The Ball Poem Class 10 English First Flight Poem 5 Summary is available here. This summary is created by the subject experts of CBSE Wale. The poem is included in the First Flight reader book, which is the main English textbook for CBSE Class 10 students. By reading this summary, students can understand the poem better and improve their English language skills.
The Ball Poem Class 10 English First Flight Poem 5 Summary
The Ball Poem Short Summary
The poet wrote a poem “The Ball Poem” about a little boy who lost his ball while playing. The ball fell into the nearby water and the boy was very sad and scared. He stood near the water for a long time, hoping to find his ball. The poet wanted to help the boy by giving him money for a new ball, but he decided not to because he thought it wouldn’t bring back the happy memories attached to the lost ball. The poet thinks that the boy can learn an important lesson from this experience: that sometimes we lose things we love and we have to learn to accept it.
The Ball Poem Short Summary In Hindi
कवि ने एक छोटे लड़के के बारे में एक कविता “The Ball Poem” लिखी जिसने खेलते समय अपनी गेंद खो दी। गेंद पास के पानी में गिर गई और लड़का बहुत दुखी और डरा हुआ था। वह अपनी गेंद पाने की उम्मीद में काफी देर तक पानी के पास खड़ा रहा। कवि उसे एक नई गेंद के लिए पैसे देकर उसकी मदद करना चाहता था, लेकिन उसने ऐसा नहीं करने का फैसला किया क्योंकि उसे लगा कि इससे खोई हुई गेंद से जुड़ी सुखद यादें वापस नहीं आएंगी। कवि सोचता है कि लड़का इस अनुभव से एक महत्वपूर्ण सबक सीख सकता है: कि कभी-कभी हम उन चीज़ों को खो देते हैं जिन्हें हम प्यार करते हैं और हमें इसे स्वीकार करना सीखना होगा।
The Ball Poem Summary
This poem “The Ball Poem” is about losing something we really care about and growing up. It tells the story of a young boy who experiences sadness for the first time when he loses his ball. While we might not think losing a ball is a big deal, for the boy it’s a big deal. It’s not just about getting another ball with money, because that doesn’t replace the love and memories that the boy had for his old ball. Money can’t buy that.
This poem compares the boy’s lost ball to his happy and innocent childhood. Just like how we can lose our innocence and be forced to grow up quickly, the boy lost his ball. Once we lose our innocence, we can never get it back. But even though we feel sad inside, we need to be strong and keep going with our lives. We have to learn to accept and let go, because that’s the only way we can survive.
This poem compares the boy’s lost ball to his happy and innocent childhood. Just like how we can lose our innocence and be forced to grow up quickly, the boy lost his ball. Once we lose our innocence, we can never get it back. But even though we feel sad inside, we need to be strong and keep going with our lives. We have to learn to accept and let go, because that’s the only way we can survive.
The poet uses imagery to show how the lost ball represents the boy’s innocent and childish spirit. We can imagine the ball sinking into the dark waters of the harbor, just like how the boy’s innocence is fading away. As the ball drifts further away, the boy learns to grow up and leave his childhood behind. The ball also grows up with him, until it’s no longer a little boy’s ball.
This poem can be interpreted both literally and metaphorically. If we take it literally, it’s a sad story about a little boy growing up and losing something important to him for the first time. If we take it metaphorically, it’s a story about how all of us learn to deal with the loss of loved things or people in our lives.
