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NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo - Poem 1 - My Mother at Sixty Six

Before You Read

Q. Ageing is a natural process; have you ever thought what our elderly parents expect from us?
Ans: Loneliness is common among the elderly, and they require companionship. Only by lavishing them with love, care, importance, and empathy can we prevent children from developing a negative outlook on life. They want their children to sit quietly and talk to them about their life, as well as to consider their advice when making important decisions. As a result, their dwindling vitality can be quickly restored. This joy will motivate them to embrace life to the fullest.

Think it Out

Q1: What is the kind of pain and ache that the poet feels?
Ans: While leaving her parent's home the poet's eyes fell on her mother's pallid face. For the poet, the 'ashen' face of her mother, which was also deprived of all its vitality and color, bore resemblance to a corpse. She realized that over the past decades her mother had grown old and was nearing her death. Such thoughts make her nostalgic and she starts recollecting fragments of her childhood memories from the underlying fear of losing her. The idea of staying away from her mother deeply distressed her. Even the smile on her face was an expression of her helplessness, which was inevitable.

Q2: Why are the young trees described as 'sprinting'?
Ans: While driving to the Cochin airport, she observes outside the young trees which seemed to be walking across them. They seem to be sprinting or running fast with the speed of the car. The poet provides a contrast – the ‘sprinting’ young trees and her ‘dozing’ old mother.

Q3: Why has the poet brought in the image of the merry children 'spilling out of their homes'?
Ans: To present a contrast, the poet brought in the image of the merry children ‘spilling out of their homes’. The merry children who are coming out from their houses in huge numbers explain the spontaneous overflow and happiness of life. It is different from the old mother ‘dozing’, whose ‘ashen’ face looks pale and lifeless, similar to a corpse. The description of the poet’s mother highly indicates passivity, decay and ageing in the poem. The contrast between these two images strengthens the effect of the poem.

Q4: Why has the mother been compared to the 'late winter's moon'?
Ans: The mother of the poet is sixty-six years old. Her ‘ashen’ face which is shrunken is similar to that of a corpse. She has lost the strength of youth and her shine. The late moon in the winter looks obscure and hazy. It also lacks strength and shine. This comparison is appropriate and quite natural. The simile which is used here is effective and apt.

Q5: What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?
Ans: The parting words of the poet such as her smiles and assurance present a sharp contrast to the fear of childhood or the old familiar ache. Her smiles and words are a conscious attempt to hide her feelings. The parting words – “See you soon, Amma” assures the old woman whose ‘ashen face’ is similar to a corpse. In the same way, her continuous smile is an attempt to overcome the fear and ache that is present in her heart.

The document NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo - Poem 1 - My Mother at Sixty Six is a part of the Class 12 Course English Class 12.
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FAQs on NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo - Poem 1 - My Mother at Sixty Six

1. What is the theme of the poem "My Mother at Sixty Six"?
Ans. The theme of the poem "My Mother at Sixty Six" revolves around the poet's emotions and observations as she sees her mother aging and becoming more vulnerable.
2. Who is the speaker in the poem "My Mother at Sixty Six"?
Ans. The speaker in the poem "My Mother at Sixty Six" is the poet herself, Kamala Das, reflecting on her mother's old age and the emotions that come with it.
3. What emotions does the poet convey towards her mother in the poem "My Mother at Sixty Six"?
Ans. The poet conveys a sense of love, concern, and nostalgia towards her mother in the poem "My Mother at Sixty Six", as she observes her aging and becoming more fragile.
4. How does the poet describe her mother's appearance in the poem "My Mother at Sixty Six"?
Ans. The poet describes her mother's appearance as fragile and vulnerable in the poem "My Mother at Sixty Six", emphasizing her aging and the impact it has on her.
5. What is the significance of the title "My Mother at Sixty Six" in the poem?
Ans. The title "My Mother at Sixty Six" highlights the age of the poet's mother and sets the tone for the reflections on aging, vulnerability, and the changing dynamics of their relationship.
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