I. His First Flight
1. Why was the young seagull afraid to fly? Do you think all young birds are afraid to make their first flight, or are some birds more timid than others? Do you think a human baby also finds it a challenge to take its first steps?
The young seagull was afraid to fly because he thought his wings wouldn't support him and he was scared of the great expanse of sea beneath him. Not all young birds are equally timid - some are more adventurous than others. Similarly, human babies also find taking their first steps challenging as it requires overcoming fear and developing confidence.
2. "The sight of the food maddened him." What does this suggest? What compelled the young seagull to finally fly?
This suggests that the young seagull was extremely hungry and the sight of food made him desperate. He was finally compelled to fly when his mother flew across with a piece of fish but didn't come close enough. Maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish and fell outwards, which led to his first flight.
3. "They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly." Why did the seagull's father and mother threaten him and cajole him to fly?
The seagull's parents threatened and cajoled him to fly because flying is essential for a seagull's survival. They wanted him to overcome his fear and learn to fly so he could find food and be independent. Their methods, though seemingly harsh, were meant to encourage him to take the necessary step.
4. Have you ever had a similar experience, where your parents encouraged you to do something that you were too scared to try? Discuss this in pairs or groups.
[Personal answer - This will vary for each student. A sample answer:] Yes, I remember when my parents encouraged me to learn swimming. I was terrified of water initially, but they patiently encouraged me, starting with floating and gradually progressing to actual swimming. Like the seagull, once I took the first step, I realized it wasn't as scary as I had imagined.
5. In the case of a bird flying, it seems a natural act, and a foregone conclusion that it should succeed. In the examples you have given in answer to the previous question, was your success guaranteed, or was it important for you to try, regardless of a possibility of failure?
In learning new skills, success is not always guaranteed on the first try. What's important is the attempt itself. Failure teaches us valuable lessons and builds resilience. Even if we don't succeed immediately, the effort helps us grow and eventually master the skill through practice and perseverance.
II. Black Aeroplane
1. "I'll take the risk." What is the risk? Why does the narrator take it?
The risk was flying straight into the storm clouds instead of going back to Paris. The narrator took this risk because he wanted to get home for breakfast and thought he could make it through the storm quickly.
2. Describe the narrator's experience as he flew the aeroplane into the storm.
When the narrator flew into the storm, everything suddenly turned black. The plane jumped and twisted in the air. All his instruments - compass, radio, and other instruments - stopped working. He was completely lost in the storm with no navigation aids.
3. Why does the narrator say, "I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota..."?
The narrator says this because he had just experienced a terrifying ordeal in the storm and was relieved to be safely on the ground. The old Dakota aeroplane had nearly caused his death, so he was happy to leave it behind after landing safely.
4. What made the woman in the control centre look at the narrator strangely?
The woman looked at the narrator strangely because he asked about another aeroplane that helped him, but according to her, there were no other planes flying in that storm. The radar showed only his Dakota aeroplane, making his story seem unbelievable.
5. Who do you think helped the narrator to reach safely? Discuss this among yourselves and give reasons for your answer.
This is open to interpretation. Some possibilities:
- Supernatural help: A guardian angel or divine intervention
- Hallucination: The narrator's mind created the black aeroplane in his desperate situation
- Real pilot: An unregistered pilot flying without lights who didn't appear on radar
- His own subconscious: His flying instincts guided him while he imagined the other plane
The story leaves this mysterious to emphasize the miraculous nature of his survival.
Thinking about Language
I. Meanings of the word 'black'
Guess the meanings of 'black' in these sentences:
- Go and have a bath; your hands and face are absolutely black: Covered with dirt
- The taxi-driver gave Ratan a black look as he crossed the road when the traffic light was green: Angry, hostile
- The bombardment of Hiroshima is one of the blackest crimes against humanity: Most evil, terrible
- Very few people enjoy Harold Pinter's black comedy: Dark, morbid, dealing with serious subjects in a humorous way
- Sometimes shopkeepers store essential goods to create false scarcity and then sell these in black: Illegally, on the black market
- Villagers had beaten the criminal black and blue: Severely bruised
II. Phrases with 'fly'
Match the phrases with their meanings:
| Phrase |
Meaning |
| Fly a flag |
Display a flag on a long pole |
| Fly into rage |
Become suddenly very angry |
| Fly along |
Move quickly/suddenly |
| Fly high |
Be successful |
| Fly the coop |
Escape from a place |
III. Words with similar meaning to 'fly'
Tick the words which have the same or nearly the same meaning as 'fly':
Words with similar meaning: swoop, flit, flutter, ascend, float, skim, dart, hover, glide, descend, soar, shoot, sail, flap
Words with different meaning: paddle, ride, sink, spring, stay, fall
Poems - Questions and Answers
How to Tell Wild Animals by Carolyn Wells
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Glossary:
ground: background
discern: make out; identify
hide: animal skin
peppered: here, covered with spots
caress: a gentle, loving touch
novice: someone new to a job
(be) nonplus(sed): (be) puzzle(d), confuse(d), surprise(d)
1. Does 'dyin' really rhyme with 'lion'? Can you say it in such a way that it does?
Yes, 'dyin'' can rhyme with 'lion' if we pronounce 'dyin'' as "dye-in" with two syllables, making it sound similar to "li-on". The poet uses this informal spelling to create the rhyme while maintaining the humorous tone.
