Updated on 25/02/2022
Poem-1 My Mother at Sixty Six (Kamala Das)
Short Type Q-Ans.
Q. 1 What is the kind
of pain and the ache that the poetess feels?
Ans. The poet sees at her mother pale and weak face. She
looks as pale as a dead body. She realises that her mother looks very old and
will not long live. She fears that she will not see her mother again. This thought
gives her much pain.
Q. 2 Why are the young
trees described as ‘sprinting’?
Ans. The poetess is going in a car to the airport. Her mother
is sitting beside her. She looks outside and finds the trees coming fast
towards her. They seem to be running fast. In fact, it is only the car that is
running, not the trees.
Q. 3 Why has the mother
been compared to the ‘late winter’s moon’?
Ans. Because the late winter’s moon looks very pale and
colourless. The poetess’ mother is also old. She looks pale like late winter’s
moon. That is why her mother has been compared to the ‘late winter’s moon.’
Q. 4 Where is the
poetess going and who is with her?
Ans. The poetess is going to Cochin airport in the morning of
last Friday. She is going in a car. The poetess’s mother is also sitting beside
her. Her mother looks very old and weak.
Q. 5 How do we know
that the poetess’ mother is old and weak?
Ans. The poetess mother looked as pale as death. She was
dozing and her mouth was opened. Her face looked very pale like that of a
corpse. This shows that she was weak and old.
Q. 6 What does the
poetess see outside?
Ans. The poetess saw outside the young trees that seemed to
be running fast. She looked at the children who were coming of their homes in
joy.
Poem-2. An
Elementary School Classroom in a Slum (Stephen Spender)
Short Type Q-Ans.
Q. 1 What does the poet
want for children of slum? How can their lives to be made to change?
Ans. The poet wants the children of the slum areas to be taken out. He wants these children must to be taken out where they cannot only study from their books but also play and run among the trees. Their living conditions should be improved. Only by then their lives can be made to change.
Q. 2 What does the poet say about the ‘open-handed map’?
Ans. The map has been called ‘open-handed because it shows
all the rivers, seas, capes and lands of the world. But the poet says that this
world is not for poor children. These maps do not show the children’s slums and
narrow lanes.
Q. 3 Why does the poet
say ‘Shakespeare is wicked’?
Ans. The poet does not really mean to say that Shakespeare is
wicked. He means to say that a picture of Shakespeare’s head has no use in a
slum. It can be called wicked in the sense that it will tempt the children to
steal it away.
Q. 4 Why has the map
been said to be ‘a bad example?
Ans. The map shows all the seas and lands of the world. But
the world of poor children living in a slum is very different from this world.
The map of the world is meaningless to them. It does not show the children’s
slums and narrow streets.
Q. 5 How does the poet
describe a tall girl and diseased looking boy?
Ans. The poet descries that a tall girl is sitting with her
head weighed down in the classroom. She was seemed very sad. There was also a
boy who looks as thin as paper. His eyes were very small terrible like that of
a rat. There is another boy who has a stunted body with twisted bones.
Q. 6 Who have a duty
towards these poor slum children?
Ans. The poet says all the governors, teachers and other
responsible citizens have a duty towards these poor children. He wants these
children must to be taken out so that they can study from their books and also
play among the trees. Their living conditions should be improved. If they don’t
help these children, their future will remain dark.
Poem-3. Keeping Quiet (Pablo
Neruda)
Q. 1 What will counting up to twelve
and keeping still help us achieve?
Ans.
The poet asks us to keep still till he counts twelve. He means to say that we
should stop all our activities for a few moments. It will bring us peace. It
will help us to continue our activities in a better way.
Q. 2 Do you think the poet advocates
total inactivity and death?
Ans.
No, the poet does not advocate total inactivity. Whatever he says that is
connected with life and activities. It makes clear that ‘stillness’ should not
be confused with total inactivity. Total inactivity brings death. His stillness
means stopping all human activities for a few moments.
