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MY MOTHER AT SIXTY-SIX

Short questions from the poetry section to test the poetry appreciation

Q:-1 How does the poet describe the old age of her mother?

Ans The poet describes her mother’s age as a late winter’s moon. Her pale, bloodless and wrinkled

face resembles that of a corpse. She has no vigor and energy left in her. She looks wan and pale.

Q:-2 What is the significance of the images , ‘sprinting trees ‘ and ‘merry children spilling out of

their homes’ in the poem ‘My mother at Sixty-Six ?

Ans Both sprinting trees and merry children are happy and young .They present a contrast to the

mother’s pain and old age and the poet’s worry and fear. They represent youth, vigor and spring

whereas the mother is old, decaying and frail.

Q:-3 what childhood fear do you think Kamala speaks of?

Ans Perhaps, since her childhood Kamalas had a fear that she would lose her mother in some way or

the other. Now that the mother is sixty –six years old and has a deteriorating health, the poet’s

fear returns.

Q:-4 How does Kamala Das bid farewell to her mother?

Ans Although, Kamala is distraught with fear at the precarious health of her mother, she does not

reveal her worry and anxiety to her mother. Instead she bids her goodbye with “See you soon Amma”

and lots of smiles.

Q:-5 Why could Kamala not express her thought for her mother at the airport?

Ans Kamala did not express her thought because she was over whelmed with worry and pain at the thought

of mother. Moreover, any such expression would have aggravated the mother’s Condition.

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An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum

Q:-1 How does the poet see the children as victims of social injustice?

Ans The poet views these children as victims of social injustice ,for they are deprived of the bounties of

the words .Thus they are the ‘have – not’s ’. Impoverished and undernourished ,they are deprived of

the basic necessities of life .Even their rights to educate themselves and hope for a better future are

denied to them . They spend their lives confined within the dark holes of their slums.

Q:-2 In what way are the slum children unsung fighters?

Ans The poet has used various image to convey that the slum children are a deprived lot .They are under–

privileged as they are denied basic amenities of food. Shelter and education .Despite living in

deprivation, these children fight the battle of life courageously. They are the heroes whose

victories are never celebrated .Their lot to slither in dirt and squalor .They have to make desperate

attempts to live on against all odds.

Q:-3 “The world for the slum children is a dark hole”. Comment?

Ans The map of the world which hangs in their classroom is a mockery for the slum children for the world

for the comprises the dark hole of the slums .However they may aspire to stretch out the boundaries

of their world ,life for them remains confined within the four walls of the slums .They may catch

glimpses of the vastness of the outsides worlds from their classroom windows but they may never

becomes a part of this vastness and its beauty .

Q:-4 Why is ‘Shakespeare wicked’ and map a bad example ‘?

Ans The poet feels that the only hope to relief for these children lies in their education .If these children can

be educated they can hope to relieve themselves from the darkness of slum life .But in the present milieu,

education is a mockery in the slum schools .Poor infrastructure and absence of teaching impossible .Good

literature and maps of the world may raise their hopes and aspirations but probably can never fulfill them.

Q:-5 what does the poet mean by saying,’ let their tongues run naked into books’?

Ans It is in education that the poet sees hope for the slum children .He strongly feels that the lives of these

children will remain dark, narrow and unfulfilled unless they are educated .So he wants that education be

made available to all .These children can break themselves free from the shackles of slums only when we

let them read voraciously and excel professionally.

Q:-6 ‘History is their language is the sun.’ Explain?

Ans One can make a mark in history if only one outshines other. One has to outshine and glow like the sun

.People who have the courage and conviction to break free from the constraints of life are the ones who

create History.’ Great men are not different people , but those who do things differently ‘holds absolutely

true for people who create history with their grit and determination .

Keeping Quiet

Q:-1What would happen if men on earth did not speak in any language or move their arms so much?

Ans Man’s silence and inactivity will prove to be a boon for mankind .All distinction on the basis of language

and nationality will disappear and man will not involve himself in the rate race if he is silent and inactive .All

unnecessary misunderstanding ,disputes and debates borne out of different language will come to an end .

Q:-2 What would be an ‘exotic moment ‘for man?

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Ans The poet feels that if man keeps quiet for sometimes and indulges in introspection, doing away with his

progressive attitude, he would experience an exotic moment .In this exotic moments he will enjoy the

bliss of silence away from the din of modern life.

