS questions, focus on how language is used – intentional misspellings (‘dyin’’, ‘lept’, ‘lep’) and bent grammar (‘nonplus’) – as the chief source of humour.

• Use short quoted phrases (not the whole poem) to support your answers, and keep explanations in your own words.

FAQs

Who wrote ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’?

The poem was written by the American poet Carolyn Wells, who was famous for her humorous and nonsense verse.

What is the central idea of ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’?

It is a humorous nonsense poem that pretends to teach the reader how to identify wild animals, but each ‘rule’ works only when the animal is already attacking, which makes the advice both absurd and funny.

Why does the poet misspell words like ‘dyin’’, ‘lept’ and ‘lep’?

She misspells them deliberately to create rhymes with ‘lion’ and ‘Leopard’ and to keep the playful, humorous rhythm of the poem – a liberty poets often take with language.

Questions are taken verbatim from the NCERT First Flight textbook; the summary, explanations and answers are written originally by ClearStudy. No full copyrighted poem text is reproduced.

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