Q. 3 What does the poet call ‘an
exotic moment’ and why?
Ans.
The poet calls the moment of quiet introspection an exotic moments. He calls it
exotic because it will give us very unusual feelings. We shall feel ourselves
as one with all others. We will come out of all greed, selfishness and cruelty.
Q. 4 What is the ‘sadness’ that the
poet refers to in the POEM?
Ans.
Man’s sadness is the result of his own thinking and actions. He fails to
understand himself. He is always in hurry. He has no time to think over his
actions. He has no time for self introspections. That is why he often remains
sad.
Q. 5 What symbol from Nature does the
poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent stillness?
Ans.
The Poet uses the symbol of the earth. The poet says that in winter the earth
seemed to be death. There is stillness all around in this season. But later in
spring, it is proved to be alive. It is full of beauties and colours.
Poem-4 'A Thing of Beauty’ by John Keats
Q. 1 List the things of beauty mentioned in the POEM.
Ans. The poet has mentioned many beautiful things in this POEM such as – the sun, the moon, the trees, the daffodils, the clear rills, the musk - roses and tales etc.
Q. 2 List the things of that cause suffering and pain.
Ans. The things which give us suffering and pain are hatred, disappointment, dearth, gloomy days and unhealthy way of people.
Q.3 What does the line ‘Therefore are we wreathing a flowery bent to bind us to earth’ suggest to you ?
Ans. It means that the world is full of sorrow and suffering. But the beautiful things keep us bound to the earth. The link is constant and unbroken.
Q. 4 What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings?
Ans. No doubts there are uncountable troubles and sufferings in life. But at the same time there are beautiful things also. These beautiful things are source of permanent joy. We can enjoy our life in the lap of nature.
Q. 5 Why is ‘grandeur’ associated with the ‘mighty dead’?
Ans. ‘Mighty dead’ is used for such people who did great things in their life. Their creations are still a source of joy for the world. This is their grandeur.
Q. 6 Explain: ‘It will never pass into nothingness’.
Ans. The poet says that there are many beautiful things. The beauty of these things increases day by day. It does not decrease with passing of time.
Q. 7 How does a thing of beauty keep a bower quiet for us?
Ans. According to the poet, beautiful things give us joy forever. They make us forget the sorrow and sufferings of the world. They give us peace of the mind and health of the body.
Short Questions
Q 1. What is the ‘childish longing’ that the poet refers to? Why is it ‘vain’?
Ans. The poet refers to the farmers' longing for customers at their roadside stall. This is because no one stopped to buy anything. They stop only for asking direction or for gas. Hence, this child-longing is 'vain'.
Q 2. Where was the roadside stand put up and what for?
Ans. They wait all day for the cars to stop and buy something and give them money. They wanted to earn money from them. That is why; they had put up the roadside stand in the countryside.
Q 3. What is the man at the stall waiting for all the day?
Ans. The people of the roadside stand sat in prayer that some city traffic should stop by and buy their wares so that they could make some money to improve their life.
Q. 4 What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand?
Ans. The folks who had put up the roadside stand wanted the passers-by to stop and buy something, which they sold so that they could have some ready cash. They wanted to earn some money so that they could lead a comfortable life.
6. Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers (Adrienne Rich)
Short Type Q-Ans.
1. How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tigers’ attitudes?
Ans. The denizens of the world of green–tell us that the tigers are the inhabitants of forests. They live in forests and walk freely. Chivalric means the majestic and worthy position. They are known for their strength and fearlessness.
2. What is suggested by the image ‘massive weight’s wedding band’?
Ans. The poet uses many images and symbols to describe the unpleasant experience of Aunt Jennifer's married life. Massive weight of 'Uncles wedding band' is a symbol of harsh and bitter experiences of her married life.
3. Where are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers and how does she create them?
Ans. Aunt Jennifer's tigers were created on the panel. They appeared to be prancing (jumping) across a screen. They are powerful, free and fearless. The tigers are not afraid of the men.