Q:-3 What is the poet trying to convey through the images of the ‘fisherman’ and ‘men gathering’ salt?

Ans Through these images the poet is highlighting the harm, man is causing to Nature and himself in his effort

to add comforts to his life .The fisherman cause harm to the whales and the men at sea hurt their hands in

their effort to gather salt.

Q:-4 What does the poet mean when he says that a chemical war will result in ‘victory with no survivors ‘?

Ans Man today is aware of the fact that if there is a nuclear war there will be no survivors to celebrate the

victory .A nuclear war will result in total destruction and release of toxic gases eclipsing the sun and

destroying the atmosphere .Thus no life will survive such a disaster.

Q:-5 what has man single –mindedly focused himself on?

Ans The poet feels that man has single – mindedly focused towards advancement and progress .In doing so,

he does not hesitate to indulge in destructive activities.

A Thing Of Beauty

Q:-1 How does beauty leave an indelible imprint on our mind?

Ans Man treasures beautiful thoughts and sights in his mind for they provide him respites and relaxation in his

respite and relaxation in his gloomy days. Beauty thus leaves its imprint in the form of sweet dreams .The

feelings of serenity and positive vibrations it inculcates, soothe and relax the turbulent mind.

Q:-2 What philosophy of life is highlighted in the poem?

Ans Keats worshipped Beauty both at his sensuous and spiritual level. All his poetry reveals a yearning for

that lofty loveliness which is real and true .His passion for Beauty , however , did not keep him

untouched with the pain and suffering of life which he saw as the central fact of life .As an escapist ,he

found refuge from the pains and suffering of life in Beauty itself . He believes that beauty ‘moves away the

pall from our dark spirits’, making us love life despite its sorrows and suffering.

A Roadside Stand

Q:-1 What was the plea with N turned wrong and S turned wrong?

Ans The folk running the roadside stand, made a plea to the city dwellers to buy their stuff so that they could

also earn some money to improve their lot and standard of living.

Q:-2 What is the ‘Childish longing’ that the poet refers to ? Why is it ‘vain’?

Ans The expression refers to the dreams and desires of the poor rustics .Like innocent children they dream

of a better life which they can enjoy with the help received from the city dwellers .They vainly long

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for city folks to stop and pay attention to their needs . It is referred to as vain for their desire will never

be fulfilled this way.

Q:-3 How does the poet express his insufferable pain at the thought of the plight of the rural poor? Which lines

brings out this idea?

Ans The poet is immensely pained at the incessant suffering and miserable plight of the rural poor .Relating

his pain with the suffering of the country folk feels he would experience immense joy and relief in being to relive

these people of their pain and suffering .They need a healing touch as much as he does.

The following lines bring out this idea

“I wonder how I should like you to come to me

And offer to put me gently out of my pain.”

Q:-4, Did the city dwellers appreciate the roadside stand?

Ans The city dwellers did not appreciate the roadside stand .They never stopped there for refreshments .If

there anyone stopped there they would be critical of its poor décor .They would also complain about the signs

being wrongly placed there.

Q:-5 What is the complain of the country folk against the party in power?

Ans The party n power promises them a dream would, a luxurious and progressive life. But these tall promises

prove to be false as they are not fulfilled .The country folk thus complain that they are deprived of what they

had been promised by the people in power .

Q:-6 What empty promises are being made to the country people?

Ans The men in power use the media to give assurances to the innocent country folk that would soon be

pulled out of their poverty .They would be provided better living conditions with theatres and stores. They can

then enjoy a secure life and will not have to worry about themselves any longer .

Q:-7 Give examples of contrast and irony in the poem?

Ans The use of expression ‘greedy good ‘and beneficent beasts of prey ‘beautifully bring out the use of irony

and contrast by the poet. The men in powers pose to be the benefactors and good –doers of the poor

rural people In reality they are greedy for power and pelf and exploit the rural masses for their vested

interests.

Q:-8 What is the ‘open prayer’ made by the country folk?

Ans The country folk make an open appeal to the city dwellers that should not selfish .They expectantly pray

for the city cars to stop at their roadside stand and help them lead a better life.

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Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

Q:- 1 What does the ‘wedding band’ symbolize ?

