Poem: How to Tell Wild Animals
by Carolyn Wells
Textual Questions (Page No. 44–45)
Q1. Does ‘dyin’ really rhyme with ‘lion’? Can you say it in such a way that it does?
Ans. Strictly speaking, ‘dyin’ and ‘lion’ do not rhyme perfectly. But the poet deliberately shortens “dying” to “dyin’” so that, when spoken in a humorous or exaggerated way, it can be made to rhyme with “lion.”
Q2. How does the poet suggest that you identify the lion and the tiger? When can you do so, according to him?
Ans. You can identify the lion if a large, tawny beast roars at you as you’re about to die. The tiger can be identified if a wild animal with black stripes on yellow skin eats you. Both can be recognised in dangerous encounters.
Q3. Do you think the words ‘lept’ and ‘lep’ in the third stanza are spelt correctly? Why does the poet spell them like this?
Ans. The correct spelling is “leapt.” The poet uses “lept” and “lep” to maintain rhythm and humour. The misspelling creates a playful, comic effect, suiting the humorous tone of the poem.
Q4. Do you know what a ‘bearhug’ is?
Ans. A bearhug is a tight, strong embrace. In the poem, it humorously suggests how a bear attacks its victim by hugging it very hard, while in daily life, a bearhug can mean a warm, affectionate hug.
Q5. 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?
Ans. The correct form is: “A novice might be nonplussed.” However, the poet’s shorter version maintains the rhyme and rhythm, while also adding humour and simplicity.
Q6. Can you find other examples of poets taking liberties with language?
Ans. Yes. Many humorous and nonsense poets like Edward Lear, Ogden Nash, and Lewis Carroll deliberately bend grammar, spelling, or meaning to create comic or rhythmic effects. Even in Hindi and other regional languages, poets sometimes play with words for humour.
Q7. Which lines in the poem did you like the most and why?
Ans. Many students like the stanza on the leopard: “’Twill do no good to roar with pain, / He’ll only lep and lep again.”These lines are funny because the misspelling and rhythm enhance the comic image of a leopard repeatedly pouncing.
Extra Questions & Answers
Short Answer Type
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How can one identify the Asian Lion, according to the poet?
By its roar, which comes just as it is about to kill you. -
What is the humorous rule for recognising a Bengal Tiger?
If it eats you, then you can be sure it’s a Bengal Tiger. -
What does the poet say about the leopard’s attack?
That crying out in pain won’t help, because the leopard will only leap on you again and again. -
What is meant by a ‘bearhug’ in the poem?
It humorously refers to the bear attacking its prey by squeezing tightly, but sounds like a friendly hug. -
Why are the crocodile and hyena easy to confuse?
Because hyenas seem to smile, while crocodiles seem to weep, both giving misleading impressions.
Long Answer Type
Q1. What makes “How to Tell Wild Animals” a humorous poem?
Ans. The humour of Carolyn Wells’s poem lies in exaggeration, irony, and playful use of language. Instead of realistic descriptions, she gives absurd ones—for example, you can identify a lion if it roars while killing you, or a tiger if it eats you. The leopard is described as leaping repeatedly, with comic misspellings like “lep.” The bear is introduced through the idea of a “bearhug,” which is actually a deadly embrace. She also plays with expressions like “crocodile tears” and the “laughing” hyena, making them literal. Finally, the chameleon is humorously described as invisible—if you see nothing on a tree, it may be a chameleon. These exaggerations, combined with rhyme and rhythm, make the poem entertaining.
Q2. Do you think the poem has a hidden message beyond humour? Discuss.
Ans. While primarily humorous, the poem may be seen as a gentle satire on human fear of animals and our tendency to exaggerate danger. Instead of scientific facts, the poet gives comic rules for recognising animals, showing how little humans may truly understand nature. The poem also reminds us that wild animals are powerful and dangerous, and that observing them closely requires caution. At the same time, its humour makes it enjoyable and easy to remember. Thus, the poem blends fun with subtle reflection on how humans perceive the animal world.
Summary of the Poem
How to Tell Wild Animals by Carolyn Wells is a humorous poem that playfully suggests dangerous ways to identify wild animals. Written in a light-hearted tone, the poem uses irony and exaggeration to entertain readers while describing the characteristics of various creatures.