The Ball Poem Summary In Hindi
“The Ball Poem” कविता उस चीज़ को खोने के बारे में है जिसकी हम वास्तव में परवाह करते हैं और बड़े हो रहे हैं। यह एक युवा लड़के की कहानी बताता है जो पहली बार अपनी गेंद खो देने पर दुख का अनुभव करता है। जबकि हम यह नहीं सोच सकते कि गेंद को खोना एक बड़ी बात है, लड़के के लिए यह एक बड़ी बात है। यह केवल पैसे के साथ एक और गेंद प्राप्त करने के बारे में नहीं है, क्योंकि यह उस प्यार और यादों को प्रतिस्थापित नहीं करता है जो लड़के के पास अपनी पुरानी गेंद के लिए था। पैसा उसे नहीं खरीद सकता।
यह कविता लड़के की खोई हुई गेंद की तुलना उसके सुखी और मासूम बचपन से करती है। जिस तरह हम अपनी मासूमियत खो सकते हैं और जल्दी से बड़े होने के लिए मजबूर हो सकते हैं, लड़के ने अपनी गेंद खो दी। एक बार जब हम अपनी मासूमियत खो देते हैं, तो हम इसे कभी वापस नहीं पा सकते हैं। लेकिन भले ही हम अंदर से उदास महसूस करते हों, हमें मजबूत होने और अपने जीवन में चलते रहने की जरूरत है। हमें स्वीकार करना और जाने देना सीखना होगा, क्योंकि यही एकमात्र तरीका है जिससे हम जीवित रह सकते हैं।
यह कविता लड़के की खोई हुई गेंद की तुलना उसके सुखी और मासूम बचपन से करती है। जिस तरह हम अपनी मासूमियत खो सकते हैं और जल्दी से बड़े होने के लिए मजबूर हो सकते हैं, लड़के ने अपनी गेंद खो दी। एक बार जब हम अपनी मासूमियत खो देते हैं, तो हम इसे कभी वापस नहीं पा सकते हैं। लेकिन भले ही हम अंदर से उदास महसूस करते हों, हमें मजबूत होने और अपने जीवन में चलते रहने की जरूरत है। हमें स्वीकार करना और जाने देना सीखना होगा, क्योंकि यही एकमात्र तरीका है जिससे हम जीवित रह सकते हैं।
कवि कल्पना का उपयोग यह दिखाने के लिए करता है कि कैसे खोई हुई गेंद लड़के की मासूम और बचकानी भावना का प्रतिनिधित्व करती है। हम कल्पना कर सकते हैं कि गेंद बंदरगाह के गहरे पानी में डूब रही है, ठीक वैसे ही जैसे लड़के की मासूमियत लुप्त होती जा रही है। जैसे-जैसे गेंद और दूर जाती है, लड़का बड़ा होना सीखता है और अपने बचपन को पीछे छोड़ देता है। गेंद भी उसके साथ बड़ी हो जाती है, जब तक कि वह एक छोटे लड़के की गेंद नहीं रह जाती।
इस कविता की शाब्दिक और रूपक दोनों तरह से व्याख्या की जा सकती है। अगर हम इसे शाब्दिक रूप से लेते हैं, तो यह एक छोटे लड़के के बड़े होने और पहली बार उसके लिए कुछ महत्वपूर्ण खोने की दुखद कहानी है। यदि हम इसे रूपक के रूप में लें, तो यह एक कहानी है कि कैसे हम सभी अपने जीवन में प्रिय चीजों या लोगों के नुकसान से निपटना सीखते हैं।
The Explanation of the Poem “The Ball Poem”
Stanza 1
What is the boy now, who has lost his ball,
What, what is he to do? I saw it go
Merrily bouncing, down the street, and then
Merrily over there it is in the water!
Important Word Meaning
What is he to do: The line “What, what is he to do?” expresses the poet’s concern for the little boy who has lost his ball. The poet is questioning what the boy can do now that his beloved possession is gone. The line suggests that the boy is in a difficult situation, and the poet is wondering how he will handle it. The line also implies a sense of helplessness and uncertainty about what can be done to make the situation better for the boy.
Merrily bouncing: The phrase “Merrily bouncing” refers to the joyful and carefree way in which the ball was bouncing down the street before it was lost. The word “Merrily” is used to describe the ball’s movement as lively and full of happiness.
Down the street: The phrase “Down the street” refers to the direction in which the ball was bouncing before it was lost. The poet is describing how the ball was bouncing along the street in a lively and carefree way, suggesting that the boy was enjoying playing with it. The phrase “Down the street” also creates a visual image for the reader, as they can imagine the ball bouncing along the road and the boy chasing after it.
Explanation
In this stanza, the poet is describing the boy who has just lost his ball. The poet wonders what the boy is going to do now that his ball is gone. The poet then recalls seeing the ball bouncing happily down the street, but then it went into the water and disappeared. The word “Merrily” is used twice to emphasise the joy and happiness that the boy and the ball had before the ball was lost. The repetition of the word “Merrily” also creates a sense of contrast with the sadness and despair that the boy feels now that his ball is lost in the water.
