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| Quiz on the Poem with Certificate |
| About the Poet |
| Kamala Das (1934 – 2009), the renowned Indian writer, wrote poetry and prose both in her mother tongue, Malayalam, and in English. While writing in Malayalam, she used the pen name Madhavikutty. She was born in Malabar, Kerala into a fairly privileged family. She is a sensitive and tactful writer who captured the complex subtleties of human relationships in lyrical idiom. Kamala Das is famous for capturing the complications and confusions of relationships between human beings. |
| About the Poem |
| My Mother at Sixty-six is one of the best emotional and heart-touching poems of Kamala Das which highlights the special bonding between a mother and a daughter. The poem is one of the exceptional examples of the human attachment, between a mother and daughter. The speaker of the poem is a daughter who is worrying about the future of her mother. The speaker is absolutely dismayed regarding the fear of losing her own mother who is sixty-six years old. |
| Poem |
| Driving from my parent’s home to Cochin last Friday morning, I saw my mother, beside me, doze, open mouthed, her face ashen like that of a corpse and realized with pain that she was as old as she looked but soon put that thought away, and looked out at Young Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling out of their homes, but after the airport’s security check, standing a few yards away, I looked again at her, wan, pale as a late winter’s moon and felt that old familiar ache, my childhood’s fear, but all I said was, see you soon, Amma, all I did was smile and smile and smile…. |
Questions-Answers:
| 1. What is the main theme of the poem? |
| Answer: The main theme of the poem is the poet’s deep concern and anxiety about her aging mother. It reflects the fear of separation, the inevitable passage of time, and the pain of realizing that life is transient. |
| 2. How does the poet describe her mother’s appearance? |
| Answer: The poet describes her mother as looking ‘wan, pale as a late winter’s moon.’ This simile emphasizes her mother’s frailness, aging, and approaching end of life. |
| 3. Where was the poet going, and with whom? |
| Answer: The poet was traveling from her parents’ home to the Cochin airport. She was accompanied by her aging mother, who had come to see her off. |
| 4. What did the poet notice about her mother while sitting in the car? |
| Answer: As the poet looked at her mother sitting beside her, she noticed that her mother had dozed off with her mouth slightly open, looking weak, pale, and lifeless, resembling a dead body. |
| 5. Why does the poet compare her mother’s face to a late winter’s moon? |
| Answer: The poet compares her mother’s face to a late winter’s moon to highlight her mother’s old age, pallor, and lifelessness. The moon in late winter is dull and lacks brightness, just as her mother looks drained of energy. |
| 6. How did the poet try to divert her mind from her painful thoughts? |
| Answer: To distract herself from her mother’s aging and impending separation, the poet looked outside at the young trees sprinting past and children playing, symbolizing youth, energy, and life’s ongoing cycle. |
| 7. Why does the poet smile at the end of the poem? |
| Answer: The poet smiles at the end to mask her pain and to reassure her mother. She hides her sorrow behind a forced smile as she bids farewell, hoping to see her mother again. |
| 8. What are the poet’s feelings at the airport? |
| Answer: At the airport, the poet experiences mixed emotions. She is sad and worried about her mother’s frail health, but she also puts on a brave front by smiling, suppressing her pain and fear of losing her. |
| 9. What does the phrase ‘see you soon, Amma’ signify? |
| Answer: The phrase ‘see you soon, Amma’ expresses the poet’s hope and wish to meet her mother again. It is an attempt to console herself and her mother, despite her underlying fear of losing her. |
| 10. How does the poet highlight the contrast between youth and old age in the poem? |
| Answer: The poet contrasts youth and old age by describing her mother’s pale, lifeless face and then shifting her attention to the young trees speeding past and children playing happily. This contrast symbolizes the energy of youth against the stillness of old age. |
| 11. Identify the simile used in the poem and explain its significance. |
| Answer: The poet uses the simile “wan, pale as a late winter’s moon” to describe her mother’s aging face. The comparison highlights her mother’s fragility, lack of vitality, and nearing end of life, just as the winter moon appears dim and lifeless. |
| 12. What poetic device is used in the phrase ‘trees sprinting’? Explain its effect. |
| Answer: The phrase ‘trees sprinting’ is an example of personification and imagery. The trees appear to be running as the car moves, symbolizing the contrast between the poet’s mother’s aging (stillness) and the energy of youth and life outside. |
| 13. What figure of speech is used in ‘children spilling out of their homes’? |
| Answer: The phrase ‘children spilling out of their homes’ is an example of metaphor and imagery. It suggests the playful, carefree movement of children, symbolizing the liveliness and joy of youth in contrast to the poet’s mother’s old age. |
| 14. What is the significance of the poet’s repetition of ‘smile and smile and smile’? |
| Answer: The repetition of ‘smile and smile and smile’ is an example of repetition. It emphasizes the poet’s forced effort to hide her sadness, reassuring her mother while battling her inner fear of losing her. |
| 15. What is the dominant poetic device used in the poem? |
| Answer: The dominant poetic device in the poem is imagery. The poet uses vivid visual images, such as her mother’s pale face, the sprinting trees, and playing children, to create a contrast between old age and youth. |
| 16. How does the poet use contrast as a poetic device in the poem? |
| Answer: The poet contrasts her mother’s old age and frailty with the youthful energy of children and the fast-moving trees. This contrast highlights the inevitability of aging and the cycle of life. |
| 17. What poetic device is used in ‘her face ashen like that of a corpse’? |
