English VSQ (2 Marks)

The poet says that the squirrel ‘wore a question mark for a tail’ because its tail is bent in an arch which appears like a question mark.

We usually say that an animal ‘has’ a set of given characteristics rather than saying ‘wear’. The poet, however, uses the word ‘wear’ to render the squirrel an independent personality.

The poem is a reflection of the poet’s desire to compose poetry on most mundane elements that we come across in our day to day surrounding. A squirrel is the most commonly found animal that we see around us. Yet, very few of us would have thought  of it as a potent subject matter for a writer’s pen. The poet very simplistically discusses 1 the various aspects of the squirrel, which each one of us must have observed closely.

self

The poet liked to tease and play with the squirrel. Whenever the poet went a little close to the squirrel, the squirrel would run away in the other direction.

self

Yes, based on our observation of the squirrels around us, we can say that a squirrel is a fast paced animal. We rarely come across squirrels sitting still, except when they are biting into the nuts. Usually we see the squirrels running from one place to another with great energy.