Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 5 Previous Year Questions - The Ball Poem

Ans: In “The Ball Poem”, John Berryman explores the theme of loss and growing up through a boy who loses his ball and learns to accept it as a part of life. The boy’s loss symbolises the inevitable experiences of pain, responsibility, and maturity that everyone faces. Similarly, in “Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”, Mandela experiences the loss of personal freedom and the suffering of his people due to racial discrimination. However, both texts highlight transformation through suffering — the boy grows emotionally stronger, while Mandela’s hardships shape him into a courageous leader who values freedom and equality. Thus, both works convey that loss and struggle lead to growth, strength, and wisdom.

Ans: In “The Ball Poem”, John Berryman explores the theme of loss through a boy who loses his ball, symbolising his childhood innocence. The incident deeply affects him, making him realise that loss is a natural part of life. It transforms his understanding, teaching him responsibility and emotional resilience.

Ans: The poet did not console the boy because he understood that the boy must learn to deal with loss on his own. Offering money or another ball would not replace the lost one. The poet wanted the boy to realise that loss is inevitable and an essential part of growing up.

Ans: The loss of the ball teaches the boy an important lesson about accepting loss and growing up. He realises that certain things cannot be replaced by money or possessions. This experience helps him understand responsibility and the inevitability of loss, marking his first step toward emotional maturity.

Ans: By the phrase “And no one buys a ball back,” the poet means that some losses in life cannot be replaced or recovered, no matter how much money one has. It highlights that emotional attachments and memories connected to what is lost cannot be bought back, teaching the boy the true meaning of loss.

Ans: Both “The Ball Poem” and “The Sermon at Benares” explore the inevitable nature of loss and its role in human growth. In “The Ball Poem”, the boy’s loss of his ball symbolises the loss of childhood innocence. He learns that such experiences are unavoidable and must be faced with courage and understanding. Similarly, in “The Sermon at Benares”, Lord Buddha teaches that death and loss are universal truths — no one can escape them. He advises acceptance and detachment from worldly attachments to overcome grief. While Berryman focuses on personal growth through emotional loss, Buddha’s message extends to spiritual enlightenment. Both texts emphasise that accepting loss leads to inner strength, wisdom, and peace.

Ans: “The Ball Poem” is relatable because everyone experiences loss at some point in life. The boy’s reaction reflects our own feelings when we lose something precious. The poem teaches that loss is inevitable, but it helps us grow, accept reality, and take responsibility for facing life’s challenges with strength and understanding.

Ans: resigned
The speaker’s tone reflects a sense of resignation towards loss, indicating that it is an unavoidable part of life. 
This is evident in the following points:

• The phrase "balls will be lost always" suggests a constant cycle of loss.
• The speaker acknowledges that no one buys back a lost ball, highlighting the inevitability of loss.
• His tone conveys a deep understanding of the nature of loss and the need to accept it.

This acceptance is a crucial lesson for the boy, teaching him how to cope with loss as he grows.

Ans: The inference drawn from the poet's statement that "money is external" is that material wealth cannot compensate for emotional losses. It suggests that the true value of sentimental possessions cannot be replaced or restored with monetary means.

Ans: (d) respectful
The speaker treats the boy’s sense of loss with respect, acknowledging the importance of understanding personal loss, which is beyond mere material value.

Ans: The poetic device used in the given line is Alliteration. Alliteration is a poetic device where consecutive words in a sentence or phrase begin with the same consonant sound. Example - buys a ball back. 

Ans:
Good morning everyone.
Today, I'd like to discuss two pieces of literature that offer a powerful insight into how to deal with loss and the resilience of the human spirit required during times of crisis. In "The Ball Poem" by John Berryman and the excerpt from Anne Frank's diary, we see a common theme of loss and its impact on individuals. In Berryman's poem, a young boy is shown struggling after losing his ball. Comparably, during the turbulent years of World War II, Anne Frank writes in her diary about her feelings of loss and loneliness. These works impart lessons about the struggles of life and the importance of resilience in the face of challenges.
To conclude, I'd like to say that these pieces of literature serve as poignant reminders of our capacity to grow from the challenges that life throws at us rather than giving up.
Thank you.

Ans: (c)
The expression reflects the boy's distress and helplessness over the loss of his ball, highlighting his grief.

Ans: False
The poet is not delighted; rather, he is sympathetic toward the boy's loss and understands the emotional impact on him.

Ans: The poet repeats the word 'what' in order to emphasize on his statement. 

Ans: (b)
The poet feels that trying to console the boy by saying there are other balls would be futile, as it does not address the boy’s emotional attachment to the lost ball.

Ans: (c)
The line conveys a sense of despair, as the boy realizes the finality of his loss and the irretrievability of his ball.

Ans: (c)
In The Ball Poem, after losing his ball, the boy experiences grief but ultimately learns a valuable lesson about loss and responsibility. The poet uses this incident to convey the message that losses are inevitable, and one must learn to accept and move forward with them.

Ans: 'Him' refers to the little boy who has lost his ball.  

Ans: 'I' wants him to face the situation.

Ans: sensible 

Ans: The boy should learn to be careful.

Ans: valuable 

Ans:  first responsibility

Ans: worthless

Ans: he lost his ball

Ans: a dime

Ans: The responsibility referred to here was that of taking care of his things in this world of possessions and learning to cope with loss. The boy must understand that one way or the other, he is always going to lose his most prized possessions. However, he should not feel sorry for his loss.

Ans: The poet, John Berryman, wants to teach through his poem that how to cope with the loss of possessions and move on in life. The poem brings forth the fact that loss is an inevitable part of a person’s life. However, it is important for the person to bravely bear his loss as life goes on and no loss should bring life to a halt.