How to Tell Wild Animals Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 (Poem) CBSE Notes 2025-26

"How to Tell Wild Animals" is a humorous and imaginative poem included in CBSE Class 10 English First Flight as Poem 3. The poem, written by Carolyn Wells, playfully describes various ways to identify wild animals if you ever encounter them, particularly in the jungles of the east. 

While the situations described are exaggerated and comical, the poem also introduces the readers to basic characteristics of some dangerous animals in a light-hearted manner, helping students to remember them while enjoying the rhyme and wordplay.

The central theme of the poem revolves around identifying different wild animals by observing their unique and often dangerous behavior. 

The poet gives funny and risky ‘rules’ for recognizing animals such as the lion, tiger, leopard, bear, crocodile, hyena, and chameleon. The humorous tone is intended to both entertain and impart some knowledge about the appearance and activities of these animals, though the identification methods are not meant to be taken literally.

The poem consists of six stanzas, each one focusing on a different wild animal. The poet uses rhyme, playful language, and exaggeration to introduce their traits and some typical but exaggerated behaviors. Here is a stanza-wise quick summary:

• Stanza 1 – Asian Lion: The Asian Lion is described as a large, tawny (yellowish-brown) beast, found in jungles of the east. According to the poem, if you hear it roar while you are "dyin’", you can be sure it is the lion.
• Stanza 2 – Bengal Tiger: The Bengal Tiger is depicted as a noble, wild beast with black stripes on a yellow background. The comical warning is: if the animal eats you, then it’s a Bengal Tiger.
• Stanza 3 – Leopard: The leopard is recognized by its hide, which is covered with peppered spots. The humor here is in the repeated "lep" — if you happen to be leapt upon several times, it’s a leopard, and roaring won’t help you.
• Stanza 4 – Bear: The bear is said to hug very hard. If you meet a creature that hugs you tightly, beyond comfort, and gives you another "caress," it’s a bear. This stanza jokes about the popular term, "bearhug".
• Stanza 5 – Crocodile and Hyena: Here, the poet tells how to distinguish between a crocodile and a hyena. Hyenas are said to come with "merry smiles", while crocodiles shed "crocodile tears"—so if they weep, they’re crocodiles.
• Stanza 6 – Chameleon: The true chameleon is described as a small lizard-like creature with no ears or wings. If you see nothing on a tree, chances are, it’s a chameleon blending in!

Throughout the poem, the tone is light and intentionally uses illogical methods for identification, making the piece memorable and funny.

The poet skillfully employs various poetic devices to enhance the humorous and rhythmic effect:

• Rhyme Scheme: The poem usually follows an A-B-A-B-B rhyme pattern, which makes it catchy and easy to recite.
• Alliteration: Examples such as "lept...lep again" and "merry smiles" bring musicality and playfulness to the lines.
• Repetition: Words and phrases like "lep and lep again" create humor and emphasize the action.
• Irony and Exaggeration: The poem features ironic advice, such as finding out a beast’s identity by letting it attack you, which is not actually practical.

There is also intentional misuse of language for comic effect, such as "dyin’" rhyming with "lion" and "lep" as a playful version of "leaped" or "leapt".

Each animal in the poem is given a distinct and recognizable (and slightly ridiculous) feature to make it stand out:

• Asian Lion: Large, tawny, found in eastern jungles, recognized by its loud, fearsome roar.
• Bengal Tiger: Regal, yellow with black stripes, extremely dangerous, confirmed if it eats you.
• Leopard: Spotted skin, aggressive, noted for repeatedly jumping on its victim.
• Bear: Big, strong, gives very tight (deadly) hugs, making the action resemble a “bearhug”.
• Hyena: Recognized by its smile or laugh; believed to always look merry.
• Crocodile: Famous for “crocodile tears” (pretend weeping), a phrase used for people who express fake sadness.
• Chameleon: Small, lizard-like, lacks ears and wings, excellent at camouflage, often invisible on the tree due to blending into its surroundings.

The poem not only helps identify animals by their appearance and behavior but also pokes fun at some popular idioms, like "crocodile tears" and "bearhug".

The humor arises from the ridiculous and dangerous ways that are suggested for identifying each animal, which are certainly not what anyone should actually do. 

The poet also uses incorrect spellings (“lept” and “lep”) and twists pronunciations to create rhymes (like “dyin’” and “lion”). The deliberate use of informal expressions and “incorrect” English adds to the fun and makes the poem easy to remember.

In addition, the poet takes creative liberties, for example, using the line “A novice might nonplus” instead of a more grammatically accurate version, just so that the rhyme and meter fit the poem’s rhythm and playful tone.

Some common idioms and figures of speech used in the poem include:

• “Crocodile tears” – pretending to be sad.
• “Bearhug” – a tight hug (in reality, could be dangerous if given by an actual bear!).
• “Merry smiles” (Hyena) – Hyenas are commonly thought to laugh or grin, adding a human-like characteristic to an animal.

Such figures of speech enrich the poem and make it a memorable experience for students, as they connect language with real-world references and idioms.

The poem’s strong rhythm and rhyme add to its charm, making it ideal for loud and expressive reading (as recommended in the book). The words “lep” and “dyin’” are used purely for their rhyming value with “again” and “lion” respectively, showing how poets may bend language rules for humor and musical effect.

Students can also notice how the use of words like “advance” in the first stanza and “discern” (meaning ‘to find out’) in the second stanza are chosen to maintain flow and rhyme, even if they are less commonly used in modern conversation.

The poem section in the First Flight textbook is accompanied by several short questions to check understanding and appreciation:

• Discusses why the poet chooses unusual rhymes (“dyin’-lion”).
• Asks about the methods suggested for identification of the lion, tiger, leopard, bear, hyena, crocodile, and chameleon.
• Explores the impact of using humorous spellings and phrasing, and whether they fit with the poem’s lively spirit.
• Encourages students to share lines they find funny, and to compare the poem’s humor with similar popular phrases in their own languages.

Students are also prompted to notice how poets sometimes break grammar or spelling rules for the sake of humor and rhythm, as seen in this poem.

When revising Poem 3, keep these points in mind:

• The poem is funny, not factual: The ways to identify animals are exaggerated and meant for comic effect.
• Each stanza focuses on one animal and one main (sometimes silly) identifying feature.
• Famous animal idioms are cleverly built into the stanzas for educational value.
• Notice the rhyme scheme and poetic devices that create rhythm and humor.
• Questions for this poem often ask about poetic devices, idioms, and the difference between real animal behavior and what’s presented in the poem.

Remember, learning this poem isn’t just about the characteristics of wild animals, but about enjoying poetry, rhythm, language play, and literary humor!

In conclusion, "How to Tell Wild Animals" makes learning about poetry and wild animals both fun and memorable. Focus on the humor, the wordplay, and the meanings behind the expressions, and you will find it easier to master this chapter for your exams.

Class 10 English Chapter 3 Poem Notes – How to Tell Wild Animals: Quick Revision for CBSE

Reviewing these How to Tell Wild Animals Class 10 notes ensures you remember key features, poetic devices, and important literary points. Every stanza is summarized, making your CBSE English revision fast and effective. Use these notes to focus on the main themes, humor, and exam-oriented questions.

CBSE Class 10 English Chapter 3 poem revision materials are structured for clarity and quick recall. Find chapter-wise pointers, a detailed animal table, and the underlying poetic techniques—all in one place for smart practice before tests and school assessments.