TEXT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
- Does ‘dyin’ really rhyme with ‘lion’? Can you say it in such a way that it does?
Ans: No, ‘dyin’ really doesn’t rhyme with lion. The poet actually wants to create a rhyming effect in the poem. So the word ‘dyin’ is used so that when we pronounce it, it rhymes with the word ‘lion’.
- How does the poet suggest that you identify the lion and the tiger? When can you do so, according to him?
Ans: We can distinguish the lion and the tiger if we notice their appearance, colours of their skin and their movements. The Asian lion is a large beast of yellowish brown colour. When he advances with a loud roaring sound one feels as if one is dying. And the Bengal Tiger is a wild beast with black stripes on his yellow skin. The tiger doesn’t gives you a chance to escape in case you come in front of him.
- 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 poet always uses different devices to create a poetic effect. The words ‘lept’ and ‘lep’ are purposely not spelt correctly. The correct spellings are ‘leapt’ and ‘leap’ respectively. The poet has spelt in such a way them so that the rhythm in the poem is kept alive. When spelt in this way, he feels these words may rhyme with the first part of ‘Leopard’.
- Do you know what a ‘bear hug’ 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)?
Ans: A bear hug is very intimate and powerful hug. It is a tight and strong hug. This is a kind of hug that bears are thought to give to their preys. They appear to be friendly but in reality they can be deadly. Hyenas have a sneering smile and their laugh resembles humans. Before attacking their prey it is said that they laugh. Their smiles are deceptive. Similarly, the weeping of a crocodile before it swallows its victim is also very deceptive. Yes, definitely, every language has it’s own similar expressions and popular ideas about animals.
- Look at the line “A novice might nonplus”. Why is the poet’s ‘incorrect’ line better in the poem?
Ans: The line, “A novice might nonplus” is deliberately written incorrect. It can be correctly written as ‘A novice might be nonplussed’. The poet’s incorrect lines suits the rhyme scheme of the poem better than the correct version. It is written so that ‘nonplus’ may rhyme with ‘thus’ in the fourth line of the fifth stanza.
- 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?)
Ans: Yes, poets generally take liberties with language to create a special poetic effect. We call it a poetic license.
For example, in the following lines the word ‘prest’ is used instead of ‘pressed’ to create a rhyming effect so that ‘prest’ may rhyme with the word ‘breast’.
The tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast.
- 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 is about the ideas or the language that you like or find funny.
Ans: No doubt, the ideas are funny and the humour is also mild . The pun of words in the poem creates the desired effect. Some lines that I liked in this regard in this regard are.
The majestic nature of the Asiatic lion is expressed by the line:
i) “If he roars at you as you’re dyin’ you’ll know it is an Asian Lion….”
ii) Then the noblity of the Bengal tiger is noticed ‘if he eats you.’
iii) The deceiving friendly caress of the bear is described with the deadly effect: “if you have any doubts I guess he’ll give you just one more caress.
iv) But if they weep they’re Crocodile”.
The weird smile of the hyenas is contrasted with the weeping of the crocodiles when they attack their victims.
The ideas are show a lot of humour. Some animals may seem to be ‘embracing’ ‘hugging’ or ‘smiling’ merrily to their victims. But all these activities are deadly.