How to Tell Wild Animals MCQs Quiz | Class 10
This quiz, designed for Class X students, focuses on English Language and Literature (Code 184). It covers Section C: Literature (First Flight Poems), specifically the How to Tell Wild Animals MCQs Quiz | Class 10 topic. The questions delve into the poem’s humour/description and poetic features. Test your understanding of Leslie Norris’s humorous poem by attempting all 10 multiple-choice questions. Once you’re done, submit the quiz to see your results and download a comprehensive answer PDF for revision.
Deep Dive into “How to Tell Wild Animals”
Leslie Norris’s poem “How to Tell Wild Animals” is a delightful and humorous piece that offers a peculiar guide to identifying dangerous wild beasts. Through vivid descriptions and a playful tone, the poet cautions the reader (in an ironic way) about encountering various animals in the jungle, highlighting their unique and often lethal characteristics. The poem is a brilliant example of how humour can be used to address a potentially serious subject, making it engaging and memorable for readers.
Key Aspects of the Poem
- Humorous Identification: The poem provides a series of humorous, albeit dangerous, tips for identifying wild animals like the Asian Lion, Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Bear, Hyena, Crocodile, and Chameleon.
- Irony and Exaggeration: The poet uses irony extensively, especially when describing the ‘noble’ Bengal Tiger who will simply ‘lap’ at you, or the Bear whose ‘hug’ is deadly.
- Distinctive Traits: Each animal is presented with a clear, exaggerated trait: the tawny Asian Lion, the striped Bengal Tiger, the ‘peppered’ Leopard, the hugging Bear, the smiling Hyena, the weeping Crocodile, and the chameleon’s complete camouflage.
- Survival Guide (with a twist): While appearing to be a guide, the poem’s suggestions often lead to fatal outcomes, underscoring the inherent danger of these animals.
Poetic Features
The poem is rich in various poetic devices that contribute to its distinctive style and humorous effect:
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem largely follows an AABB rhyme scheme in each stanza, which contributes to its light, ballad-like quality and makes it easy to read and remember. For example, “east” and “beast,” “ground” and “round.”
- Humour and Irony: As discussed, this is the most prominent feature. The poet’s witty observations and ironic suggestions (like mistaking a tiger’s attack for a loving gesture) create a comedic effect. The contrast between the animal’s deadly nature and the poet’s casual, almost helpful tone is highly effective.
- Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words adds to the musicality of the poem. Examples include “noble beast,” “roaming round,” “laps and laps.”
- Imagery: The poem creates vivid pictures in the reader’s mind, such as “a large and tawny beast,” “a noble beast with black stripes,” “a bear will embrace you very, very hard.” This strong imagery helps in distinguishing the animals.
- Enjambment: Many lines flow into the next without punctuation, creating a conversational and continuous reading experience, which suits the narrative style of the humorous guide.
- Personification: Giving human qualities to animals, such as the Hyena having a “merry smile” or the Bear giving a “tight hug.”
Animal Identification at a Glance (Humorous Guide)
| Animal | Key Humorous Description / Trait |
|---|---|
| Asian Lion | A large and tawny beast, a ‘noble’ sight, may roar at you. |
| Bengal Tiger | A ‘noble beast’ with black stripes, will ‘lap’ at you. |
| Leopard | Has ‘peppered’ spots, will leap and not do any good to roar. |
| Bear | Gives a tight ‘hug’ to death. |
| Hyena | Comes with a “merry smile.” |
| Crocodile | Weeps while devouring its prey. |
| Chameleon | Blends so perfectly, has no wings or ears, and nothing on the tree. |
Quick Revision Points
- The poem is written by Leslie Norris.
- It is characterized by its witty, ironic, and humorous tone.
- It humorously describes distinguishing features of various wild animals.
- Key poetic devices include AABB rhyme scheme, alliteration, imagery, irony, and personification.
- The central theme revolves around identifying animals based on their unique, often deadly, behaviours.
Practice Questions
- What is the poet’s warning about the Bear’s embrace?
- Which animal is said to have spots that “pepper” its hide?
- How does the poet distinguish between a Hyena and a Crocodile’s facial expressions?
- What does the phrase “A novice might nonplus” imply about identifying wild animals?
- Identify an instance of alliteration in the poem other than “noble beast.”
