My Mother at 66

Q1. Where was the poet going and who was with her?
Ans: The poet was driving from her parent’s home to the Cochin airport. The poet’s mother was
sitting beside her. She was dozing with her mouth open.

Q2. What was the poet’s childhood fear? [All India 2014]
Ans: The child is always in fear of being separated from his parents. In the same way, the poet’s
fear as a child was that of losing her mother or her company.

Q3. What does the poet’s mother look like? What kind of images has the poet used to
signify her ageing decay?
Ans: The poet’s mother is sixty-six years old. She is sitting beside the poet and dozing with her
mouth open. This is a sign of old age. Her face looked pale and faded like ash. Actually, her
‘ashen’ face looks like that of a corpse.

Q6. Why does the poet look outside? What does she see happening outside?
Ans: The thought of the ageing mother at sixty-six and her pale and ashen face looking like a
corpse becomes too heavy for the poet to bear. She needs a distraction, a diversion and therefore
she looks outside. She watches young trees. These trees speed past them and appear to be
sprinting. Then she sees happy children moving out of their houses and making merry.

Q7. How has the poet contrasted the scene inside the car with the activities going on
outside?
Ans: The poet has used beautiful images to highlight the stark contrast between the scene inside
the car and the activities going on outside. The ‘ashen’ face of the poet’s mother is pale and
lifeless. It looks like that of a corpse. She is dozing and lost to herself. The image of the ‘dozing’
mother is contrasted with the ‘spilling’ of children. The ‘ashen’ and ‘corpse¬like’ face is contrasted
with the young trees sprinting outside.

Q9. Why is the poet’s mother compared to the late winter’s moon?
Ans: The poet’s mother has been compared to the late winter’s moon to bring out the similarity of
ageing and decay. The late winter moon looks hazy and obscure. It lacks shine and strength. The
poet’s mother has an ‘ashen’ face resembling a corpse. She has lost her shine and strength of
youth.

Q10. What is the poet’s familiar ache and why does it return?
Ans: The poet is pained at the ageing and decaying of her mother. The fear is that with ageing
comes decay and death. The sight of her old mother’s ‘ashen’ and corpse-like face arouses “that
old familiar ache” in her heart. Her childhood fear returns. She is also pained and frightened by the
idea that she may have to face all these things herself.

Q11. How does Kamala Das try to put away the thoughts of her ageing mother?[All India
2014]
Ans: Kamala Das was in much trouble after seeing the lifeless and faded face of her mother. The
old lady seemed to be lost in her own thoughts. The poetess turned away her attention from her
mother and looked outside. The outside world was full of life and activity. The young trees seemed
to be running fast. The children looked happy while moving out of their homes.

Q12. Why does the poet smile and what does she say while bidding good bye to her mother

Ans: The ‘wan’, ‘pale’, face of the poet’s mother at sixty-six brings an image of decay and death. It
brings that old familiar fear of separation back. She fears the ultimate fate of human beings. But
she has to put on a brave face. She regains self-control. She composes herself and tries to look
normal. She utters the words of assurance that they will meet again soon. She tries to hide her
ache and fear by smiling continuously.

a)Where was the poet driving to? Who was sitting beside her?
(b)What did the poet notice about her mother?
(c)Why was her mother’s face looked like that of a corpse?
(d)Find words from the passage which mean :
(i) sleep lightly (ii) dead body (iii) felt.
Answers:
(a)The poet was driving from her parent’s home to the Cochin airport. Her mother was sitting
beside her.
(b)She noticed that her mother was dozing with her mouth open.
(c)Her mother’s face looked pale, faded and lifeless like a dead body because she had grown old.
(d)(i) doze (ii) corpse (iii) realised.

