English Language Teaching Institute IASE Bikaner presents EContents

English Language Teaching Institute IASE, Bikaner presents E-Contents for class X First Flight

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About the poet John Allyn Berryman (October 25, 1914 – January 7, 1972) was an American poet and scholar, born in Mc. Alester, Oklahoma. He was a major figure in American poetry in the second half of the 20 th century and was considered a key figure in the Confessional school of poetry. His best-known work is The Dream Songs.

About the Poem A boy loses a ball. He is very upset. A ball doesn’t cost much, nor is it difficult to buy another ball. Why then is the boy so upset? Read the poem to see what the poet thinks has been lost, and what the boy has to learn from the experience of losing something

Glossary O there are other balls: The words suggest that the loss is not important enough to worry about shaking grief: sadness which greatly affects the boy rigid: stiff (to) intrude on: here, to enter a situation where one is not welcome a dime: ten cents (U. S. ) desperate: hopeless epistemology of loss: understanding the nature of loss — what it means to lose something epistemology: The Greek word episteme means ‘knowledge’ (it comes from a word meaning ‘to understand, to know’). Epistemology is the study of the nature of knowledge itself.

Poem 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! 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 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.

Main idea of the poem ØThe ball in the poem represents so many different things to different people. To everyone, though, it is something that has been lost. It could be something abstract or something concrete that was lost. It could be a feeling that you have gone astray or the death of a loved one ØThe little boy has lost his ball…and so what he can buy many new balls nut he has a very deep emotional attachment and memories associated with that ball so he regrets over the loss of the ball.

ØThe poet is indirectly trying to tell us the we should learn how to cope up with the loss…and money is external i. e. we cant buy memories with money… ØWe all should learn our responsibility and learn to cope up with the loss…

Comprehension Questions Q 1) What message does John Berryman want to convey through this poem? Ans 1) The message that the poet wants to convey is the importance of loss and responsibility in life. We should not forget the importance of possessions. Q 2) How does the boy feel at the loss of his ball? Ans 2) The boy very much troubled at the loss of his ball. His ball falls in water. He is much upset as he has a long association with the ball. Q 3) “Money is external’ What does the poet mean by this expression taken from the ball? Ans 3) He makes the boy understand about his responsibility as the loss is immaterial. He can purchase another ball. He explained that the world is full of possessions and money is external item

Prepared by Poonam Yadav Senior Teacher of English GGSSS, LBD, Raghunathsar Kuan, Bikaner Mob: 01512231253 Rajendra Prasad Lecturer in English GSSS, Suratgarh (Sri Ganganagar) Mob: 9929842897

Academic Support Ram Gopal Sharma Chief Resource Person ELTI, IASE, Bikaner Edited by Rameshwar Lal Basera Reader, ELTI, IASE, Bikaner Facilitated by Yashoda Khatri Resource Person, ELTI, IASE, Bikaner Issued by CM Gangwal Director ELTI, IASE, Bikaner

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