How to Tell Wild Animals

1.0About the Poet

Carolyn Wells was born in Rahway, New Jersey. A highly prolific writer, she was known for her children's stories, mystery novels, and humorous verse. Her books include 'A Nonsense Anthology' (Scribner's Sons, 1902) and 'The Book of Humorous Verse' (George H. Doran, 1920). She died in New York City on March 26, 1942.

2.0Central Idea

The poem 'How to Tell Wild Animas' by Carolyn Wells revolves around the dangerous ways to identify the wild animals. The poet tries to distinguish one animal from the other in a humorous way. The poet suggests that it is very risky to be in such a close proximity (closeness) to these wild beasts. The poem is, thus, very educative as it tells us about various features of wild animals.

3.0Animals are Unique

It's a humorous poem. The poet suggests some dangerous ways of identifying wild animals. The suggested ways create humour. Every wild animal has his own special trait, colour, size and characteristics. He says if you ever visit the jungles in the east and you happen to encounter a lion, a tiger or a leopards, you'll be able to identify them by the way they attack upon you. The idea of 'Identifying while dying' makes you laugh.

4.0The Humorous Act of Identification

The poet is describing the various wild animals in a very interesting and mysterious way. These animals are very dangerous, but poetess is introducing them one by one in a very funny way. First of all, she tells us about the Asian lion. She says that if we are visiting the jungles of the east and there we see an animal that has tawny skin and may roar that we may die out of fear. It means we saw an Asian lion. Next, she explained the Bengal tiger as a royal animal that at once attacks and kills a man. She says in a humorous way that if this beautiful black striped animal kills us and eats, then we have surely met a Bengal tiger.

5.0Poetic devices used in this poem

• Personification: It is a literary device where animals, plants or even inanimate objects are given human qualities.
• Allusion : It is a literary device that refers to a famous thing, place, species of animal etc. Example - Bengal Tiger
• Enjambment: It is a literary term for the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next. Example - And if there tawny beast If you are walking creature there The crocodile hyena thus
• Inversion : Change in the format of a sentence. Example - The Bengal Tiger to discern
• Assonance : This poetic device refers to a vowel sound which is repeated within phrases or sentences that are close to each other in the text. Example - There is a prominent sound of the vowel ' 0 ' - (1) You should go, should to you, roars, (2) or if some time when roaming round (3) do no good to roar (4) strolling-forth-you
• Consonance : The repetition of the same consonant sounds in a line of text. Example - Single wing
• Alliteration : This figure of speech refers to repetition of consonant sound at the start of two or more closely connected words. Example - He has, when walking, who hugs, be bear, novice nonplus, he hasn’t

6.0Let's Recall

• In this poem, the poet describes the various wild animals in a very humorous way.
• Firstly, He describes 'The Asiatic lion'. If it roars terribly loud, it can terrify you to death. And if you meet such a powerful animal, you must be sure that he is the Asian Lion.
• Secondly, He talks about 'The Bengal Tiger'. It is a noble wild beast. It has black stripes all over his yellowish hide. The moment you see him, he will not spare but eat you at once.
• Then He describes 'The Leopard'. His hide is covered with spots. There is no escape from him even if you cry in pain. He will continue pouncing on you and eat you to death.
• Further He tells us about 'A Bear'. If you come across a bear, it hugs you very hard. His hug is not friendly. He may press you so hard that his hug may bring you to death.
• An inexperienced person can't distinguish beasts of prey the lie will not be able to distinguish a hyena from a crocodile. Hyenas and crocodiles have very deceptive appearances. Hyenas smile merrily before attacking and killing their victims. Crocodiles pretend to be weeping before pouncing upon their prey and killing them.
• A true Chameleon is a small animal like a lizard. It has no ears at all. Neither has It a single wing. If you see such a creature on a tree, then you are seeing a chameleon.