Poetic Devices
Assonance: Prominent sound of the vowel ‘o’ in “What is the boy now, who has lost his ball”.
Repetition: The word “what” has been repeated in the first and second line.
Personification: The poet has used the phrase “merrily bouncing” for the ball which is a non-living thing and given a characteristic of humans.
Imagery: The poet has given the visual description of the ball and boy.
Anaphora: It is the repetition of a word at the start of two or more consecutive lines.
Like the repetition of ‘what’ in the lines –
(What is the boy now, who has lost his ball,
What, what is he to do? I saw it go)
And the repetition of ‘Merrily’ in the lines –
(Merrily bouncing, down the street, and then
Merrily over there it is in the water!)
Stanza 2
No use to say O there are other balls:
An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy
As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down
All his young days into the harbour where
His ball went. I would not intrude on him;
A dime, another ball, is worthless. Now
He senses first responsibility
Important Word Meaning
Ultimate shaking grief: “Ultimate shaking grief” in this context means an intense and profound feeling of sadness and despair that is overwhelming the little boy who has lost his ball.
Stands rigid: The phrase “stands rigid” refers to the boy’s physical posture. He is standing stiffly and unmoving, possibly in shock or disbelief over the loss of his beloved ball. It conveys his emotional state of being frozen, unable to move, and overwhelmed with grief.
Trembling: “Trembling” refers to the boy shaking or quivering slightly due to strong emotions such as sadness, fear, or anxiety. In this context, the boy is trembling because he is experiencing an intense feeling of grief after losing his beloved ball.
Young days: “Young days” refers to the time period in the boy’s life when he was young and innocent, before he experienced the loss of his beloved possession (the ball) and had to learn to cope with grief and responsibility.
Harbour: In this stanza, “harbour” refers to the body of water near which the little boy lost his ball. The image of the ball rolling into the harbour symbolises the loss of innocence and the start of the boy’s journey towards maturity.
Intrude: Intrude means to enter into a situation or a place where one is not invited or welcome. In the context of the stanza, it means that the speaker does not want to interfere with the boy’s feelings of grief and does not want to disturb him while he is trying to cope with his loss.
A dime: “A dime” is a reference to a small amount of money, as the dime is a ten-cent coin in the US currency system. It is used in this context to indicate that even if someone were to offer the boy a replacement ball or some money to buy one, it would not make up for the loss he feels.
Worthless: In this context, “worthless” means that the value of a dime or another ball cannot replace the loss of the boy’s ball, which was very dear to him. The emotional attachment he had to the lost ball cannot be compensated for by the material value of another ball or a small amount of money.
First responsibility: The phrase “first responsibility” refers to the idea that the boy is now realising the importance of taking care of his possessions and accepting that things can be lost or taken away. He is starting to understand that he needs to be responsible for his own belongings and not rely on others to take care of them for him. This realisation is an important part of growing up and becoming more independent.
Explanation
In this stanza, the speaker is saying that there is no point in telling the boy that there are other balls available, because he is experiencing a profound and intense sense of grief. The boy is standing motionless, trembling, and staring into the water where his ball disappeared. The speaker chooses not to interrupt the boy’s thoughts or feelings and acknowledges that offering him a small amount of money or another ball is insignificant in the face of his emotional pain. The boy is now sensing his first responsibility in a world where possessions can be lost, and the speaker is suggesting that this is an important moment of growth and maturity for him.
Poetic Devices
Repetition: The word “ball” has been repeated.
Metaphor: The loss of the ball is used as a metaphor for the loss of innocence and the beginning of responsibility. The ball symbolises the boy’s childhood innocence and carefree spirit.
Asyndeton: Conjunction is missing in “A dime, another ball, is worthless”.
Enjambment: The lines in this stanza are enjambed, which means they do not end with punctuation and flow into the next line.
Stanza 3
In a world of possessions. People will take
Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy.
And no one buys a ball back. Money is external.
