English Language & Literature — CBSE Class 10 board question

'The Ball Poem' by John Berryman is highly relatable because everyone has experienced the loss of something dear — a toy, a pet, a person, or an opportunity. The boy's grief over his lost ball represents the universal pain of losing things we love.

The poem teaches us that:

1. Loss is inevitable — we cannot hold on to everything forever.
2. We must learn to accept loss — the boy must "stand up" and move on without being rescued.
3. Responsibility comes with growing up — material things can be replaced, but some losses are permanent, and we must take ownership of that reality.

Thus, the poem prepares us emotionally for the hardships of life.

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• The examiner expects you to: (1) state how the poem is relatable, (2) give at least two clear messages/lessons.
• Key phrase to use: "epistemology of loss" is the technical term the textbook uses, but simply writing "learning to cope with loss" is fine for board exams.
• Do not retell the poem's story — focus on its meaning and message, which is what the question asks.
• 3 marks = 1 mark for relatability + 2 marks for distinct messages. Keep answers crisp and pointwise.