Questions
(a)What did the poet realise? How did she feel
(b) What did she do then?
(c)What did she notice in the world outside?
(d)Find words from the passage which mean: (ii) running fast (ii) happy (iii) moving out.
Answers:
(a)Her mother was lost somewhere else in thoughts. It pained her.
(b)The poet withdrew her thoughts from her mother and looked outside.
(c)The young trees growing outside went past as if they were sprinting. Happy children were
coming out of their houses.
(d)(i) sprinting (ii) merry (iii) spilling

Questions
(a)What did the poet do after the security check?
(b)Why did the poet compare her mother’s face to a late winter’s moon?
(c)What is her childhood fear ?
(d)How do the parting words of the poet and her smile present a contrast to her real
feelings?
Answers:
(a)After the security check, the poet stood a few yards away from her mother and looked at her
face again.
(b)The late winter moon lacks brightness as well as strength. The pale and colourless face of the
mother resembles the late winter moon.
(c)The fear of ageing and ultimate death/separation.
(d)The poet’s parting words of assurance and her smiles present a stark contrast to the old familiar
ache or childhood fear. Her words and smiles are a deliberate attempt to hide what is going on
inside.
Keeping Quiet

1. How long does the poet want to stay still?

2. What does he hope to achieve by keeping quiet?
3. What does the poet mean by ‘not move our arms so much’?

Answer:
1. The poet wants to count upto twelve and stay still during the time we are counting to twelve.
2. By keeping quiet the poet hopes that he will be able to live a fascinating moment and then
realise the value of peace and introspection. The ! poet believes that by keeping quiet, we will be
able to hear the voice of our conscience in these moments of silence.
3. Whenever man has used his arms he has caused undue harm to others. So the poet uses the
phrase, ‘not to move our arms so much’ to emphasise the importance of physical inactivity to
lessen destruction caused by man in the world.

Question 2.
What is the exotic moment the poet Pablo Neruda wishes for? (Delhi 2009)
Answer:
Pablo Neruda wishes for that exotic moment when mankind will be free from greed, cruelty and
harmful actions. Unnecessary rush and noise have caused unpleasantness and troubles. The poet
wishes the noise of engines and machines should end.

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Delhi 2010)
It would he an exotic moment
without rush, without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness

1. Who is the poet speaking to?

2. What would be the moment like?

Answer:

2. The poet is addressing mankind who has no time for quiet introspection in its over-hectic, busy
life.
3. The moment would be exotic and unusual, a new experience in which mankind will experience
a sense of bonding and togetherness with each other.

Question 5.
Why is Pablo Neruda against ‘total inactivity’? (Comptt. Delhi 2010)
Answer:
Pablo Neruda is against ‘total inactivity’ because that would amount to death and he has no
association with death. Life is a continuous and on-going process and so is all about being on the
move. Life should not come to a standstill under any circumstance.

Question 6.
Which sadness is Pablo Neruda worried about in his poem? (Comptt. All India 2010)
Answer:
The sadness that Pablo Neruda is worried about in his poem is the sadness of isolation that has
made modern man its victim. This sadness has made man self-centered and uncaring to the
needs of his fellowmen. He has sacrificed the needs of his emotional self in favour of materialism.
Question 10.
What is the exotic moment the poet Pablo Neruda wishes for? (Comptt. All India 2011)
Answer:
Pablo Neruda wishes for that exotic moment when mankind will be free from greed, cruelty and
harmful actions. Unnecessary rush and noise have caused unpleasantness and troubles. The poet
wishes the noise of engines and machines should cease and peace and tranquility should prevail.

Question 11.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Delhi 2012)
For once on the face of the Earth
let’s not speak in any language,
let’s stop for one second,
and not move our arms so much.

1. Why does the poet want us to keep quiet?

2. What does he want us to do for one second?
3. What does he mean by ‘not move our arms’?

Answer:
1. The poet wants us to keep quiet because this moment of quietness will give us the time to
meditate and introspect upon the kind of turmoil we have created on earth through our ill-actions.
Too much activity and rush has only brought misfortunes to mankind, so it is better to be quiet and
still.
2. The poet wants us to do nothing and remain inactive for one second.

