How to Tell Wild Animals – Notes, Summary, Poetic Devices, Q&A and Quiz
Complete CBSE-style study material for the poem How to Tell Wild Animals by Carolyn Wells.
Poem Overview
How to Tell Wild Animals is a humorous poem by Carolyn Wells. The poem gives funny and dangerous ways to identify wild animals. Instead of describing animals in a normal scientific way, the poet uses humour, exaggeration and irony.
The poem describes animals such as the Asian lion, Bengal tiger, leopard, bear, hyena, crocodile and chameleon. The poet’s suggestions are deliberately absurd because most of the methods of identifying animals involve being attacked by them.
Central Idea of the Poem
The central idea of How to Tell Wild Animals is to create humour by presenting dangerous wild animals in a playful and comic way. The poet describes frightening animals as if she is giving simple identification tips, but the tips are actually dangerous and impossible to follow safely.
The poem also shows how language can be used creatively. The poet plays with rhyme, rhythm, spelling and animal stereotypes to make the poem entertaining.
Summary in English
The poem begins by imagining that the reader goes to the jungles in the east. If a large, tawny animal comes towards the reader and roars while the reader is dying, the poet says it must be an Asian lion.
Next, the poet says that if a noble wild animal with black stripes on a yellow background eats the reader, then it must be a Bengal tiger. If an animal with spotted skin jumps on the reader again and again, it is a leopard.
Then the poet describes a bear. If a creature hugs the reader very tightly, it is a bear. The poet humorously calls the bear’s attack a “caress”. After that, she says that a hyena appears to smile, while a crocodile seems to weep.
Finally, the poet describes a chameleon. It is a small lizard-like creature with no ears and no wings. The poet humorously says that if there seems to be nothing on a tree, it is probably a chameleon because it changes colour and blends with its surroundings.
सारांश हिंदी में
How to Tell Wild Animals एक हास्यपूर्ण कविता है। इसमें कवयित्री जंगली जानवरों को पहचानने के मजेदार और खतरनाक तरीके बताती हैं। कविता का उद्देश्य जानवरों की वैज्ञानिक जानकारी देना नहीं, बल्कि हास्य पैदा करना है।
कवयित्री कहती हैं कि यदि आप पूर्व के जंगलों में जाएं और कोई बड़ा पीला-भूरा जानवर आपकी ओर आए और दहाड़े, तो समझिए वह एशियाई शेर है। यदि पीले शरीर पर काली धारियों वाला जानवर आपको खा जाए, तो वह बंगाल टाइगर है।
यदि धब्बों वाला जानवर आप पर बार-बार छलांग लगाए, तो वह तेंदुआ है। यदि कोई जानवर आपको बहुत जोर से गले लगाए, तो वह भालू है। कवयित्री इसे मजाक में “caress” यानी प्यार भरा स्पर्श कहती हैं।
आगे कवयित्री कहती हैं कि लकड़बग्घा मुस्कुराता हुआ लगता है और मगरमच्छ रोता हुआ दिखाई देता है। अंत में गिरगिट का वर्णन है, जो छोटा-सा छिपकली जैसा जीव है। यदि पेड़ पर कुछ दिखाई न दे, तो संभव है कि वही गिरगिट हो क्योंकि वह अपना रंग बदलकर छिप जाता है।
Stanza-wise Summary
Stanza 1 Summary – Asian Lion
The poet says that if the reader goes to the jungles in the east and a large tawny beast comes towards them and roars while they are dying, then it is an Asian lion. The humour lies in the dangerous method of identification.
Hindi: पहले पद्यांश में कवयित्री कहती हैं कि यदि जंगल में कोई बड़ा पीला-भूरा जानवर दहाड़ता हुआ आपकी ओर आए और आप मरने लगें, तो वह एशियाई शेर है।
Stanza 2 Summary – Bengal Tiger
The poet describes the Bengal tiger as a noble wild beast with black stripes on a yellow body. If it eats the reader, then they can identify it as a Bengal tiger. This is comic because the method is absurd and fatal.
Hindi: दूसरे पद्यांश में बंगाल टाइगर को पीले शरीर पर काली धारियों वाला जानवर बताया गया है। यदि वह आपको खा जाए, तो वह बंगाल टाइगर है।
Stanza 3 Summary – Leopard
The leopard is described as an animal whose skin is covered with spots. If it leaps on the reader again and again, then it is a leopard. The repeated “lep and lep again” creates humour.