2. How does the poet suggest that you identify the lion and the tiger? When can you do so, according to him?
The poet suggests you identify the Asian Lion when it roars at you as you're dying. You identify the Bengal Tiger when you notice it eating you. The humor lies in the fact that by the time you identify these animals, it's too late to do anything about it.
3. Do you think the words 'lept' and 'lep' in the third stanza are spelt correctly? Why does the poet spell them like this?
No, 'lept' and 'lep' are not standard spellings. The correct spellings are 'leapt' and 'leap'. The poet spells them this way to maintain the rhyme scheme and rhythm of the poem, and to add to the humorous, informal tone.
4. Do you know what a 'bearhug' is? Are there similar expressions and popular ideas about wild animals in your own language(s)?
A 'bearhug' is a very tight, strong embrace. Yes, most languages have similar expressions about animals. For example, in Hindi we have "sher ki tarah dahadna" (roar like a lion), "chuhe ki tarah daurna" (run like a rat), and "bandar kya jaane adrak ka swad" (what does a monkey know about the taste of ginger).
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?
Correctly, it would be "A novice might be nonplussed". The poet's version is better for the poem because it maintains the rhythm and rhyme. "Nonplus" fits the meter perfectly, while "be nonplussed" would disrupt the flow of the verse.
6. Can you find other examples of poets taking liberties with language, either in English or in your own language(s)?
Yes, many poets take liberties with language. For example, E.E. Cummings often used unconventional punctuation and capitalization. Robert Burns wrote in Scottish dialect. In Hindi poetry, poets often change spellings to maintain rhythm or create specific sound effects.
The Ball Poem by John Berryman
What is the boy now, who has lost his ball,
What, what is he to do? I saw it go
Merrily bouncing, down the street, and then
Merrily over — there it is in the water!
No use to say 'O there are other balls':
An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy
As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down
All his young days into the harbour where
His ball went. I would not intrude on him;
A dime, another ball, is worthless. Now
He senses first responsibility
In a world of possessions. People will take
Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy.
And no one buys a ball back. Money is external.
He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes,
The epistemology of loss, how to stand up
Knowing what every man must one day know
And most know many days, how to stand up.
Glossary:
O there are other balls: The words suggest that the loss is not important enough to worry about
shaking grief: sadness which greatly affects the boy
rigid: stiff
(to) intrude on: here, to enter a situation where one is not welcome
a dime: ten cents (U.S.)
desperate: hopeless
epistemology of loss: understanding the nature of loss — what it means to lose something
1. Why does the poet say, "I would not intrude on him"? Why doesn't he offer him money to buy another ball?
The poet says this because he understands that the boy is experiencing something more profound than just losing a ball. He's learning about loss and responsibility. Money can't replace what the ball represented - memories and emotional attachment.
2. "... staring down/All his young days into the harbour where/His ball went ..." Do you think the boy has had the ball for a long time? Is it linked to the memories of days when he played with it?
Yes, the boy seems to have had the ball for a long time. The phrase suggests that the ball was connected with many happy memories from his childhood. It wasn't just a toy but a repository of memories from his "young days."
3. What does "in the world of possessions" mean?
"In the world of possessions" refers to the material world where people own things and where loss is inevitable. It's a world where we learn that possessions can be lost, and we must deal with that reality.
4. Do you think the boy has lost anything earlier? Pick out the words that suggest the answer.
The poem suggests this might be the boy's first significant loss. The words "first responsibility" and that he's learning "the epistemology of loss" indicate that this is a new experience for him, teaching him something fundamental about life.
5. What does the poet say the boy is learning from the loss of the ball? Try to explain this in your own words.
The boy is learning about loss and how to cope with it. He's understanding that in life, we lose things we care about, and money can't always replace them. He's learning resilience - "how to stand up" after experiencing loss, which is an essential lesson everyone must learn.
6. Have you ever lost something you liked very much? Write a paragraph describing how you felt then, and saying whether — and how — you got over your loss.
[Personal answer - This will vary for each student. A sample answer:] Yes, I once lost a special watch that my grandfather had given me. I felt devastated initially, as it had sentimental value. For days, I kept hoping to find it. Gradually, I realized that while the watch was gone, the memories and love associated with it remained. I learned that material things can be lost, but what truly matters - love and relationships - endure forever.