The poem begins with the lion. If, while roaming in the jungle, one encounters a large tawny beast that roars as you are about to die, then it is surely the Asian Lion. The poet makes this terrifying meeting sound comical by suggesting that you can “identify” the lion at the very moment it kills you.
Next, she describes the Bengal Tiger. If you meet a beast with black stripes on a yellow coat, you can know it is a tiger when it eats you. Again, the humour arises from the absurdity of learning the animal’s identity too late to save oneself.
Then comes the leopard. Its skin is peppered with spots. The poet jokes that if it leaps on you, roaring in pain will do no good because the leopard will only keep “lepping” again and again. The use of the misspelt word “lep” adds a playful, rhythmic quality.
The bear is described through the idea of a “bearhug.” If a large animal embraces you very tightly, leaving you unable to breathe, then it is a bear. The hug here is a metaphor for the bear’s deadly attack, but it is presented in a humorous way.
The poet then compares the crocodile and hyena. The hyena is known for its strange, laughter-like sound, while crocodiles are thought to shed false tears (“crocodile tears”). Thus, if an animal smiles at you, it is a hyena; if it weeps while swallowing you, it is a crocodile. The use of common expressions adds wit to the poem.
Finally, the chameleon is described. It is a small lizard-like creature that has neither ears nor wings. Its camouflage is so perfect that if you look at a tree and see nothing, it may actually be a chameleon blending into the bark.
The central theme of the poem is humour through exaggeration. While most poems about animals glorify their beauty or power, Wells chooses to make readers laugh at the absurd ways of recognising them. The poem also plays with language—using misspellings, shortened words, and unexpected rhymes to maintain rhythm and humour.
At a deeper level, the poem may also be seen as a satire on the way humans often exaggerate the danger of wild animals or fail to truly understand them. Instead of scientific or realistic descriptions, Wells gives comic ones that make the animals memorable in a different way.
In conclusion, How to Tell Wild Animals is both entertaining and imaginative. By blending rhythm, wordplay, and exaggeration, Carolyn Wells creates a delightful poem that children and adults alike enjoy. It shows that poetry can be playful as well as meaningful, and that humour is a powerful tool for learning and remembering.
✒️ Biography of Carolyn Wells
Carolyn Wells (1862–1942) was an American writer and poet, best known for her humorous verse, children’s literature, and mystery novels. She was born on 18 June 1862 in Rahway, New Jersey, USA. From a young age, Wells showed talent for wordplay, rhymes, and storytelling, which later became the foundation of her literary career.
Initially, Wells worked as a librarian, where she developed a passion for books and literature. She soon began writing poetry, and her witty, humorous verses quickly gained popularity. She contributed to newspapers and magazines, publishing light verse that was entertaining, rhythmic, and filled with clever wordplay.
Her humorous poetry collections, such as Idle Idyls (1900) and Such Nonsense! (1918), showcased her playful style. She often experimented with language, bending grammar, spelling, and rhythm to create comic effects. This made her work especially appealing to children and young readers. How to Tell Wild Animals is a perfect example, using exaggeration and comic descriptions to make animals both amusing and memorable.
Wells was also a prolific author of children’s books. She wrote fairy tales, parodies, and stories filled with adventure and humour. Her ability to engage children through rhyme and imagination made her a beloved figure in American children’s literature.
Later in her career, she turned to mystery novels, inspired by the success of Arthur Conan Doyle and other crime writers. She wrote over 170 books, including popular detective stories such as The Clue (1909) and the Fleming Stone series. Though her mysteries were formulaic, they were widely read in the early twentieth century.
What set Wells apart was her versatility. She moved easily between poetry, humour, children’s tales, and detective fiction. Her writing was marked by lightness, wit, and accessibility, qualities that gave her a wide readership.
Carolyn Wells passed away in 1942, leaving behind a vast body of work. Though her detective novels have faded in popularity, her humorous poems remain cherished for their charm and wit. Today, she is remembered as a writer who brought laughter and delight to her readers, especially through poems like How to Tell Wild Animals.