Hindi: तीसरे पद्यांश में तेंदुए का वर्णन है। उसके शरीर पर धब्बे होते हैं और वह बार-बार छलांग लगाता है। कवयित्री इसे हास्यपूर्ण ढंग से बताती हैं।
Stanza 4 Summary – Bear
The poet says that if a creature hugs the reader very tightly, it is a bear. The word “hug” is used humorously because the bear’s attack is presented as a loving embrace.
Hindi: चौथे पद्यांश में भालू का वर्णन है। यदि कोई जानवर आपको बहुत जोर से गले लगाए, तो वह भालू है। यह वर्णन मजेदार और व्यंग्यपूर्ण है।
Stanza 5 Summary – Hyena and Crocodile
The poet explains that a hyena appears to have a merry smile, while a crocodile seems to weep. The stanza uses popular beliefs about these animals to create humour.
Hindi: पांचवें पद्यांश में लकड़बग्घे और मगरमच्छ का वर्णन है। लकड़बग्घा मुस्कुराता हुआ लगता है और मगरमच्छ रोता हुआ दिखाई देता है।
Stanza 6 Summary – Chameleon
The chameleon is described as a small lizard-like creature without ears and wings. The poet says if there is nothing visible on the tree, it is the chameleon because it blends with its surroundings.
Hindi: छठे पद्यांश में गिरगिट का वर्णन है। वह छोटा छिपकली जैसा जीव है। यदि पेड़ पर कुछ दिखाई न दे, तो वही गिरगिट हो सकता है क्योंकि वह रंग बदलकर छिप जाता है।
Difficult Words and Meanings
| Word / Phrase | Meaning in English | Hindi Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Tawny | Yellowish-brown in colour | पीला-भूरा |
| Beast | A wild animal | जंगली जानवर |
| Roars | Makes a loud sound like a lion | दहाड़ता है |
| Dyin’ | Dying; losing life | मरते हुए |
| Roaming | Moving around without fixed direction | इधर-उधर घूमना |
| Noble | Grand, impressive or majestic | राजसी / शानदार |
| Ground | Background colour | पृष्ठभूमि |
| Discern | To identify or recognise | पहचानना |
| Hide | Animal skin | जानवर की खाल |
| Peppered | Covered with spots | धब्बों से ढका हुआ |
| Lept | Leapt; jumped | कूदा |
| Lep | Poetic form of leap | छलांग लगाना |
| Yard | An open area near a house | आंगन |
| Creature | A living being or animal | जीव / प्राणी |
| Hugs | Holds tightly in arms | गले लगाता है |
| Caress | A gentle loving touch | प्यार भरा स्पर्श |
| Beasts of prey | Animals that hunt other animals | शिकारी जानवर |
| Novice | A beginner; someone new to something | नया सीखने वाला |
| Nonplus | To puzzle or confuse | भ्रमित करना |
| Hyena | A wild animal known for laugh-like sounds | लकड़बग्घा |
| Crocodile | A large reptile living in water | मगरमच्छ |
| Chameleon | A lizard-like animal that changes colour | गिरगिट |
| Lizard | A small reptile | छिपकली |
| ’Tis | It is | यह है |
Poetic Devices Used in How to Tell Wild Animals
| Poetic Device | Example / Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Humour | Identifying animals after they attack you | The poem gives absurd and dangerous ways of recognising wild animals, creating comic effect. |
| Irony | “Just notice if he eats you” | The advice is ironic because one cannot identify an animal safely after being eaten. |
| Hyperbole | “If he roars at you as you’re dyin’” | The poet exaggerates the danger to create humour. |
| Rhyme Scheme | Mostly ABABCC in each stanza | The rhyme gives the poem a lively, musical and comic rhythm. |
| Alliteration | “roaming round”, “lep and lep”, “novice might nonplus” | Repetition of consonant sounds creates rhythm and humour. |
| Repetition | “lep and lep again”, “very, very hard” | Repetition emphasises action and adds comic effect. |
| Poetic Licence | “dyin’”, “lep”, “nonplus” | The poet changes or bends normal spelling and grammar for rhyme, rhythm and humour. |
| Imagery | “black stripes on a yellow ground” | The line creates a clear visual image of the Bengal tiger. |
| Personification | “Hyenas come with merry smiles” | The hyena is given a human-like expression of smiling. |
| Pun / Wordplay | Bear’s “hug” and “caress” | The poet plays with words by describing a dangerous attack as a loving gesture. |
| Enjambment | Lines continuing into the next line without a full pause | It keeps the poem flowing smoothly and adds conversational rhythm. |
| Satire | Mock-serious instructions for identifying animals | The poem humorously imitates a guidebook but gives ridiculous advice. |
Important Points to Form Answers
- The poem is written by Carolyn Wells.
