The Puppy (Poem by Oliver Herford)

About the poem

A. Answer these questions with reference to the context.

‘And when the gardener comes to see

He’s sure to blame mamma or me.’

1. Who says these lines?

Ans. The poet says these lines.

2. What will the gardener see?

Ans. The gardener will see the destroyed tulip bed.

3. Who is ‘he’ in these lines?

Ans. ‘He’ is gardener in the lines.

B. Answer these questions.

1. What do the first two lines of the last stanza mean? Choose the correct option.

      a)   The puppy is healthy though it isn’t pretty.

      b)   The puppy is kind and good-looking.

      c)   The puppy is good and kind, even though it isn’t pretty.

2. Why does the puppy ‘walk zigzag’?

Ans. The puppy walks zigzag because his tail is difficult to wag.

3. What is it always looking for?

Ans. The puppy is always looking for something new.

4. What game does the puppy like best?

Ans. The puppy’s favorite game is to chase his own tail.

5. What is the poet sorry about?

Ans. The poet feels sorry because the puppy will grow into horrid and noisy dog.

6. Why do you think the poet does not want the puppy to grow up?

Ans. The poet does not want the puppy to grow up because once it grows it would become a horrid and noisy dog.