Ans The ‘wedding band ‘ is symbolic here of the oppression of women by customs and law which imposes

slavery in matrimony .Marriage is socially and legally binding on the women and so they allow themselves to be

suppressed in this imposed relationship .

Q:-2 What do ‘tigers’ symbolize in the poem?

Ans ‘Tigers ‘are symbolize of the fear of male domination with which Aunt Jennifer suffers .She struggles

for freedom but in doing so gets further victimized .Her ego-psychology and the prison of the ideology of

the family isolate her in this male dominated world .

Q:-3 What character traits of Aunt Jennifer come to light in the poem?

Ans Aunt Jennifer is portrayed as a terrified person who is victimized by a domineering husband .She is seen

both as a victim and as an oppressor .She is caged in the prison of her ego- psychology and the ideology

of the family .The freedom of spirit ,which is symbolized by the tigers is never achieved by her even in her art .

Q:-4 Do you view “Aunt Jennifer‘s Tiger” as a tragic poem?

Ans The struggle of the spirit , injustice and oppression , which women have to face many societies of the

worlds even today make the poem a tragic one .But the tragedy here is mystified for we neither know what

terrors Aunt Jennifer had to live with nor why her friends and relatives did not step in to help if she was so

terrified .

Q:-5 Do you think Aunt Jennifer is both a victim and an oppressor? Comment.

Ans Aunt Jennifer is no doubt a victim as she confined to the prison of her ego-psychology and the ideology

of the family .She is also an oppressor, for she seems to have quietly accepted her slavery. Though

victimized, she finds an outlet in knitting and embroidery

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COMMON QUESTION ASKED FROM POETRY :-

POEM & POET Figure of Speech

EXPLANATION

1) My Mother at sixty- six

(Kamal Das )

In a comparison between

two distinctly different

things indicated by the

word ‘like’ or ‘as’ .

“Her face ashen like that of

a corpse.”

“Her face ashen like that of

a corpse.”

Explain:” wan pale as a

late winter ‘s moon.”

The poet’s mother’s face was pale

and grayish. She seemed to have

lost all vitality .Such paleness i.e

grayish colors of the skin usually

associated with a sick or a dead

body.

Winter symbolizes death. Thus, the

mother’s face is indicative of her

very frail health and approaching.

The poet compares the mother’s

pale and withered face with the

winter‘s moon. The moon seems to

lose its brightness in the winter

season as it is veiled behind fog

and mist.

2) An Elementary School Classroom in a

Slum

( Stephen spender)

“Like rootless weeds.”

“Like bottle bits on stones”

Metaphor

Quality or action is applied

to another in the from of a

statement of identity instead

of comparison .The words

‘like’ and ‘as’ are not used

.The poet does not say that

one object is like another .He

says it is another

Examples:

Rat’s eyes

The expression has been used by

Stephen Spender to describe the

coarse .untidy and unkempt hair of

the slum children .the use of

‘rootless weeds’ suggests that the

children lack proper nutrition.

The simile graphically describes

the shattered glasses of the

spectacles some slum children

have to wear .If not shattered the

glasses are heavily scratched and

chipped.

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Father’s gnarled disease

Future’s painted with a

fog.

Explain: ‘On sour cram

walls donations

Explain: “Let their tongues

run naked into books.”

It suggests boy’s timidity and

anxiety like a rat and searches for

food and security.

The boy’s father suffering from

rheumatism disease that has left

has body crooked .The boy’s life

has been affected by father’s

handicap.

Just as fog blurs one’s view in

winters, the slum children’s future

is blurred by hopelessness and lack

of empathy.

The cream walls of the schools

painted with the help of donations

further add to the pale and sad seen

in the poem.

The poet strongly feels that the

lives of these children will be very

miserable and unfulfilled unless

they are educated. Thus he wishes

that these children be exposed to

the world of books .They should

be educated so that they can break

themselves free from the confines

of the slums.

3) Keeping Quiet

( Pablo Neruda)

Explain : ‘Without rush ,

without engines’

Explain: “I want no truck

with death.”

Explain :-‘you keep quiet

and I will go’

The expressions are symbolic of

the hubbub of the modern life. In

the modern competitive worlds of

advancement, there is a rat –race to

outshine others .Life can be

peaceful only if this thoughtless

‘advancement ‘can be stopped.

The poet does not believe in

inactivity .Life is an ‘on –going

process and so he does not want to

associate it with death .or bring it

to a dead-end.