3. The phrase ‘not move our arms’ implies that no physical activity should be carried out for one second.
Man has used his arms only to kill and destroy others. Therefore, let him not move his arms to harm others.
Question 14.
What is the exotic moment referred to in the poem, ‘Keeping Quiet’? What makes it exotic?
(Comptt. All India 2012)
Answer:
When people sit still without speaking any language in quiet introspection, that moment, according
to the poet will be an exotic one because this moment will help us to experience a strength of
togetherness and a strange relationship with which humanity will bind itself.

Question 17.
What are the different kinds of wars mentioned in the poem? What is Neruda’s attitude towards
these wars? (All India 2013)
Answer:
The different wars Neruda mentions in the poem are green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire.
Neruda feels that these chemical and nuclear wars and the war that man wages against nature will
lead him towards his doom.

Question 18.
Which sadness is Pablo Neruda referring to? (Comptt. Delhi 2013)
Answer:
The sadness that the poet refers to in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ is the sadness of never
understanding oneself and nature. Human beings, have no time for introspection and thus
threaten themselves with death or destruction. Question 20.
Which is the exotic moment that the poet refers to in ‘Keeping Quiet’? (Delhi 2014)
Answer:
Pablo Neruda wishes for that exotic moment when mankind will be free from greed, cruelty and
harmful actions. Unnecessary rush and noise have caused unpleasantness and troubles. The poet
wishes the noise of engines and machines should end.

Question 29.
How will ‘keeping quiet’ protect our environ¬ment? (All India 2015)
Answer:
When we keep quiet and refrain from activity, we will not indulge in chemical and nuclear wars that
cause total destruction by releasing toxic gases in the environment. These will de-stroy all
greenery and life on earth making it a dead planet.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
(b) What are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers doing? How do they look like?
(c) Where do they live? Are they fearless? Give an example.
(d) How do they pace?
Answers:
(а) The poem is Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers. The poet is Adrienne Rich.
(b) They are jumping across a screen or a wall. They look like shining yellow topaz.
(c) They live in green forests. They are fearless. They don’t fear the men under the tree.
(d) They pace ( run ) with confidence, bravery and happily.

2. Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.
Questions
(a)What were Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through?
(b)How was she pulling the needle?
(c)What was lying heavily? Where?
(d)What was upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand? How did it sit there?
Answers:
(a) Aunt Jennifer’s fingers were fluttering ( shaking ) through her wool.
(b) She was finding even the ivory needle hard to pull.
(c) The weight of Uncle’s wedding band was lying heavily on her hand.
(d) There was uncle’s wedding band upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand. It sat heavily there.

3. When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie

Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.
Questions
(a) Why are Aunt Jennifer’s hands called ‘terrified’’?
(b) What are they still ringed with?
(c) Where did she make the tigers?
(d) What will happen to her tigers after her death?
Answers:
(а) Her hands are called terrified because she is unhappy with her husband and married life.
(b) They are still ringed with those hard and testing difficulties which possessed her dining her life.
(c) She made the tigers in the panel.
(d) Her tigers will go on jumping ahead, proud and unafraid even after her death.
 QUESTIONS FROM TEXTBOOK SOLVED
Q1. How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tiger’s attitudes?
Ans: Like all beasts of prey, the tigers are the denizens of the forest. They live far away from
human settlements. They are called ‘chivalric.’ This indicates the brave, gentlemen and
honourable position that they have..

Q2. Why do you think Aunt Jennifer’s hands are ‘fluttering through her wool’ in the second
stanza? Why is she finding the needle so hard to pull?
Ans: Aunt Jennifer is weaving tigers on the panel ( embroidery ). Her hands are moving about her
wool. She is finding the needle quite hard to pull. The weight of years of her married life is lying
heavy on her hand. This makes the pulling of the needle so hard.

Q3. What is suggested by the image ‘massive weight of uncle’s wedding band’?
Ans: It suggests the weight of the harsh and tough experience of Aunt Jennifer’s married life.. The
wedding band is symbolic. It represents the unhappy bond of marriage between the husband and
the wife.

