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NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 5 - The Ball Poem

Q1: Why does the poet say, “I would not intrude on him”? Why doesn’t he offer him money to buy another ball?

Ans: 

  • The poet says, “I would not intrude on him” because he wants the boy to learn from the experience of loss. 
  • This will teach the boy that loss is also an important part of life, hence the poet does not intervene in the boy’s natural process of learning. 
  • He also doesn’t offer the boy money to buy another ball because the lesson of loss learnt from this experience would become worthless and wouldn’t teach the little one to learn the lesson of responsibility from this situation.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 5 - The Ball Poem

Q2: “… staring down/All his young days into the harbor where/His ball went…” Do you think the boy has had the ball for a long time? Is it linked to memories of days when he played with it?

Ans: 

  • Yes, it seems like the boy has had the ball for a long time.
  • When it bounced into the water, all his memories of the days of childhood flashed in front of him. 
  • This led to a realisation that those moments would not come back, just like the ball. 
  • He can buy new balls and can similarly create new moments, but those that are gone would not return.

Q3: What does “in the world of possessions” mean?

Ans: 

  • “In the world of possessions” refers to the world consisting of materialistic things.
  • Different people possess different things such as land, property, money, or any other valuable thing. 
  • In the poem, the poet indicates that losing of the ball by the boy may be a very small thing, but this would give him a realization of loss and the experience of losing memories associated with it.

Q4: Do you think the boy has lost anything earlier? Pick out the words that suggest the answer.

Ans: No, it seems that the boy did not lose anything earlier. It is evident from the words ‘He senses first responsibility in a world of possessions’. This line suggests that the sense of loss gave him an experience of understanding how several precious moments are lost with the loss of a particular object.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 5 - The Ball Poem

Q5: What does the poet say the boy is learning from the loss of the ball? Try to explain this in your own words.

Ans: 

  • The poet tries to convey through his poem that the boy has learnt an important lesson to cope up with the loss of his ball. He is experiencing grief and sadness while he grows up in this world full of possessions. 
  • He learns that there are several important things in life that are lost and cannot be brought back. 
  • He also senses his first sense of responsibility as he loses the ball. 
  • The boy learns to stand up and leave the loss behind as he moves ahead in his life and understands the true meaning and nature of loss. 

Q6: 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.

Ans: Yes, I had lost my pet dog in a road accident when he was just five years old. One day I was playing with my puppy with a ball in my garden. I threw the ball in the air while playing with him, my dog jumped to catch the ball but it bounced back and rolled to the street nearby. As my dog went to fetch the ball, a speeding car ran over my puppy and I could hear it crying in pain. I rushed to the spot and found my pup covered in blood. I rushed him to the hospital immediately but it was too late and he was bleeding profusely and succumbed to injuries. I was very upset and grief-stricken by this incident. With due course of time, I recovered with my loss, but that incident is fresh in my memories and I still love my dog and miss him dearly. 

(Note: Students can write this answer as per their personal experiences.)

The document NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 5 - The Ball Poem is a part of the Class 10 Course English Class 10.
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FAQs on NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 5 - The Ball Poem

1. What is the main theme of "The Ball Poem"?
Ans. The main theme of "The Ball Poem" is the loss and the process of coming to terms with it. The poem conveys the idea that losing something valuable, like a ball, teaches us important lessons about life, responsibility, and the inevitability of loss. It emphasizes the emotional growth that comes from accepting such losses.
2. How does the poet describe the boy's feelings when he loses the ball?
Ans. The poet describes the boy's feelings as a mixture of sadness and realization. Initially, the boy feels a deep sense of loss and sorrow when the ball slips away from his grasp. However, as the poem progresses, he begins to understand that losing the ball is a part of life and that he must learn to cope with such losses, which reflects a deeper understanding of responsibility and maturity.
3. What does the ball symbolize in the poem?
Ans. In the poem, the ball symbolizes childhood innocence and the carefree nature of youth. It represents the things we cherish and hold dear. The loss of the ball signifies the transition from childhood to adulthood, highlighting the importance of learning to let go of material possessions and understanding the transient nature of life.
4. What literary devices are used in "The Ball Poem"?
Ans. "The Ball Poem" employs various literary devices, including imagery, symbolism, and personification. Imagery is used to evoke vivid pictures of the boy and the ball, helping the reader visualize the scene. Symbolism is evident as the ball represents childhood and loss, while personification can be seen in how the ball's movement is described, adding emotional depth to the narrative.
5. How does the poem reflect the concept of responsibility?
Ans. The poem reflects the concept of responsibility through the boy's journey of understanding the implications of losing the ball. Initially, he feels despair over his loss, but as he processes this event, he recognizes that he must take responsibility for his actions and accept that loss is a part of life. This realization marks a step towards maturity and personal growth.
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