How to Tell Wild Animal
Question 1. Does ‘Dyin’ really rhyme with ‘lion’? Can you say it so that it does?
No, ‘Dyin’ doesn’t exactly rhyme with ‘lion.’ But if you pronounce ‘lion’ like ‘lying,’ then it rhymes with ‘dyin.’
Question 2. How does the poet suggest identifying the lion and the tiger? When can you do this?
The lion is large with a tawny coat, while the Bengal tiger has black stripes on yellow fur. The lion roars loudly when catching prey; the tiger attacks quietly. You can spot and identify them when wandering through the jungle.
Question 3. Are ‘lept’ and ‘lep’ spelled correctly in the poem? Why did the poet spell them this way?
No, the correct spellings are ‘leapt’ and ‘leap.’ The poet changes the spelling to keep the poem’s rhythm and rhyme, adding a humorous touch.
Question 4. What is a ‘bearhug’? Are there similar animal expressions in your language?
A ‘bearhug’ is a strong, friendly embrace like a bear’s deadly grip. Many languages have animal-related sayings. For example, in Hindi: ‘Magarmach ke aansu aaana’ (crocodile tears), ‘Haathi ke daant dikhane ke aur, khane ke aur’, ‘Ab pachtaye hot kya jab chidiya chug gai khet’, and ‘Girgit ke tarah rang badalna’ (changing colors like a chameleon).
Question 5. How would you write ‘A novice might nonplus’ correctly? Why is the poet’s incorrect version better?
The proper form is ‘A novice might be nonplussed.’ But the poet’s unusual phrasing keeps the rhyme scheme intact since ‘nonplus’ rhymes with ‘thus,’ making it better for the poem’s flow.
Question 6. Can you find examples where poets take liberties with language? Are there humorous poems in your language?
Yes, poets often use ‘poetic license’ to bend language for rhyme or rhythm. For example, using ‘prest’ instead of ‘pressed’ to rhyme with ‘breast.’ Humorous poems abound in languages worldwide, using playful words or surprising ideas.
Question 7. Which lines in the poem do you find funny or enjoyable? Why?
I find the line “A noble wild beast greets you” funny because it imagines a wild animal welcoming you. Also, “He’ll only lep and lep again” is humorous since ‘lep’ humorously sounds like ‘leap’ but relates to the word ‘leopard,’ adding a playful twist.