| Answer: The phrase ‘her face ashen like that of a corpse’ is a simile. The poet compares her mother’s pale face to a dead body, emphasizing her weak and lifeless appearance. |
| 18. Is there any alliteration in the poem? Provide an example. |
| Answer: Yes, alliteration is used in the poem. An example is ‘smile and smile and smile’, where the repetition of the ‘s’ sound creates rhythm and emphasis. |
| 19. How does the poet use symbolism in the poem? |
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Answer: |
| 20. How does the structure of the poem reflect its theme? |
| Answer: The poem is written in a single sentence with free verse, mimicking the poet’s stream of thought and emotions. This uninterrupted flow mirrors her continuous anxiety about her mother’s aging and impending separation. |
| 21. How does Kamala Das use simile in the poem, and what effect does the comparison have on the reader’s understanding of her mother’s condition? |
| Answer: The poet compares her mother’s face to “a late winter’s moon,” using this simile to evoke images of pallor, coldness, and inevitable decline. This comparison not only highlights the frailty of her mother but also sets a somber tone, suggesting that, like the waning light of winter, life too is diminishing. |
| 22. What types of imagery are present in the poem, and how do they contribute to the overall mood? |
| Answer: Kamala Das employs vivid visual imagery throughout the poem. For instance, the detailed depiction of her mother’s “wan, pale” face creates a striking visual of decay, while the contrasting images of young trees and playing children evoke vitality and renewal. This dual imagery enhances the mood by juxtaposing the stagnation of aging with the relentless march of youthful energy, deepening the reader’s sense of loss and inevitable change. |
| 23. How are natural elements used symbolically in the poem, and what do they represent? |
| Answer: The natural elements, such as the young trees and children, serve as symbols of youth, energy, and the ongoing cycle of life. In contrast, the mother’s frail appearance symbolizes the decay associated with aging. This contrast between nature’s renewal and the human condition of decline accentuates the inevitability of aging and the transient nature of life. |
| 24. Discuss a key metaphor in the poem and explain its significance in conveying the poet’s emotions. |
| Answer: One significant metaphor in the poem is the implicit portrayal of the mother’s state as being akin to a fading celestial body-embodied by the “late winter’s moon.” This metaphor goes beyond a mere simile by encapsulating themes of isolation, coldness, and a gradual loss of life force. It reinforces the emotional gravity of the poet’s internal struggle with the inevitable separation from her mother. |
| 25. In what way do poetic devices help establish the poem’s tone, and how is irony used to enhance this tone? |
| Answer: The tone of the poem is one of melancholic resignation mixed with a bittersweet attempt at normalcy. Poetic devices such as simile, imagery, and metaphor create a vivid portrayal of aging and loss. Additionally, the poet’s act of smiling-despite her inner sorrow-is an example of irony, where the outward expression contradicts her inner feelings. This contrast deepens the emotional complexity, underscoring the tension between appearance and reality. |
| 26. How does the use of personification contribute to the atmosphere in the poem? |
| Answer: While personification is subtle in this poem, the way nature is depicted-with young trees and playful children almost taking on a life of their own-helps create a dynamic backdrop that contrasts with the stillness and frailty of the aging mother. This contrast reinforces the theme of life’s continual progression even in the face of personal loss and decay. |
| 27. What role does contrast play in the poem, and which poetic devices help establish this contrast? |
| Answer: Contrast is a central device in the poem, vividly highlighted through the juxtaposition of the mother’s deteriorating condition against the lively imagery of youth. Devices such as simile and imagery establish this stark difference-her mother’s pale, weakened presence is set against the vibrant energy of the natural world outside, underscoring the inescapable reality of aging versus the persistence of youthful life. |
| 28. Although predominantly visual, how does the poem incorporate auditory imagery, and what does it add to the overall experience? |
| Answer: Even though the poem is chiefly driven by visual descriptions, subtle auditory cues-like the quiet atmosphere of the car and the soft background murmur of life outside-help to heighten the sense of isolation and internal reflection. These auditory hints complement the visual imagery, adding layers to the emotional landscape of the poem and emphasizing the silence that often accompanies deep sorrow. |
| 29. How does the poem’s straightforward style enhance the effectiveness of its poetic devices? |
| Answer: The simple, conversational language in the poem serves to make the complex emotions of aging and loss more accessible. This clarity allows the powerful similes, metaphors, and imagery to stand out without being overshadowed by ornate language. The result is a direct, unfiltered portrayal of vulnerability and love that resonates deeply with the reader. |
| 30. What is the overall impact of the various poetic devices used in the poem on its theme of aging and separation? |
| Answer: The combined use of simile, metaphor, imagery, personification, and contrast creates a rich tapestry of emotions that underscores the inevitability of aging and the pain of impending separation. These devices work together to evoke a deep emotional response, drawing the reader into the intimate experience of watching a loved one fade away while life continues unabated around them. |
Other Poems:
| An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum |
| Keeping Quiet |
| A Thing of Beauty |
| A Roadside Stand |
| Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers |
also see:
| ONLINE GRAMMAR QUIZZES with CERTIFICATES |
| CBSE: Curriculum Aligned Competency-Based Test Items | EduDel Practice Papers for Class 3 to Class 8: 2022-23 |
| ENGLISH GRAMMAR_1 | ENGLISH GRAMMAR_2 |
| USEFUL EXPRESSIONS IN ENGLISH SPEAKING |
