Poem 5 - The Ball Poem

Here you will find the best solutions to The Ball Poem Class 10 Extra Questions. 

P5 – The Ball Poem

The Ball Poem class 10 written by John Berryman unfolds the tale of the author about the time when he found a small boy playing with a ball beside a pond. As the boy was playing, the ball fell in the pond, which made the boy very depressed. The poet wanted to help the boy but did not because he wanted the boy to accept and understand the harsh reality of a life of losing loved ones.

To be able to solve The Ball Poem Class 10 Extra Questions and Answers, read on.

The phrase mentions a significant aspect of the central theme of the poem. In this poem, the poet describes the event of seeing a young boy beside a pond playing with a ball. The ball soon fell in the lake. This made the boy very depressed, signified by the poet by stating the emotions of the boy like staring into the pond, shaking and morose. The poet says that the by spent a long time staring at the pond, looking for the ball. Here, the poet says that looking for the ball and being emotionally hurt over it is irrelevant. This is because the boy will soon in his life get new balls, which signify his loved ones. They will come and go from his life, and the boy must endure the grief, and continue stronger than before.

This statement means that it is now time for the boy to learn what his responsibilities are. When the boy first realised that the ball he was playing with is lost, he realised for the first time what is meant by being responsible and taking care of one’s belongings and loved ones. The poet wanted to console the boy by offering him some money but decided not to do so, as he wanted the boy to learn the consequences of being careless and irresponsible.

According to the poet, a man must one day know the true meaning of losing one’s valued possessions and loved ones. He relates this to the incident of seeing a boy losing his ball when he was playing with it. The poet wanted to feel pity for the small boy and offer some money to buy a new ball but did not ultimately. This is because he wanted the boy to learn the importance of being responsible for his possessions and loved ones. Losing the ball and realising the grief behind it.

This will aim towards ensuring that the boy must accept what has happened and will happen in his life and move on, stronger than before and ready for the next challenge that the vicious cycle of life will throw at him.