Q4. Of what or whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified in the third stanza?

Ans: In the third stanza, the poet refers to Aunt Jennifer’s ‘terrified hands’. She is terrified of her
husband.

Q1. What do you learn about Aunt Jennifer’s tigers on reading the poem?
Ans: Aunt Jennifer’s tigers were created in the panel by her own hands. They appeared to be
prancing (jumping) across a screen. They looked sleek. They were bright like yellow topaz. They
were majestic and courageous. They didn’t fear the men beneath the tree. They paced in ‘chivalric
certainty’.

Q2. How has Aunt Jennifer created her tigers? What traits of tigers do they reveal!
Ans: Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are her own creations. The tigers are not real. She works with wool
and ivory needles. She has created them in the panel. They have all the traits of the beasts of prey
who are denizens of green forests.

Q3. What difficulty does Aunt Jennifer face while making her tigers and why ?
Ans: Aunt Jennifer is making her tigers in the panels. She is using ivory needles. Her fingers are
fluttering through the wool. She finds it difficult (hard) to pull even the ivory needles. The reason is
obvious. The weight of unhappy and unfortunate experiences of her married life sits heavily on her
hands.

Q5. How will Aunt Jennifer’s hands look when she is dead?
Ans: When Aunt Jennifer dies, her hands will still look terrified. Perhaps she has experienced a lot
of hardships and troubles in the past. Their effect has left its print on her hands. The ordeals that
crushed her married life had sorrounded and cramped her fingers and hands too.

Q6. What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tigers when she is dead?
Ans: Aunt Jennifer’s tigers will survive her. She has created the tigers in a panel. They are made
of wool. These objects of art will survive their creator. The tigers will go on jumping, proud and
unafraid.

Q8. How are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers different from her?[All India 2014]
Ans: Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are a picture of strength, beauty and certainty. They seem to be
jumping across a screen. They “pace in sleek chivalric certainty”. They are confident and
impressive. Aunt Jennifer is a weak, depressed and terrified person. Her fingers are so ‘terrified’
that they find it hard to pull even the ivory needle.

A Thing of Beauty

1.A thing of beauty is a joy forever Its loveliness increases, it will never Pass into nothingness; but will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
Questions
(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
(b)How is a thing of beauty a joy for ever ?
(c)What do you understand by a ‘bower’l
(d)What kind of sleep does it provide?
Answers:
(а)The poem is A Thing of Beauty. The poet is John Keats.
(b)A thing of beauty is the source of constant joy. Its beauty goes on increasing. It will never pass into
nothingness.
(c)A bower is a pleasant place in the shade under a tree. It protects persons/animals from the hot rays of the
sun.
(d)It provides us a sound sleep, full of sweet dreams, health and peaceful breathing.

2. Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways
Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,
Questions [All India 2014]
(a)Name the poem and the poet.
(b)Why are we despondent?
(c)What removes the pall from our dark spirits?
(d) What are we doing every day?
Answers:
(а)The poet is John Keats. The poem is A Thing of Beauty.
(b)We possess the evil qualities of malice and disappointment. We suffer from the lack of noble qualities.
That is why we feel despondent.
(c) Some beautiful shapes or a thing of beauty removes the pall of sadness from our hearts or spirits.
(d) We are weaving a flowery wreath to bind us to the beauties of the earth.

3. Some shape of beauty moves away the pall From our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon,
Trees old, and young, sprouting a shady boon For simple sheep; and such are daffodils
With the green world they live in; and clear rills That for themselves a cooling covert make ‘Gainst the hot
season; the mid forest brake,
Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms;
Questions
(а)What removes the pall from our dark spirits?
(b)What sprouts a shady boon for sheep and how?
(c) How do ‘daffodils’ and ‘rills’ enrich the environment?
(d) What makes the mid-forest brake rich?
Answers:
(a)Some beautiful shape or a thing of beauty removes the pall of sadness from our hearts or spirits.
(b)Old and young trees sprout to make a green covering. It proves a blessing for simple sheep as it serves
them as a shelter.
(c)Daffodils bloom among the green surroundings. The rills or small streams of clear water make a cooling
shelter for themselves against the hot season.
(d)The mid forest brake is made rich by the blooming of beautiful musk-roses.
(e)(i) pall, (ii) boon, (Hi) rills, (iv) covert.

