OR
(B) Though to distinguish beasts of prey
A novice might nonplus,
The crocodile you always may
Tell from the Hyena thus :
Hyenas come with merry smiles
But if they weep they're crocodiles.
(How to tell Wild Animals)
OR
(B) Though to distinguish beasts of prey
A novice might nonplus,
The crocodile you always may
Tell from the Hyena thus :
Hyenas come with merry smiles
But if they weep they're crocodiles.
(How to tell Wild Animals)
The stanza is from 'How to Tell Wild Animals' by Carolyn Wells, written in a mock-serious, instructional tone. It humorously claims that while a novice might be confused telling a crocodile from a hyena, hyenas 'smile' and crocodiles 'weep' — an absurd, comic 'test' rather than real fact.
Marking Scheme
- 11 mark: correctly names the poem ('How to Tell Wild Animals') and the poet (Carolyn Wells), with a brief note on the humorous/ironic purpose of the stanza.
Hint
Identify the poem and poet first, then briefly explain what makes the crocodile/hyena comparison comic rather than factual.
Quick Oral Answer
The stanza is from Carolyn Wells's comic poem 'How to Tell Wild Animals', which humorously tells us that hyenas smile while crocodiles supposedly weep - a joke that plays on the idiom 'crocodile tears'.
Analysis & Explanation
This reference-to-context extract from Carolyn Wells's 'How to Tell Wild Animals' tests recognition of the poem's mock-serious, satirical tone.
Concept
- Poem/poet: 'How to Tell Wild Animals' by Carolyn Wells (First Flight)
- The poem parodies serious wildlife-identification manuals with deliberately absurd advice
Key Points
- In this stanza, a 'novice' would be nonplussed telling a crocodile from a hyena
- The 'test' given — hyenas smile, crocodiles weep — is comic, not literal
Common Mistakes
- Treating the stanza's claims as genuine animal-behaviour facts instead of ironic, tongue-in-cheek humour
Common Mistakes
- 1Forgetting to name the poet (Carolyn Wells) and only naming the poem title.
- 2Treating the stanza's claims literally instead of recognising the poem's satirical, tongue-in-cheek tone.
Interesting Facts
Carolyn Wells (1862-1942) was an American writer known chiefly for humorous verse, parody, and detective fiction, and 'How to Tell Wild Animals' remains her most anthologised poem.
The idiom 'crocodile tears', referenced by the last two lines of this stanza, dates back to medieval bestiaries which falsely claimed that crocodiles wept while devouring their prey.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the poet of 'How to Tell Wild Animals'?
The poem is written by Carolyn Wells, an American humorist and poet known for witty and satirical verse.
What is the tone of this stanza?
The tone is comic and mock-serious - the poet pretends to give useful identification advice while actually making an absurd, humorous point about crocodiles and hyenas.