(Poem 2) The Ball Poem English class 10 in English Medium ncert book solutions NCERT Textbook Questions & Answers

Chapter 3. (Poem 2) The Ball Poem

This section contains the original NCERT textbook questions from the latest NCERT Class 10 English First Flight textbook. The questions are arranged in the same order as the NCERT book, while the answers are written in simple, accurate, and exam-oriented language for better understanding and board exam preparation.

NCERT Textbook Questions & Answers

The following questions are based on the poem The Ball Poem by John Berryman. Read the questions carefully to understand the poet's ideas about loss, responsibility, and emotional maturity.

Thinking About the Poem

Question 1. Why does the poet say, "I would not intrude on him"? Why doesn't he offer the boy money to buy another ball?

Answer:

The poet does not want to interfere with the boy's feelings because he believes that the boy must experience the pain of loss himself. Losing the ball is an important life lesson, and the boy needs to learn how to accept such losses. The poet does not offer him money because another ball cannot replace the memories and emotions attached to the lost one. Real learning comes through experience, not by replacing material things.

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 seems to have owned the ball for a long time. It is closely connected with his childhood memories, happiness, and playful moments. That is why he feels deeply saddened when it is lost forever. The ball is valuable not because of its price, but because of the memories attached to it.

Question 3. What does "in the world of possessions" mean?

Answer:

The expression "the world of possessions" refers to the material world where people own different objects such as toys, clothes, books, houses, and other belongings. The poet explains that people become emotionally attached to these possessions, but they must also learn that such things can be lost and cannot always be recovered.

Question 4. Do you think the boy has lost anything earlier? Pick out the words that suggest the answer.

Answer:

No. The poem suggests that this is probably the boy's first significant loss. His deep sadness, silence, and emotional reaction show that he has never experienced such a loss before. The line "Now He Senses First Responsibility" indicates that this is his first real experience of losing something precious and learning an important lesson about life.

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 one of life's greatest lessons—that loss is unavoidable and must be accepted. Although material things can often be replaced, the memories and emotions associated with them cannot. By experiencing this loss, the boy becomes more responsible, emotionally mature, and better prepared to face similar situations in the future.

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