CBSE Class 10 · English · board exam 2027
Chapter 4: How to Tell Wild Animals — notes
The chapter’s 5 parts in the book’s order — the first idea of each and the points Medha Ma’am writes on the board — and the summary at the end. The full lesson and a check question for each part are in the app.
1. What the poem is about
Okay, so let's look at this poem.
- • Poem: How to Tell Wild Animals
- • By Carolyn Wells
- • A humorous poem
- • Read aloud with strong, regular rhythm
- • Rules for identifying animals - but given too late!
2. Telling the Asian Lion and the Bengal Tiger
Okay, so — let's look at the Asian Lion first.
- • Asian Lion: large, tawny beast
- • Sign: he roars at you as you're dying
- • Bengal Tiger: black stripes on yellow ground
- • Sign: notice if he eats you
- • Rule comes only after the attack!
3. Telling the Leopard and the Bear
Okay, so now the poet talks about the Leopard.
- • Leopard: hide peppered with spots
- • Sign: as soon as he has lept on you
- • 'lept' and 'lep' - spelt for rhythm
- • Bear: hugs you very, very hard
- • More doubts? One more caress!
4. Telling the Crocodile and the Hyena
Okay, so now the poet talks about beasts of prey, that means dangerous hunting animals.
- • Beasts of prey: tricky for a novice
- • Hyena: comes with a merry smile
- • Crocodile: weeps (crocodile tears)
- • Smile = Hyena, Weep = Crocodile
5. Telling the true Chameleon
Okay, so now let's talk about the true Chameleon.
- • True Chameleon: small, lizard sort of thing
- • No ears at all, not a single wing
- • Rule: nothing on the tree = chameleon!
- • Joke about blending in (camouflage)
Summary
Okay, so let's recap the poem. It's a humorous poem. It gives funny, mock-serious rules for identifying wild animals. It's meant to be read aloud, with a strong, regular rhythm. First, it tells you the Asian Lion by his roar — as you're dying. It tells you the Bengal Tiger by his black stripes on yellow ground, and by whether he eats you. Then it tells the Leopard by his spotted hide, and his leaping onto you. It tells the Bear by his very, very hard hug. There's a clever trick for the Crocodile and the Hyena too — a smile means Hyena, tears mean Crocodile. And finally, it ends with the true Chameleon. That's a small, lizard-like creature, with no ears and no wings. You know him by seeing nothing at all on the tree. Now, where's the humour in all this? Think about it — the poem gives these identifying signs only after the animal has already attacked you. And it says all this in a cheerful, bouncy rhythm. Tell me, why do you think that makes it funny?
AskMedha · Medha Ma’am — CBSE Class 10 English, Chapter 4. Written from the textbook, checked twice.
Questions parents and students ask
- How do I get the "How to Tell Wild Animals" notes as a PDF?
- Press "Save as PDF" — the phone’s print sheet opens; choose "Save as PDF" there. The PDF holds the notes only.
- Where are these notes written from?
- From the chapter’s own textbook text, part by part, in the book’s own terms; a second, independent model then checked every part against the book. The full lesson, a check question for each part and the practice are in the AskMedha app.
The same preparation, with Medha Ma’am — on your phone
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