The poet asks men to keep and

experience the ecstatic moments of

silence which create a rejuvenation

of thoughts quietly departs leaving

the mediator in this exotic

moments.

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4) A Thing of Beauty

( John Keats )

Explain: “Its loveliness

increases.”

Explain :

‘wreathing a flowery band

to bind us to the earth’

Explain:’with the green

worlds they live in’.

Joy multiplies with every beautiful

thought. Likewise the loveliness of

a beautiful thing increases

manifold each time we visualize .It

on our mind screen.

He expresses a similar feeling as

he feels that every morning we

weave a beautiful string of flowers

or memories which help us to

support ourselves on earth and

motivate us to live our life here

which would otherwise have been

a pain.

Nature beauty is at its best in the

lush green surrounding of

meadows and pastures which

provide the life support to all

plants and animals .No living

creature can be happy away from

nature , and it is in this green

world that they true joy and

happiness of life .

5) A Roadside Stand

( Robert Frost)

Explain:’ greedy good –

doers.’

The expression refers to the

crooked politicians who pose as

the benefactors of the masses in

the name of removing their

poverty but are actually greedy for

power and pelf.

6) Aunt Jennifer ‘s Tiger

(Adrienne Rich)

Explain: ‘massive weight of

Uncle’s wedding band.’

Explain :

“The tiger in the panel

….. Will go on

prancing, proud and

unafraid.”

The expression is symbolic of

male authority and power

.Matrimony binds the woman

physically as well as mentally

.Likewise. Aunt Jennifer is trapped

in gender oppression and feels

herself burdened by the authority

of her husband.

The expression is symbolic of the

dispassionate and unconcerned

attitude of the male towards the

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desire for freedom among women

.Aunt Jennifer dreams of her escape

in her art, but land producing the

very image of her suppression .As

an expression of the spirit Aunt

Jennifer‘s art will survive long after

her death, but the social milieu

remains unaffected, arrogant and

ferocious.

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Environmental pollution today threatens the very existence of mankind, nay the whole world. Unless steps

are taken to check pollution immediately, life will be wiped out from the surface of this planet. Write an

article in about 100-150 words for an environment magazine emphasizing the need of protecting the

environment.

NEED TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENT

Today environmental pollution has become a great health hazard so much so that man’s very

existence is threatened .Man’s callous treatment of nature has brought the situation to this pass. Vehicular

smoke and smoke from the factory chimneys has let the air unfit to breathe in. Water too is contaminated.

Current global trend in deforestation along with the increased combustion of fossil fuels has caused the worst

damage. Deforestation reduces the initialization of CO2. Noise pollution has made matters still worse.

Thus there is a great need to protect environment. The first thing that we should do is to start planting trees.

Trees check pollution and protect environment. They provide us with fresh air by absorbing carbon dioxide.

They bring rain, prevent soil erosion and also give us fruit and shelter Thus, ‘tree plantation weeks’ should be

observed. Each one of us must plant at least one tree during these weeks. Deforestation should be stopped

and reckless combustion of fuels like wood, coal kerosene should be controlled. Furthermore, and awareness

of the problem must be created through the use of media. Another possible solution for the depletion of

natural resources is the use of biogas technology and solar energy. A continuous environmental vigilance is

of vital importance.

It’s world’s Health Day .the first aid volunteers of your school are organizing a health awareness drive as

a part of which they are bringing out a wall magazine on some of the Common Health Hazards .As the

students in charge of the group , write the article in about 100-150 words for the magazine .

COMMON HEALTH HAZARDS

Modern society faces many common health hazards .Means of comfort and luxury which the

modern man enjoys and regards as necessities of life are themselves health hazards .The cooler which

provides the common man with comfort from the scorching heat of the summer ,is a great health hazard

.It produces moisture which may cause breathing trouble .It can be a breeding place for mosquitoes and

many other harmful germs .Colds and hot drinks which are taken regularly by the modern man pose a

threat to health .Smoking and drinking which have became a fashion with the modern society are also

dangerous to health .Environmental pollution is one of the greatest health hazards .Smoke coming out of

factories makes the atmosphere dirty .Besides ,food is dirty and adulterated .Nothing pure is available

.Frequent and free use of insecticides on vegetable and fruit crops pose the greatest danger to health .The

increasing use of synthetic detergents and widespread use of chemical fertilizers have contaminated water

.Eatables exposed to dirty ,dust and files are causing health problems .It is high time that serious and

earnest effort are made to save world from such many other health hazards .