He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes,
The epistemology of loss, how to stand up
Knowing what every man must one day know
And most know many days, how to stand up.
Important Word Meaning
World of possessions: “World of possessions” refers to a society or culture that values material possessions or objects as a measure of wealth or success, and where people tend to accumulate things to show off their social status.
External: External means something that is outside of or beyond a particular thing, typically something physical or tangible. In the context of the poem, it refers to the fact that money, which is an external factor, cannot replace the emotional value of the lost ball to the little boy.
Desperate eyes: The phrase “desperate eyes” refers to the intense and sorrowful look in someone’s eyes, often when they are experiencing a great loss or hardship. In the context of the poem, the little boy has lost his ball and is experiencing a sense of grief and sadness, which is reflected in his eyes.
Epistemology: Epistemology refers to the branch of philosophy that deals with the theory of knowledge, particularly with regard to its methods, validity, and scope. It investigates how knowledge is acquired, verified, and applied in various fields of human inquiry.
Explanation
This stanza talks about the boy’s realisation of loss and the inevitability of losing things in the world of possessions. The speaker acknowledges that people will take things, and things will be lost, including the little boy’s ball. And the reality is that no one can buy back the lost item with money, which is an external factor. Through this experience, the boy is learning the “epistemology of loss,” or the philosophical study of knowledge and its acquisition. He is learning how to stand up in the face of loss and take responsibility for his actions, a lesson that every person must learn at some point in their life. The final line “how to stand up” is repeated to emphasise the importance of learning how to cope with loss and move forward, even when it feels difficult.
Poetic Devices
Alliteration: It is the repetition of a letter at the start of closely placed words like the repetition of letter ‘b’ in “buys a ball back”
Assonance: Prominent sound of the vowel ‘e’ in “He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes.”
Repetition: The repetition of the word “balls” emphasizes the idea of loss and its inevitability.
Symbolism: Here ‘ball’ is a symbol of childhood, which if lost, can’t be brought back. It was also used as a symbol of possessions.
Apostrophe: It is a literary device in which a physically absent person is addressed. The poet addresses the boy who was not physically present with him in “Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy.”
Poet of the Poem “The Ball Poem”
The poem “The Ball Poem” was written by John Berryman, an American poet and scholar.
About the Poet of the Poem “The Ball Poem”
John Berryman (1914-1972) was an American poet and scholar known for his innovative, confessional style of poetry. He was born John Smith in McAlester, Oklahoma, but changed his surname to Berryman when his mother remarried. Berryman earned a Bachelor’s degree from Columbia University and a Master’s degree from Cambridge University.
Berryman’s poetry often dealt with personal struggles, mental illness, and addiction, and he is known for his sequence of poems called “The Dream Songs.” He received many awards during his lifetime, including the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the Bollingen Prize.
Despite his literary achievements, Berryman struggled with depression and alcoholism throughout his life. He committed suicide in 1972 by jumping from the Washington Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Theme of the Poem “The Ball Poem”
The main theme of the poem “The Ball Poem” by John Berryman is the concept of loss and the inevitability of it in life. Through the eyes of a young boy who has lost his ball, the poem explores the emotional impact of losing something that is dear to one’s heart. It shows how the boy struggles to come to terms with the loss and how it serves as a lesson for him in accepting responsibility and the fragility of life. The poem also touches upon the idea of growing up and how it is linked with the acquisition of knowledge, responsibility, and the ability to cope with loss.
Main Idea of the Poem “The Ball Poem”
The main idea of “The Ball Poem” is the theme of loss and the experience of growing up. The poem explores the way a young boy copes with losing something he loves, his ball, and the realisation that in life, things can be lost and not easily replaced. Through the loss of the ball, the boy is forced to confront the idea of responsibility and the inevitability of loss, ultimately learning an important lesson about the nature of possessions and the need to let go. The poem is a reflection on the universal experience of growing up and learning to navigate the complexities of the world.
Moral of the Poem “The Ball Poem”
The poem “The Ball Poem” teaches the reader about the value of responsibility and the inevitability of loss. The boy in the poem learns that everything has a cost, and that he must take responsibility for his possessions and his actions. The moral of the poem is that we must learn to accept loss and take responsibility for our lives, even when it is difficult.
