The Squirrel – Summary and Questions and Answers

The Squirrel Text

He wore a question mark for tail
An overcoat of gray,
He sat up straight to eat a nut.
He liked to tease and play,
And if we ran around his tree,
He went the other way.
     - Mildred Bowers Armstrong

 Introduction

“The Squirrel” is a fun and playful poem written by Mildred Bowers Armstrong. The poem is about a squirrel and describes some interesting things about it. Let’s dive into a summary and analysis of the poem!

Summary of The Squirrel

The poem begins by telling us that the squirrel wore a question mark for a tail. Now, this is just a fancy way of saying that the squirrel’s tail was curly and shaped like a question mark. Isn’t that interesting? It’s like the squirrel had a little twist at the end of its tail!

Next, the poem mentions that the squirrel had an overcoat of gray. This means that its fur was gray in color, just like a coat. Imagine a cute little squirrel wearing a furry gray coat. How adorable!

The poem then tells us that the squirrel sat up straight to eat a nut. Have you ever seen a squirrel sitting up on its hind legs? Well, this line describes exactly that! When squirrels eat their favorite food, which is nuts, they often sit upright and hold the nut with their tiny paws. It’s quite a sight to see!

The next line tells us that the squirrel liked to tease and play. Squirrels are known for their playful nature. They love to run around, climb trees, and play tricks on other animals. So, this line is saying that the squirrel enjoyed having fun and playing games.

Finally, the last line of the poem says that if we ran around the squirrel’s tree, it would go the other way. This means that if we tried to chase the squirrel or run around the tree it was sitting on, the squirrel would quickly move in the opposite direction. It was like a little game for the squirrel to outsmart us and make us run around in circles!

Now, let’s analyze the poem a bit.

Analysis of The Squirrel

The poem uses simple and playful language to describe different characteristics and behaviors of the squirrel. It creates a vivid image of the squirrel in our minds, making it easy for us to imagine how it looks and acts. The poem also brings out the mischievous and playful nature of squirrels, which is something many kids can relate to or find amusing.

Sum Up

“The Squirrel” is a delightful poem that introduces us to the curious and playful world of squirrels. It describes the squirrel’s unique features like its curly tail and gray fur coat. It also portrays the squirrel’s playful behavior and its ability to outsmart us when we try to chase it. So, the next time you spot a squirrel in your backyard or a park, remember this poem and appreciate the charm and mischievousness of these adorable creatures!

Questions and Answers

Working with the Poem

Question 1: Why does the poet say the squirrel “wore a question mark for a tail”? Draw a squirrel or find a picture of a squirrel sitting on the ground. How would you describe its tail?

Answer: The poet says the squirrel “wore a question mark for a tail” because the tail of the squirrel was curled in a way that it looked like a question mark. If you look at a picture of a squirrel or draw one yourself, you will see that its tail is long and curved, just like the shape of a question mark.

Question 2: Do we usually say that an animal ‘wears’ a tail? What do we say? (Think: Does an animal wear a coat? Consult a dictionary if you like and find out how ‘wear’ is used in different ways.)

Answer: No, usually we don’t say that an animal ‘wears’ a tail. Instead, we say that an animal ‘has’ a tail. The word ‘wear’ is commonly used to describe something that is used to cover or put on, like clothes or accessories. For example, we wear clothes, hats, or jewelry. So, when it comes to describing an animal’s body parts like a tail, we usually use the word ‘has’.

Question 3: “He liked to tease and play.” Who is teasing whom? How?

Answer: In the line “He liked to tease and play,” it means that the squirrel liked to tease and play with others. The squirrel would often engage in playful behavior, running around and being mischievous. It would tease other animals or even people by making them chase it. So, the squirrel is the one doing the teasing, and it’s all part of its playful nature.

OR

The line “He liked to tease and play” means that the squirrel enjoyed teasing and playing with others. It would run around, be mischievous, and make other animals or people chase it. So, the squirrel was the one having fun by teasing others.

Frequently Asked Questions on NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Unit 1 Poem

Q1: Who is the poet of the Unit 1 Poem of NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English?

A: The poet of the short poem “The Squirrel” is Mildred Bowers Armstrong. The poem consists of six lines and talks about the appearance and basic nature of a squirrel.

Q2: Describe the physical appearance of the squirrel.

A: The squirrel has a slender body with a bushy tail that looks like a question mark. It also has large eyes. Its fur is short, soft, and silky, and it appears to be wearing an overcoat of gray.