3.1 How To Tell Wild Animals

How to Tell Wild Animals
“How to Tell Wild Animals” is a humorous poem written by Carolyn Wells. The poem suggests some dangerous ways
to identify wild animals. In the poem, the clues have been given to identify the names of the animals. The poem
consists of 6 stanzas, and in each stanza, a wild animal is defined with his characteristics and features. This poem is
like solving a puzzle and identifying the animals. It’s an exciting and funny poem.
Poem Explanation Notes

If ever you should go by chance
To jungles in the east;
And if there should to you advance
A large and tawny beast,
If he roars at you as you’re dyin’
You’ll know it is the Asian Lion…
Explanation: The poet here says if by chance you happen to go to any forest in the east, you are likely to encounter a
huge and terrible animal moving towards you. You will notice that a large beast roars loudly at you and you feel that
you are going to die due to fear, then you will come to know that it is the Asian Lion.
Or if some time when roaming round,

A noble wild beast greets you,
With black stripes on a yellow ground,
Just notice if he eats you.
This simple rule may help you learn
The Bengal Tiger to discern.
Explanation: The poet says that it is very likely that while roaming in the forest, you are greeted by a wild beast. His
majestic body is covered with black stripes on a yellow hide. The poet cautions if you notice this beast and if he eats
you, then this simple rule will teach you that it is a ‘Bengal Tiger’.
If strolling forth, a beast you view,

Whose hide with spots is peppered,
As soon as he has lept on you,
You’ll know it is the Leopard.
’Twill do no good to roar with pain,
He’ll only lep and lep again.
Explanation: The poet here helps the readers to identify a Leopard. He says if you happen to walk in the forest, you
might encounter a beast with spots on his skin. When this wild beast will jump at you, you will understand that it is a
Leopard as he will keep jumping on you and will tear you apart. Moreover, it will be of no use then to shout or cry
with pain because he will continue pouncing on you. So you should be careful.
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.
Explanation: The poet says that while you are walking in your yard, you may encounter a creature there. When this
creature hugs you very very tightly, then believe that it is a Bear. The poet further says that in case of any doubt, you
will find that the Bear will embrace you once again till death.
Though to distinguish beasts of prey

A novice might nonplus,
The Crocodile you always may
Tell from the Hyena thus:
Hyenas come with merry smiles;
But if they weep they’re Crocodiles.
Explanation: The poet, here, helps to differentiate the Crocodile from the Hyena. He says that a Hyena always laughs
as it swallows its victim. A laughing Hyena’s voice resembles human’s laughing sound. A crocodile on the other hand,
is said to shed tears while eating its prey.
The true Chameleon is small,

A lizard sort of thing;
He hasn’t any ears at all,
And not a single wing.
If there is nothing on the tree,
’Tis the chameleon you see.
Explanation: The poet describes a chameleon in this stanza. He says a chameleon is a small garden lizard. It doesn’t
have ears or wings. The poet, further, says if you are unable to see a thing on the tree, then chances are that a
chameleon is sitting there.
Question and Answers

Question 1. Does ‘dyin’ really rhyme with ‘lion’? Can you say it in such a way that it does?
Answer 1 No, Dyin does not rhyme with lion. The poet has used word dyin so that when we pronounce it, it rhyme
with lion.
Question 2. How does the poet suggest that you identify the lion and the tiger? When can you do so, according to him?
Answer 2 The poet suggest that if a large and tawny beast roars at us then it is Asian lion.While roaring if we come
across a wild beast that is yellow in colour with black stripes, then it is tiger.We can identify the two while roaming in
the jungle.
Question 3. Do you think the words ‘lept‘ and ‘lep’ in the third stanza are spelt correctly? Why does the poet spell them
like this?
Answer 3 The words ‘lept’ and ‘lep’ are not spelt correctly. The poet has spelt them like this in order to maintain the
rhythm of the poem. The correct spelling of the words, ‘lept’ is leapt and ‘lep’ is leap. The poet has intentionally spelt
them incorrectly to create a sense of humour.
Question 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)?
Answer 4 A bearhug is when the bear hugs his prey tightly with both hands. Hyenas never laugh but their faces look
like that only. Crocodile do not weep but tears come when they swallow their victims.
Question 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?
Answer 5 The line “A novice might nonplus” can be written correctly as “A novice might be nonplussed”. However,
the poet’s incorrect line is better in the poem as it maintains the rhyme scheme of the poem. By writing it
incorrectly, ‘nonplus’ rhymes with ‘thus’.
Question 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)?
Answer 6 Yes, many poets take such liberties with language to create proper rhyming.
For example: The word ‘prest’ is used instead of ‘pressed’ so that it may rhyme with ‘breast’. A tree whose hungry
mouth is prest against the earth’s sweat flowing breast.
Question 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 7. The lines from the poem that appears to be funny are “A noble wild beast greets you”. The idea that a
wild beast is going to welcome you is quite funny.

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How to Tell Wild Animals

Poem Explanation Notes

Or if some time when roaming round,

If strolling forth, a beast you view,

Though to distinguish beasts of prey

The true Chameleon is small,

Question and Answers

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