The Ball Poem - NCERT Class 10, First Flight, Chapter 3, Poem 5 - Summary, Questions, Answers, Extra Questions, MCQ

Detailed summary and explanation of the poem 'The Ball Poem' by John Berryman, along with important questions, answers, extra questions, and MCQs from NCERT Class X, First Flight.

Updated: 11 months ago

Categories: NCERT, Class X, First Flight, Summary, Extra Questions, Poem, The Ball Poem

Tags: The Ball Poem, Summary, Class 10, NCERT, First Flight, Chapter 5, Poem 5, Questions, Answers, CBSE

Introduction

"The Ball Poem" by John Berryman explores the theme of loss and the emotional growth that follows it. Through the simple event of a boy losing his ball, the poet delves into a profound lesson on accepting responsibility and understanding the realities of life. The poem highlights how material possessions, no matter how trivial, can hold deep sentimental value, and the loss of such possessions can be a moment of realization and maturity. Berryman uses the ball as a metaphor for the boy’s innocence, and its loss signifies the inevitable experience of growing up and dealing with grief and responsibility.

Summary

Summary in English

"The Ball Poem" by John Berryman is a poignant reflection on loss and the coming of age. The poem begins with a young boy watching his ball bounce away into the water. Despite being a simple object, the loss of the ball deeply affects the boy. He stands still, trembling and staring at the spot where the ball disappeared, reflecting on all his young days that have now passed.

The poet observes that while a ball can easily be replaced with a dime, this is not the lesson the boy needs to learn. Instead, the boy is learning about loss and the responsibility that comes with it. The ball symbolizes the innocence and carefree nature of childhood, and its loss signifies the boy’s first encounter with the harsh realities of life. The poet emphasizes that loss is an inevitable part of life, and no one can avoid it.

As the boy experiences this, he begins to understand that possessions, once lost, cannot always be replaced, and money cannot buy back lost moments or memories. This moment teaches him how to cope with grief and prepares him for the many losses he will face in life. The poem concludes with the idea that learning to stand up after loss is a crucial part of life, and it is something that everyone must learn at some point.

Summary in Hindi

"The Ball Poem" जॉन बेरिमन द्वारा लिखी गई एक मार्मिक कविता है जो जीवन में खोने और परिपक्व होने के अनुभव पर आधारित है। कविता की शुरुआत एक छोटे लड़के से होती है जो अपनी गेंद को उछलते हुए पानी में गिरते हुए देखता है। गेंद भले ही एक साधारण वस्तु हो, लेकिन इसका खोना लड़के को गहरे से प्रभावित करता है। वह चुपचाप खड़ा रहता है, कांपता हुआ, उस जगह को देखता है जहां गेंद पानी में डूब गई थी, और अपने बचपन के बीते दिनों को याद करता है।

कवि कहता है कि हालांकि एक नया गेंद आसानी से खरीदा जा सकता है, लेकिन लड़के को जो सबक सीखने की जरूरत है वह इससे कहीं अधिक है। इस घटना के माध्यम से लड़का खोने और इसके साथ आने वाली जिम्मेदारी को समझना शुरू करता है। गेंद उसके बचपन और मासूमियत का प्रतीक है, और इसका खोना जीवन के कठोर सत्य से लड़के का पहला सामना है।

कवि इस बात पर जोर देता है कि खोना जीवन का अवश्यंभावी हिस्सा है, और इसे कोई नहीं टाल सकता। जैसे-जैसे लड़का इस अनुभव से गुजरता है, वह समझता है कि खोई हुई चीजें हमेशा वापस नहीं लाई जा सकतीं, और पैसा खोए हुए पलों या यादों को वापस नहीं ला सकता। यह अनुभव उसे सिखाता है कि दुःख से कैसे निपटना है और उसे भविष्य में होने वाले और भी कई नुकसानों के लिए तैयार करता है। कविता इस विचार पर समाप्त होती है कि जीवन में खोने के बाद फिर से खड़ा होना सीखना एक महत्वपूर्ण सबक है जिसे हर किसी को सीखना चाहिए।

The Ball Poem - Thinking About the Poem: Questions and Answers

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

The poet says, “I would not intrude on him” because he understands that the boy needs to process the loss of the ball on his own. Offering him money to buy another ball would not solve the deeper issue of learning about loss and responsibility. The loss of the ball symbolizes a larger experience that the boy must face — understanding that material things can be lost and cannot always be replaced.

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?

Yes, the phrase “All his young days” suggests that the boy has had the ball for a long time and has many memories associated with it. The ball represents his childhood, and its loss signifies the end of that carefree time. The boy is reflecting on the times he played with the ball, and losing it is a deeply emotional experience for him.

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

“In the world of possessions” refers to the materialistic world where people own and value objects. The boy is learning that possessions are temporary, and losing them is part of life. This realization introduces him to the adult concept of ownership and loss, showing him that nothing can last forever in the world of material possessions.

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

The line “He senses first responsibility” suggests that this is the boy’s first experience of significant loss. The words indicate that the boy is just beginning to understand the feeling of losing something important, and this moment is a pivotal lesson in his emotional development.

5. What does the poet say the boy is learning from the loss of the ball? Try to explain this in your own words.

The poet says that the boy is learning about the inevitability of loss and the responsibility that comes with it. He is realizing that material possessions will come and go, and that no one can prevent loss. This experience is teaching the boy to accept loss as a part of life and to cope with it, a lesson that everyone must learn at some point.

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.

(Write your personal experience here about a time when you lost something valuable and how you coped with the loss.)

About the Author

John Berryman (1914–1972) was an influential American poet and scholar, best known for his deeply introspective and often autobiographical poetry. Berryman’s work is characterized by its emotional intensity, complex language, and exploration of personal themes such as identity, loss, and the human condition. He was a key figure in the confessional poetry movement of the mid-20th century, a genre that involved poets drawing on their personal lives and emotions.

Berryman’s most famous work, The Dream Songs, is a sequence of poems that blend humor, sadness, and self-reflection. His work received numerous accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. Despite his success, Berryman struggled with depression, and his poetry reflects the inner turmoil he often faced.

In poems like "The Ball Poem", Berryman addresses universal themes such as the pain of loss and the inevitability of growing up. His ability to capture human emotions in a poignant and reflective manner has made him one of the most respected poets of his time.

This article has been published in CBSE Class 10 Board Examination. Explore everything related to it here.

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