- It is a humorous poem about identifying wild animals.
- The poem gives dangerous and absurd ways to recognise animals.
- The Asian lion is identified by its roar and tawny colour.
- The Bengal tiger is identified by black stripes on a yellow body.
- The leopard has a spotted hide and leaps again and again.
- The bear is humorously identified by its tight hug.
- The hyena is described as smiling.
- The crocodile is described as weeping.
- The chameleon is difficult to see because it changes colour.
- The poem uses humour, irony, exaggeration and wordplay.
- The rhyme scheme is mostly ABABCC.
- The poet takes liberties with spelling and grammar to maintain rhyme and humour.
- The tone of the poem is playful, comic and mock-serious.
Stanza-wise Question and Answers
Stanza 1 – Q1. Where does the poet imagine the reader going?
Answer: The poet imagines the reader going to the jungles in the east.
Stanza 1 – Q2. How can one identify the Asian lion according to the poet?
Answer: According to the poet, if a large tawny beast roars at you while you are dying, you can identify it as an Asian lion.
Stanza 1 – Q3. What creates humour in the first stanza?
Answer: The humour comes from the absurd idea that a person can identify the lion while being attacked and dying.
Stanza 2 – Q1. How is the Bengal tiger described?
Answer: The Bengal tiger is described as a noble wild beast with black stripes on a yellow background.
Stanza 2 – Q2. What is the “simple rule” to identify the Bengal tiger?
Answer: The poet says that if the animal eats you, it is a Bengal tiger. This is a humorous and impossible rule.
Stanza 2 – Q3. Which poetic device is used in “black stripes on a yellow ground”?
Answer: The poetic device is imagery because it creates a clear visual picture of the tiger’s body.
Stanza 3 – Q1. How can one identify the leopard?
Answer: A leopard can be identified by its spotted hide and by the way it leaps again and again on its victim.
Stanza 3 – Q2. Why does the poet use “lep” instead of “leap”?
Answer: The poet uses “lep” for rhyme and humour. This is an example of poetic licence.
Stanza 3 – Q3. What does “peppered” mean in the stanza?
Answer: “Peppered” means covered with spots. It refers to the leopard’s spotted skin.
Stanza 4 – Q1. How does the poet describe the bear?
Answer: The poet says that if a creature hugs you very tightly, it is a bear.
Stanza 4 – Q2. Why is the word “caress” humorous?
Answer: “Caress” means a gentle loving touch, but here it refers to a bear’s dangerous attack. This contrast creates humour.
Stanza 4 – Q3. What popular expression is connected with this stanza?
Answer: The stanza is connected with the expression “bear hug”, which means a strong and tight hug.
Stanza 5 – Q1. How can one distinguish between a hyena and a crocodile?
Answer: According to the poet, hyenas come with merry smiles, while crocodiles appear to weep.
Stanza 5 – Q2. What does “crocodile tears” mean?
Answer: “Crocodile tears” means false or fake tears. It refers to a person pretending to be sad.
Stanza 5 – Q3. What is funny about this stanza?
Answer: The stanza is funny because it uses popular beliefs that hyenas laugh and crocodiles cry to identify dangerous animals.
Stanza 6 – Q1. What is a chameleon?
Answer: A chameleon is a small lizard-like creature that can change its colour to match its surroundings.
Stanza 6 – Q2. Why does the poet say, “If there is nothing on the tree”?
Answer: The poet says this because a chameleon can blend with its surroundings and become difficult to see.
Stanza 6 – Q3. What humour is used in the chameleon stanza?
Answer: The humour lies in saying that if you see nothing on a tree, then the invisible-looking creature must be the chameleon.
Important Question and Answers
Q1. Who is the poet of “How to Tell Wild Animals”?
Answer: The poet of How to Tell Wild Animals is Carolyn Wells.
Q2. What kind of poem is “How to Tell Wild Animals”?
