Important Questions/PYQs
1. If you were the poet, which toy would you use, instead of a ball. Give a reason for your response.
View AnswersAns. If I were the poet of this poem I would have used a remote-controlled car because children like battery-operated toys more nowadays, although a ball is the best option for all ages and generations of children.
2. Do you think the ‘I’ in the poem is the poet or an observer? Give a reason for your choice of response.
View AnswersAns. I think the ‘I’ in the poem is an observer who later on got inspired to write a poem on his observation about a child’s grief who lost his favourite toy.
3. Explain how, “Out of sight, out of mind” might apply to the boy, towards the end of the poem.
View AnswersAns. The ball flowed away with the water and was out of sight of the boy who was grief-stricken and could not think of anything else so he was out of mind.
4. A popular quote states: Responsibility is self-taught. How does the poem address this thought?
View AnswersAns. The poem addresses the fact that one must be careful about their possessions otherwise they can be lost. After losing the ball the boy will be more responsible and vigilant about his belongings to avoid losing something in future. It is our duty to take care of our possessions to keep enjoying them.
5. Suggest a suitable by-line for ‘The Ball Poem” with a reason for your choice.
View AnswersAns. I would suggest a byline for the ball poem- “Lessons of Life”
The poem begins with the first loss of a little boy that leaves a huge impact on his mind. The poem emphasizes that life will give you many toys, friends, and possessions that might get lost at some point in time. So, the boy has to accept this lesson that nothing is permanent in this world and everyone has to bear losses and failures besides achievements.
More ByLines- “Life is a process of give and take”
“learning the eternal truth”
“Nothing is permanent in the world”
What is a byline– A byline can be understood as a short phrase or sentence that describes the theme of the poem.
6. Recount your reaction to the loss of a favourite object as a very young child. Would you have behaved the same way now? Explain with reason.
View AnswersAns. As a young child I felt upset after losing my favourite doll/toy car as it was my first loss. I didn’t feel like playing with any other toy. Now, I am sensible enough to accept the losses in life. Although it is difficult to let go of something or someone that is close to our heart.
7. What feelings do you think, might be experienced, at the loss of a mobile phone, for a youngster today?
Explain how these would be different from those felt by the boy in the poem.
Ans. Mobile phone has become a necessity today. Losing a mobile phone might attract fear and sadness among youngsters today. I think the loss of a mobile phone would be even greater than the boy’s loss of the ball because losing a phone means getting disconnected from the virtual world of the internet and social media. They would insist on buying a new phone as soon as possible.
8. When we think of losses, we generally think of people or possessions. Time is considered a very precious commodity. Explain why time can probably be one of the things people bitterly regret losing/wasting.
View AnswersAns. It is often said that “Time went never comes back”. Thus, it is a very precious commodity. Those who do not complete their tasks on time regret it later because incompletion may result in losing money, status, promotion or satisfaction. For instance- crops not irrigated on time will not produce a harvest, and children who waste their precious time throughout the year regret it during exams.
9. Imagine you are the boy’s elder sibling. He tells you about the loss of the ball on reaching home. How would you assure him? You may begin your reply like this: I don’t think you should take this to heart. You see…
View AnswersAns. I don’t think you should take this to heart. You see toys come and break. Dad will buy you a new ball and you will find it prettier than the previous one. Moreover, it had torn off in many places. Stop thinking about that ball. Come, let’s play together with my ball.
10. The poem deals with a child understanding loss for the first time. Matches and championships too, deal with a different sense of loss. Explain how games and sports are a good way to train children to take losses in their stride.
View AnswersAns. The ball poem shows the pain of a child after losing his favourite toy, a ball. It is important to teach children to accept losses and defeats in a positive way. Matches and championships are a better way to inculcate this habit during their childhood itself. The participants of a match know beforehand that there is an equal probability of losing the match. Still, they strive hard to win. A child must not feel depressed or demotivated rather he should think about working harder the next time. Besides the loss acceptance, matches bring about a feeling of team spirit, endurance, hard work and, of course, celebrating every win in life.
11. If the Buddha were to summarise the life lessons of ‘the Ball poem’ what would that sermon be? Think and create this address for people of your age.
View AnswersAns. If Buddha were to summarise the life lessons of ‘the ball poem’ it would be as follows:
Life is a never-ending process of sacrifices, whatever you get in life, maybe seized at any time without prior notice. So, don’t get emotionally attached to any living or nonliving things. Attachment gives pain on separation. Nothing is permanent in this world, one who has come here will definitely take leave. When you did not bring anything with you how can you claim ownership over anything? You might be the owner of this ball today but tomorrow it may tear off, stolen or broken. You will get new toys in life as you grow. Make a habit of enjoying things and relations as if they might not stay tomorrow.