NCERT Class 10 English – The Ball Poem
Exercise Question Answers (Simple Words)
Poem: The Ball Poem
Poet: John Berryman
Thinking About the Poem
Question 1
Why does the poet say, “I would not intrude on him”? Why doesn’t he offer him money to buy another ball?
Answer:
The poet does not want to disturb the boy because the boy is learning an important lesson of life through his loss. The poet knows that giving money cannot remove the boy’s sadness because the lost ball had emotional value. The boy must learn to accept loss on his own.
Question 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?
Answer:
Yes, the boy had the ball for a long time. The ball is connected with his childhood memories and happy moments. That is why he feels very sad after losing it.
Question 3
What does “in the world of possessions” mean?
Answer:
“In the world of possessions” means the world where people own things like toys, money, clothes, and other objects. It also means that people become attached to their belongings.
Question 4
Do you think the boy has lost anything earlier? Pick out the words that suggest the answer.
Answer:
No, it seems that the boy has not lost anything important before. The words:
“Now he senses first responsibility”
show that this is his first experience of loss and sadness.
Question 5
What does the poet say the boy is learning from the loss of the ball? Try to explain this in your own words.
Answer:
The poet says that the boy is learning an important lesson of life — people lose things they love, and they must learn to accept the loss and move forward. Loss makes people mature and responsible.
Extra Short Answers
1. Why was the boy upset?
The boy was upset because he lost his ball in the water.
2. Why was the ball important to the boy?
The ball was linked with his childhood memories and emotions.
3. What lesson does the poem teach?
The poem teaches us to accept loss bravely and move on in life.
4. Can money replace memories?
No, money cannot replace memories and emotions.
5. What is the main theme of the poem?
The main theme is loss, responsibility, and growing up.
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