6.4. How to Tell Wild Animals - Carolyn Wells

This humorous poem offers witty and exaggerated ways to identify various wild animals. It consists of multiple quatrains, often with an aabb rhyme scheme, contributing to its light-hearted and memorable tone. The inconsistent line length and rhythm add to the comedic effect.

The poem is designed to be entertaining and fun. The use of quatrains (four-line stanzas) with an aabb rhyme scheme helps create a rhythm that is catchy and easy to remember. The varying lengths of the lines enhance the humor, making it feel playful and engaging, which aligns with the theme of exaggeration.

Think of this poem like a funny story you might hear at a party. The storyteller uses exaggerated details and funny phrases to make you laugh, just like this poem uses humorous descriptions to teach about animals. Imagine explaining how to spot a cat by saying it wears a 'disguise of fur'—it’s an over-the-top and amusing way to convey simple truths.

The theme of the poem is the peculiar and often dangerous characteristics of wild animals, presented in an amusing, almost instructional, manner. The message is purely for entertainment, using stereotypes and hyperbole to create comical scenarios.

The poem uses humor to present wild animals in a way that emphasizes their unusual traits. By portraying animals in an exaggerated light, it shapes a narrative that's entertaining while also lightly educating the reader about the nature of these creatures. It's important to remember that the poem is not a factual guide; rather, it uses comedy to capture attention and provoke laughter.

Imagine watching a comedy show where a comedian mimics different animals with funny impressions. They might exaggerate how a lion roars or how a bear behaves, which makes the audience laugh while also pointing out some truths about those animals. This poem does the same through its humorous approach.

The poem is rich in poetic devices. Humour and sarcasm are central, especially in the advice given, such as "If he roars at you as you're dyin', / You'll know it is the Asian Lion." Alliteration is used for effect, like "noble wild beast" and "loves you lovingly." There's extensive use of personification as the animals are described with actions and traits that are comically human-like, particularly in how they 'greet' or 'hug' a person. Enjambment (lines running into each other without punctuation) is frequently used, creating a conversational and flowing style that enhances the humour.

The poem employs several literary devices to enhance its humor and effectiveness. Alliteration gives a musical quality to certain phrases, making them more fun to read aloud. Personification adds a layer of whimsy by giving animals human traits, making them more relatable and amusing. Enjambment keeps the poem flowing, mirroring the spontaneous nature of a comedic performance where the punchline often builds over several lines.

Consider how a comedian uses rhythm and punchlines in their jokes to create laughter. Just as they might pause for effect or use repetition for comedic timing, this poem uses alliteration and enjambment to build humor and keep the reader engaged, creating a lively atmosphere.

The poetic appreciation of "How to Tell Wild Animals" lies in its clever use of irony and its ability to entertain while subtly educating about different animal traits. Wells creates vivid, albeit exaggerated, pictures of the animals through memorable rhymes and witty descriptions. The poem is light-hearted and fun, making it an engaging read.

The poem's charm lies in its ironic twist on how we perceive wild animals. While it provides exaggerated characteristics as a means of identification, it is essentially a playful reminder not to take things too seriously. This light-heartedness makes it enjoyable and accessible, encouraging readers to appreciate the quirks of nature, no matter how far-fetched the descriptions might seem.

Think about a cartoon where animals can talk and have funny personalities. Even though we know that animals don't act like that in real life, it’s entertaining to imagine them that way. This poem functions similarly, offering an imaginative take on animals that leaves us chuckling while also prompting us to think about their real-life traits in a whimsical context.

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