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THE ROLE OF MEDIA IN OUR SOCIETY

In the present –day society, one envision a day without radio, television, newspaper and the latest fad of the

new generation, the Internet .All these constitute the media .these are responsible for all the information that we

receive on a day to day basis, news from every nook and corner of the world is available on the mere click of a

button.

Today, media’s functions are not just limited to disseminating information and entertaining the masses. It has

several other significant roles to play in our society. Media is referred to as the fourth estate, the first three

estates being the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. The high level of responsibility implies that the

media is answerable to each and every person who is directly or indirectly affected in any way by the

information provided.

Nowadays, the majority of television viewers and Internet users are young. Their tender minds are highly

gullible and a wrong message can do them great harm, even to the extent of setting them up on the wrong path in

life. That is why experts are of the opinion that the control of media in the wrong hands can turn it into a weapon

of mass destruction .Terrorists worldwide are using the media to spread their wrong message and influence

youngsters and recruit susceptible individuals through the Internet .They openly declare war against nation on

television pre-recorded tapes. The above mentioned problems are just the tip of the iceberg .Several such issues

haunt and question the very existence and efficacy of media.

Media can help strengthen and promote our rich culture and traditional. The channel has been airing several

educational programmes for the country‘s illiterates .especially those living in the village. Media can play a

substantial role in making our world more civilized, sophisticated and enlightened. It should not degenerate into

something barbaric or monstrous, but should endorse moral values and ethics, in order that the worlds we live in

could be transformed into a better place.

Write an Article in 150-200 words on the Importance of

Ecotourism

Ecotourism is a form of tourism that involves visiting natural areas -- in the remote wilderness or urban

environments. It improves the well-being of local people It is a travel activity that ensures direct financial

support to local people where tourism activities are being generated and enjoyed. It teaches travelers to respect

local cultures of destinations where travelers are visiting. It supports small stakeholders to ensure that money

must not go out from the local economies. It discourages mass tourism, mass constructions of hotels, tourism

resorts and mass activities in fragile areas. For many countries, ecotourism is not simply a marginal activity to

finance protection of the environment, but is a major industry of the national economy. Ecotourism typically

involves travel to destinations where flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions.

Ecotourism includes programs that minimize the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment

and enhance the cultural integrity of local people. Therefore, in addition to evaluating environmental and cultural

factors, an integral part of ecotourism is the promotion of recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation, and

creation of economic opportunities for local communities.

The concept of ecotourism is widely misunderstood and frequent malpractice in the realm of Jungle tourism.

These green washing practices, carried out in the name of ecotourism, often consist of placing a hotel in a

splendid landscape, to the detriment of the ecosystem. Ecotourism must above all sensitize people to the beauty

and the fragility of nature.

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Crime against women and Safeguards

Women have been the victim of suppression, torture and exploitation since post Vedic period. After

independence and after a long struggle for her rights, she has got social, economic, political and

religious recognition but despite all these recognitions the sufferings of women on different

grounds still exist. The problem of female feticide, dowry deaths, rape, kidnapping and abduction,

honour killing etc. has increased on a large scale during the last forty years. Besides the above types

of crimes women are also facing eve teasing, molestation, chain snatching, touching and threshing

and bad remarks etc. in their day to day life at the time of passing through markets, going to school,

colleges and in public transport during their travels. The current position of registered crime cases

against women during 2001 to 2007 is 174362. The effects of crime against women on social life are

dreadful and alarming .Family conflicts affect the future life of the small children adversely .The

women become tensed, depressed, and short tempered, frustrated and ill natured.

Volunteer organizations, NGOs and mass media should initiate awareness programs for their

protection. State governments should open more and more educational institutions and provide the

hostel facilities to the working women and the studying girls. Self defense programs should be

launched in all the schools and colleges .Police should keep a strict vigil around schools, colleges,

women hostels and crowded places.

Until and unless the attitude of society is changed towards women the problem of crime against

women cannot be controlled. It is well established fact that our society is a male dominant society

in which women must follow men in all circumstances without asking any questions for them. This

type of attitude needs a change for a healthy wealthy and peaceful life.