Message of the Poem “The Ball Poem”
The main message of the poem “The Ball Poem” is the inevitability of loss and the importance of learning to deal with it. The poem emphasises the idea that possessions are not permanent, and that even the things we cherish most can be lost or taken away. It encourages the reader to accept this truth and to learn to cope with the grief and responsibility that comes with loss. The poem also suggests that learning to deal with loss is a necessary part of growing up and becoming a responsible member of society. Overall, the message of the poem is one of maturity, responsibility, and acceptance.
Conclusion of the Poem “The Ball Poem”
In conclusion, “The Ball Poem” by John Berryman is a poignant portrayal of a young boy’s realisation of the concept of loss and the responsibility that comes with owning possessions. The poem highlights the universal experience of learning to cope with loss and the importance of accepting responsibility for one’s actions. Through the imagery of the lost ball and the boy’s emotional journey, the poem emphasises the transience of childhood and the inevitable challenges of growing up. Overall, the poem is a powerful reminder to cherish the moments and things we have while we still have them, and to face the challenges of life with resilience and strength.
Rhyme Scheme of the poem “The Ball Poem”
The poem “The Ball Poem” does not have a specific rhyme scheme. It is written in free verse, which means that there is no set pattern of rhyme or metre.
Frequently Asked Questions Related To The Poem The Ball Poem
Question 1. What is the main idea of the poem “The Ball Poem”?
Answer: The main idea of the poem is the experience of losing something valuable and the resulting lesson of accepting responsibility for our possessions.
Question 2. What does the boy lose in the poem “The Ball Poem”?
Answer: The boy loses his ball in the poem “The Ball Poem”.
Question 3. What does the phrase “ultimate shaking grief” mean in the poem “The Ball Poem”?
Answer: The phrase “ultimate shaking grief” refers to the overwhelming sadness that the boy experiences when he realises he has lost his ball.
Question 4. What is the significance of the harbour in the poem “The Ball Poem”?
Answer: The harbour in the poem “The Ball Poem” symbolises the vastness and unforgiving nature of the world, and the boy’s sense of loss and hopelessness in that world.
Question 5. What is the epistemology of loss mentioned in the poem “The Ball Poem”?
Answer: The epistemology of loss in the poem “The Ball Poem” refers to the understanding that loss is a part of life and that we must learn to accept it and move forward.
Question 6. What is the message of the poem “The Ball Poem”?
Answer: The message of the poem is that we must learn to accept the loss of things that are important to us, and that the experience can teach us important life lessons about responsibility and resilience.
Question 7. What is the theme of the poem “The Ball Poem”?
Answer: The theme of the poem is the fragility of childhood innocence and the lessons learned through the experience of loss.
Question 8. What is the poetic device used in the line “All his young days into the harbour where his ball went” in the poem “The Ball Poem”?
Answer: The poetic device used in the line is metaphor.
Question 9. What is the significance of the title “The Ball Poem”?
Answer: The title refers to the object that is lost in the poem, and symbolises the boy’s loss of innocence and the harsh realities of the world.
Question 10. What does the phrase “well behind his desperate eyes” mean in the poem “The Ball Poem”?
Answer: The phrase “well behind his desperate eyes” suggests that the boy is struggling to come to terms with his loss and is trying to hide his emotions.
Question 11. What is the moral of the poem “The Ball Poem”?
Answer: The moral of the poem is that we must learn to accept the losses we experience in life, and that the lessons we learn from those losses can help us become stronger and more responsible individuals.
Question 12. What is the imagery used in the poem “The Ball Poem”?
Answer: The imagery used in the poem includes the image of the ball bouncing down the street, the harbour where the ball is lost, and the image of the boy standing rigid and staring down.
Question 13. What is the tone of the poem “The Ball Poem”?
Answer: The tone of the poem is melancholic and reflective, as it explores the themes of loss and the difficult lessons that can be learned from it.
Question 14. What is the significance of the line “Money is external” in the poem “The Ball Poem”?
Answer: The line suggests that money cannot replace the emotional value of something that is lost, and that the experience of loss teaches us to value things beyond their monetary worth.