4. And such too is the grandeur of the dooms

We have imagined for the mighty dead;
Ml lovely tales that we have heard or read;
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink
Questions [Delhi 2014]
(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
(b)Explain: ‘the grandeur of the dooms’.
(c)What is the thing of beauty mentioned in these lines’?
(d)What image does the poet use in these lines?
Answers:
(а)The poem is A Thing of Beauty. The poet is John Keats.
(b)The magnificence that we imagine for our mighty dead forefathers on the dooms day.
(c)The lovely tales of mighty men are mentioned in these lines.
(d)The poet uses the image of ‘an endless fountain of immortal drink’ to describe the beautiful bounty of the
earth. The earth has bestowed us with sun, moon, flowers, rivers, greenery etc.

QUESTIONS FROM TEXTBOOK SOLVED

Q1. List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.
Ans: Everything of nature is a thing of beauty and a source of pleasure. Some of them are: the sun, the
moon, old and young trees, daffodil flowers, small streams with clear water, mass of ferns and the blooming
musk-roses. All of them are things of beauty. They are a constant source of joy and pleasure.

Q2. List the things that cause suffering and pain.

Ans: There are many things that cause us suffering and pain. Malice and disappointment are “the biggest
source of our suffering. Another one is the lack of noble qualities. Our unhealthy and evil ways also give
birth to so many troubles and sufferings. They dampen our spirits. They act as a pall of sadness on our lives.

Q5. Why is ‘grandeur’ associated with the ‘mighty dead’?

Ans: The mighty dead were very powerful and dominating persons during their own times. Their
achievements made them ‘mighty’ and great. Their noble works dazzle our eyes. We imagine that such
mighty dead forefathers will attain more grandeur on the doomsday. Hence ‘grandeur’ is associated with the
‘mighty dead’.

Q1. How is a thing of beauty a joy forever?

Ans: According to John Keats a thing of beauty is a joy of forever. It is a constant source of happiness and
pleasure. Its loveliness increases every moment. It will never pass into nothingness. In other words, a thing
of beauty is never devalued.

Q4. What are the things that cause miseries, sorrows and sufferings to man ?
Ans: Man himself is the root cause of all his sufferings. We suffer from malice and distress because we lack
human qualities that makes us inhuman. Our life becomes gloomy. We cultivate unhealthy and evil ways.
All such things bring miseries, sorrows and sufferings to man.

Q6. Name the beauties of nature that are constant source of joy and happiness to man.
Ans: Nature is a store house of beauty. The beauties of nature are endless. The sun, the moon, old and young
trees, beautiful daffodil flowers and green surroundings are some of such beautiful things. Small streams
with clear water, thick mass of ferns, thickets of forest and musk-rose are some other things of beauty. All
such things of beauty are a constant source of joy and happiness to man.

Q7. Why and how is ‘grandeur associated with the ‘mighty dead’?
Ans: The dooms day is considered the day of judgement, when the dead will receive what is due to them.
Our mighty dead forefathers earned name and fame with their noble deeds. It is hoped that they will be
rewarded with rare magnificence and grandeur.

A Road Side Stand – By Robert Frost.

Question 6.
Why didn’t the ‘polished traffic’ stop at the roadside stand? (2012 Delhi)
Answer:
The ‘polished traffic’ conveniently overlook the roadside stand and do not stop there as their mind
is focussed only on their destination. Moreover, they were critical of the poor decor of the stand, its
artless interior and paint.

Question 8.
Why do people at the roadside stand ask for city money? (2013 Comptt. Delhi)
Answer:
The rural people running the roadside stand are poor but the people of the city are rich. They thus
ask for city money so that they too can lead a life of happiness and prosperity.