NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight

The Ball Poem

Updated For 2024-2025
Exams

 

Thinking about the Poem

Q.1: Why does the poet say, “I would
not intrude on him”? Why doesn’t he offer him money to buy another ball?

Answer:
The poet says, “I would not intrude on him” because he understands that the boy
is experiencing a moment of realization about loss. The poet does not offer him
money to buy another ball because the loss is not just about the ball itself
but about learning to cope with the pain of losing something valuable. The boy
needs to experience the grief and learn the lesson of responsibility and
acceptance on his own.

Q.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 has likely had the ball for a long time, and it is linked to his
memories of playing with it. The ball represents his childhood, and its loss
symbolizes the inevitable process of growing up and losing innocent moments of
youth. The boy is not just grieving the loss of the ball but also the memories
and emotions tied to it.

Q.3: What does “in the world of
possessions” mean?

Answer:
“In the world of possessions” refers to the materialistic world in which people
value objects and belongings. The phrase highlights that in life, people lose
material things, and these losses teach them about the nature of possessions
and the inevitability of letting go. The boy’s ball represents something he
possesses, and its loss is his first experience with the idea that nothing
material can be held onto forever.

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

Answer:
No, it seems that this is the first time the boy has experienced a significant
loss. The words “first responsibility” suggest that this is his first encounter
with the feeling of loss and the realization that he cannot always recover what
he loses. It marks the beginning of his understanding of responsibility and the
nature of loss.

Q.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 the boy is learning about the inevitability of loss and how to
cope with it. The loss of the ball is symbolic of larger, more significant
losses that the boy will face as he grows older. Through this experience, the
boy is learning that loss is a part of life and that it cannot always be
replaced or undone. He is gaining the maturity to understand that life goes on,
and one must learn to move forward even after experiencing loss.

Q.6: Have you ever lost something you
liked very much? Write a paragraph describing how you felt then, and saying
whether — and how — you got over your loss.

Answer:
Yes, I once lost a favorite toy that I had since childhood. At first, I felt
devastated and couldn’t believe it was gone. The toy had sentimental value, and
I was attached to it because of the memories associated with it. Over time, I
realized that holding onto the memory of the toy was more important than having
the toy itself. Gradually, I came to terms with the loss and found comfort in
the other things that brought me joy. I learned that while material things can
be lost, the emotions and memories they evoke can stay with us.