NCERT Solutions Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 The Ball Poem: “The Ball Poem” by John Berryman is an important chapter in the Class 10 English syllabus. The poem explores themes of loss, learning, and the process of growing up. It tells the story of a boy who loses his ball, which symbolizes the loss of something valuable in life. The poet conveys how this loss helps the boy understand responsibility, maturity, and the reality of life.
By studying the Ball Poem Class 10 question answer, students can understand the poet’s use of imagery, symbolism, and reflective tone. The poem encourages learners to accept loss and disappointment as natural experiences, teaching an important life lesson.
This chapter aligns with the Class 10 syllabus, helping students analyze poetic techniques, comprehend meanings, and answer both short and long questions effectively. NCERT solutions for this poem make it easier for students to grasp key ideas, themes, and poetic devices, which is very helpful for exam preparation.
The Ball Poem Explanation Class 10
“The Ball Poem” by John Berryman reflects on the theme of loss and growing up. It narrates how a boy loses his ball, symbolizing something valuable in life, and learns a lesson about responsibility, maturity, and accepting reality. The poet uses simple language, imagery, and symbolism to show the emotional impact of loss, teaching readers the importance of letting go and learning from experiences. This poem is an important part of the NCERT Class 10 English syllabus and helps students understand poetic techniques, deeper meanings, and life lessons while preparing effectively for exams.
The Ball Poem Class 10 Question Answer
The Ball Poem NCERT Solutions help students understand the poem’s themes of loss, growing up, and responsibility. These solutions explain key lines, symbolism, and poetic techniques in simple language. Also, make sure to prepare for the ball poem extra questions and answers. This can help you get good marks.
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 says, “I would not intrude on him” because he wants the boy to naturally learn from the experience of loss. This moment helps the boy understand that loss is an unavoidable part of life. Therefore, the poet does not interfere. He also does not offer money to buy another ball because doing so would reduce the value of the lesson and prevent the boy from learning responsibility through this experience.
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, it seems that the boy had the ball for a long time. When the ball falls into the water, memories of his happy childhood days come back to him. He realizes that those moments, like the ball, are lost forever. Although he may buy a new ball and create new memories, the memories associated with the lost ball can never return.
Question 3: What does “in the world of possessions” mean?
Answer:
“In the world of possessions” refers to a materialistic world where people own various valuable things such as money, property, and belongings. In the poem, the poet suggests that although losing a ball seems small, it helps the boy understand the feeling of loss and the emotional value attached to possessions.
Question 4: Do you think the boy lost anything earlier? Pick out the words that suggest the answer.
Answer:
No, it appears that the boy had not experienced loss earlier. This is clear from the line, “He senses first responsibility in a world of possessions”, which indicates that this is his first experience of loss and understanding its emotional impact.
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:
Through the loss of the ball, the boy learns an important life lesson about dealing with loss. He experiences sadness and realizes that some things in life, once lost, cannot be recovered. This moment helps him develop a sense of responsibility and prepares him to accept losses and move forward in life.
Question 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.
Answer:
Yes, I once lost my pet dog in a road accident when he was only five years old. I was playing with him in my garden and threw a ball for him. As he ran to fetch it, the ball rolled onto the nearby road, and a speeding car hit him. I rushed him to the hospital, but he could not survive. I was deeply saddened and heartbroken by this incident. Over time, I learned to cope with the loss, but the memories of my pet are still close to my heart, and I miss him even today.