MY MOTHER AT SIXTY-SIX
Questions
Q1 How did Kamala Das put away the thought of her mother’s old age?
Answer:
The poet started looking out of the window because she wanted to drive away the pain and agony
she was experiencing by looking at her aged mother. She looked outside at the world which was
full of life and activity. She saw young trees running past her and merry children sprinting out of
their homes to play.
Q2 Why did Kamala Das add the image of merry children to her poem?
Answer:
The merry children symbolize the spring of life, its energy, vigour and happiness. Their image
presents a sharp contrast to the poet’s weak and ageing mother. This image is also imperative for
the understanding of the process of old age which is associated with decay. The spontaneous
outpouring of life symbolized by these children is in contrast to the poet’s mother’s passive and
inactive life
Q3 Why are the young trees described as ‘sprinting’?
Answer:
The young trees are ‘sprinting’ that is rushing past the poet as she is traveling in a very fast-
moving car. While travelling in a speeding vehicle, the objects outside appear to be rushing past
us in the opposite direction. These sprinting trees are in stark contrast to the passive old lady
sitting inside the car.
Q4 What were the poet’s feelings at the airport? How did she hide them?
Answer:
At the airport the poet, Kamala Das, feels anxious leaving her pale, ageing mother alone and
unattended. She has an ache and fear inside her heart and is not sure if she will be able to see her
mother again. She hides her feelings of anxiety by giving a long and cheerful smile to her mother
as she bids her adieu.
Q5 What were Kamala Das’ fears as a child? Why do they surface when she is going to the
airport?
Answer:
Since her childhood perhaps Kamala Das always feared that she would lose her mother or in
some way be separated from her. Now that her mother is old and her health has deteriorated, the
poet’s fear surfaces again when she is going to the airport.
Q6 Why has the mother been compared to the ‘late winter’s moon’?
Answer:
The mother looked pale and ashen faced like a corpse. During late winter the moon too loses its
brightness and looks rather pale and colourless like an ill and haggard old person who has
become worn-out and tired due to the ravages of time.
Q7What is the significance of the parting words of the poet and her smile in ‘My Mother at
Sixty-six’?
Answer:
The poet’s parting words convey the dilemma and confusion in her mind. Her superficial smile
expresses her helplessness. She is anxious about her mother’s frail health and fears that anything
can happen to her mother. But, on the other hand, she also nurtures a faint hope that her mother
survives long enough so that they can meet again.