Answer: It is a humorous poem. It gives funny and dangerous ways to identify wild animals.
Q3. How does the poet suggest that we identify the Asian lion?
Answer: The poet says that if a large tawny beast comes towards us and roars while we are dying, it is an Asian lion.
Q4. How does the poet describe the Bengal tiger?
Answer: The Bengal tiger is described as a noble wild beast with black stripes on a yellow ground.
Q5. What is the poet’s humorous way of identifying a Bengal tiger?
Answer: The poet humorously says that if the animal eats you, then you can identify it as a Bengal tiger.
Q6. How can a leopard be identified?
Answer: A leopard can be identified by its spotted hide and by the way it leaps again and again on its victim.
Q7. Why does the poet use incorrect spellings like “dyin’” and “lep”?
Answer: The poet uses such spellings to maintain rhyme, rhythm and humour. This is an example of poetic licence.
Q8. How does the poet describe the bear?
Answer: The poet describes the bear as a creature that hugs very tightly. This is a humorous reference to a bear’s attack.
Q9. What is meant by “bearhug”?
Answer: A bearhug means a very strong and tight hug. In the poem, it humorously refers to the bear’s attack.
Q10. How does the poet distinguish between a hyena and a crocodile?
Answer: The poet says that hyenas appear to smile, while crocodiles appear to weep.
Q11. What does the phrase “crocodile tears” mean?
Answer: “Crocodile tears” means false tears or fake sadness.
Q12. How can a chameleon be identified according to the poet?
Answer: The poet says that if nothing is visible on a tree, it may be a chameleon because it changes colour and blends with its surroundings.
Q13. What makes the poem humorous?
Answer: The poem is humorous because it gives absurd, dangerous and impossible methods of identifying wild animals. The poet also uses exaggeration, irony and playful language.
Q14. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
Answer: The rhyme scheme of most stanzas is ABABCC.
Q15. What is the tone of the poem?
Answer: The tone of the poem is humorous, playful and mock-serious.
Q16. Why is the title “How to Tell Wild Animals” suitable?
Answer: The title is suitable because the poem gives different ways to identify wild animals. However, the methods are funny, exaggerated and dangerous.
Q17. What is the main message of the poem?
Answer: The poem mainly entertains readers. It also shows that language can be used creatively to make even dangerous subjects funny.
Q18. What is poetic licence? Give an example from the poem.
Answer: Poetic licence means freedom taken by a poet to change normal spelling, grammar or language for poetic effect. Examples from the poem include “dyin’”, “lep” and “nonplus”.
HOTS Questions and Answers
HOTS Q1. Why does the poet use dangerous situations to create humour?
Answer: The poet uses dangerous situations in an exaggerated and unrealistic way. The contrast between serious danger and casual advice creates humour. The reader knows that the advice is impossible to follow, so the poem becomes funny rather than frightening.
HOTS Q2. Is the poem meant to be an actual guide to identifying animals?
Answer: No, the poem is not an actual guide. It is a comic poem that imitates a guidebook but gives ridiculous and unsafe methods. Its purpose is entertainment, not scientific information.
HOTS Q3. How does the poet use animal stereotypes?
Answer: The poet uses common ideas about animals: lions roar, tigers have stripes, leopards have spots, bears hug tightly, hyenas laugh, crocodiles cry and chameleons change colour. These stereotypes make the poem easy to understand and funny.
HOTS Q4. Why is the poet’s incorrect language effective?
Answer: The incorrect language is effective because it supports rhyme and rhythm. Words like “dyin’” and “lep” sound comic and playful. They make the poem more entertaining and memorable.
HOTS Q5. How does the poem show that humour can reduce fear?
Answer: Wild animals are usually frightening, but the poet describes them in a playful way. By using humour and exaggeration, the poem makes dangerous animals seem funny and reduces the feeling of fear.
Quick Revision Box
Carolyn Wells
Humorous poem
Identifying wild animals
Playful and comic
Humour and irony
Mostly ABABCC
Lion, tiger, leopard, bear, hyena, crocodile, chameleon
Entertainment through absurd advice
Interactive Quiz – How to Tell Wild Animals
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Final Conclusion
How to Tell Wild Animals is a light-hearted and entertaining poem. Carolyn Wells uses humour, irony, exaggeration and playful language to describe dangerous wild animals. The poem is memorable because it turns fear into fun and shows the creative power of poetic language.
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