How to tell Wild Animals
Thinking about the Poem
1. Does ‘dyin’ really rhyme with ‘lion’? Can you say it in such a way that it does?
Ans: No, in standard English, “dying” does not rhyme with “lion.” However, the poet uses Poetic License to change the spelling of “dying” to “dyin’.” If we drop the ‘g’ sound and pronounce it as die-in, it creates a forced rhyme with “lion.” This adds to the humorous and lighthearted tone of the poem.
2. How does the poet suggest that you identify the lion and the tiger? When can you do so, according to him?
Ans: The poet provides distinct physical and behavioral traits for both:
The Asian Lion: A large, “tawny” (brownish-yellow) beast that roars so loudly that you feel like you are dying of fear.
The Bengal Tiger: A “noble” beast with black stripes on a yellow background. Unlike the lion, the tiger is a silent stalker who “greets” you only to eat you.
According to the poet, you identify them while “strolling” or “roaming” in the jungles of the East, usually at the very moment they are about to attack you.
3. Do you think the words ‘lept’ and ‘lep’ in the third stanza are spelt correctly? Why does the poet spell them like this?
Ans: No, the words are not spelt correctly. The correct spellings are “leapt” and “leap.” The poet deliberately misspells them to create a visual and phonetic link with the word “Leopard.” This play on words (pun) emphasizes the animal’s characteristic action of leaping repeatedly, while also maintaining the poem’s rhythm.
4. Do you know what a ‘bearhug’ is? Are there similar expressions about wild animals in your own language?
Ans: A “bearhug” is traditionally a tight, strong embrace. While in human terms it is friendly, in the animal kingdom, a bear hugs its prey to crush it to death.
Hyenas and Crocodiles: Hyenas are said to “laugh” because of the high-pitched sound they make, and “crocodile tears” refers to a false show of sorrow.
Assamese Expressions: As you mentioned, in Assamese we have expressions like “Ghoriyalor sokupani” (Crocodile tears/hypocrisy) and “Hatir dore khuj” (To have a gait or presence like an elephant), which show how animals influence our daily language.
5. Look at the line “A novice might nonplus.” How would you write this ‘correctly’? Why is the poet’s ‘incorrect’ line better?
Ans: The grammatically correct version would be “A novice might be nonplussed” (meaning confused). However, the poet’s version is better because “nonplus” rhymes perfectly with “thus” in the following line. Using the correct grammatical form would break the rhyme scheme and the musical flow of the stanza.
6. Can you find other examples of poets taking liberties with language (Poetic License)?
Ans: Yes, poets often shorten words or change spellings to fit a meter. For example, in Joyce Kilmer’s poem Trees, the word “prest” is used instead of “pressed” to rhyme with “breast.” > “A tree whose hungry mouth is prest / Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast.”
In Assamese poetry as well, poets often use “Apabhramsa” or colloquial forms of words to ensure the Chanda (rhythm) remains intact.
7. Much of the humour in the poem arises from the way language is used. Which lines do you find particularly funny?
Ans: The humor lies in the contrast between the danger of the animals and the casual language used to describe them.
Favorite Line: “A noble wild beast greets you.” The idea of a predator “greeting” its prey like a polite host is hilarious.
Another Example: “He’ll only lep and lep again.” The repetitive use of the made-up word ‘lep’ creates a comical mental image of a leopard bouncing around, which softens the scary reality of a predator’s attack.