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Thinking about the Poem

Q1. Does ‘dyin’ really rhyme with lion’? Can you say it in such a way that it does?
Answer: No, ‘dyin’ does not really rhyme with ‘lion’. The poet has used it to create a rhyming effect for the poem’s rhyme scheme. You can say it by pronouncing ‘lion’ as if it has two syllables and rhymes with ‘dyin’.

Q2. How does the poet suggest that you identify the lion and the tiger? When can you do so, according to him?
Answer: The poet suggests that you identify a lion by its large, tawny colour and by its loud roar. You can identify a tiger by its black stripes on a yellow ground and by the way it eats you. According to him, you will know it is a lion when it roars at you as you’re dying, and you will know it is a tiger when it eats you.

Q3. Do you think the words ‘lept’ and ‘lep’ in the third stanza are spelt correctly? Why does the poet spell them like this?
Answer: No, the words ‘lept’ and ‘lep’ are not spelt correctly. The correct spelling is ‘leapt’ or ‘leaped’. The poet spells them this way to maintain the rhythm and rhyme scheme of the poem. He rhymes ‘peppered’ with ‘leopard’ and ‘pain’ with ‘lep again’.

Q4. Do you know what a ‘bearhug’ is? It’s a friendly and strong hug such as bears are thought to give, as they attack you! Again, hyenas are thought to laugh, and crocodiles to weep (‘crocodile tears’) as they swallow their victims. Are there similar expressions and popular ideas about wild animals in your own language(s)?
Answer: This is a discussion question. You can share popular expressions in your language that are related to wild animals. For example, ‘to be a monkey’, ‘to be a sly fox’, ‘to have an elephant’s memory’, ‘to be as brave as a lion’, and so on.

Q5. 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?
Answer: The correct way to write this line would be “A novice might be nonplussed”. The poet’s “incorrect” line is better because it fits the rhyme and rhythm of the poem and adds to its humorous, conversational tone.

Q6. Can you find other examples of poets taking liberties with language, either in English or in your own language(s)? Can you find examples of humorous poems in your own language(s)?
Answer: This is a discussion question. You can share examples of poets taking liberties with language in your own language, or humorous poems that you know.

Q7. Much of the humour in the poem arises from the way language is used, although the ideas are funny as well. If there are particular lines in the poem that you especially like, share these with the class, speaking briefly about what it is about the ideas or the language that you like or find funny.
Answer: This is a discussion question. A funny line is, “If he roars at you as you’re dyin’ / You’ll know it is the Asian Lion…” The humour lies in the fact that the only way to be sure of the animal’s identity is to be at the point of death, which is an absurd idea.