Worksheet Solutions: Poem - Father to Son | English Class 11 PDF Download

Fill in the Blanks

Q1: The father does not understand his own _____.
Ans: child
In this context, the blank is filled with "child" because the father in the poem expresses his inability to comprehend or relate to his own son.

Q2: The father has known his son since the time of his _____.
Ans: son's birth
Here, the blank is filled with "son's birth" because the poem mentions that the father has known his son from the moment he was born.

Q3: The father has tried to build a relationship with his son since his early years when the son began to _____.
Ans: recognize people around
The blank is filled with "recognize people around" as it refers to the period when the son was an infant and started to identify people around him. The father tried to establish a connection during this phase.

Q4: The father wishes for his son to be 'The Prodigal' son who will return to his father's _____.
Ans: house
In this context, "house" fills the blank, indicating the father's desire for his son to come back to the family home, symbolizing reconciliation.

Q5: The father is willing to forgive his son as long as he can reshape him from _____ to new love.
Ans: long-bounded sorrow
The blank is filled with "long-bounded sorrow" to show the father's hope to transform his son from a state of prolonged sadness or despair to a condition of newfound love and understanding.

Q6: The father and son both need to learn to live on the same _____ and the same land.
Ans: globe
"Globe" fills the blank, suggesting that both the father and son must find a way to coexist and understand each other on the same planet and territory.

Q7: The father sometimes cannot understand himself or why his anger grows from _____.
Ans: grief
The blank is filled with "grief," indicating that the father grapples with his own emotions and sometimes finds it challenging to comprehend why his anger stems from sorrow.

Q8: In the poem, the father expresses a desire for a stronger _____ with his son.
Ans: relationship
"Relationship" completes the blank, emphasizing the father's longing for a deeper, more meaningful connection with his son.

Q9: The father hopes for his son to return home instead of moving out into the world blindly and falling into _____.
Ans: trouble
The blank is filled with "trouble" to signify the father's wish for his son to avoid difficulties and challenges that may arise when venturing out into the world without guidance.

Q10: The father's wish is for his son to return to the _____ he always knew.
Ans: home
The blank is completed with "home," signifying the father's desire for his son to come back to the familiar environment he has always known, seeking reconciliation and love.

Assertion and Reason Based

Q1: Assertion: The father in the poem hopes that his son becomes a stranger to him.
Reason: The father wants his son to move out into the world blindly on his own.
(a) Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
(b) Both assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but the reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but the reason is true.
Ans: (b)
The father hopes for his son's return, not for him to become a stranger. The reason is not a correct explanation of the assertion.

Q2: Assertion: The father in the poem desires his son to be 'The Prodigal' son.
Reason: The father wishes for his son to return to his father's house.
(a) Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
(b) Both assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but the reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but the reason is true.
Ans: (a)
The assertion is true, and the reason provides the correct explanation of the father's desire.

Q3: Assertion: The father cannot share what his son loves.
Reason: Traditional belief dictates that sons are created and born according to their father's likings and designs.
(a) Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
(b) Both assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but the reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but the reason is true.
Ans: (a)
The assertion is true, and the reason explains the conflict between the father's inability to understand his son and traditional beliefs.

Q4: Assertion: The poem portrays a strong and understanding relationship between the father and son.
Reason: The father has lived with his son since the time of his son's birth.
(a) Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
(b) Both assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but the reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but the reason is true.
Ans: (d)
The assertion is false; the poem actually depicts a lack of understanding between the father and son.

Q5: Assertion: The father admits that there are times he cannot understand himself.
Reason: The father is always angry at his son.
(a) Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
(b) Both assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but the reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but the reason is true.
Ans: (b)
While the assertion is true, the reason is not correct. The father's difficulty in understanding himself does not imply that he is always angry at his son.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: What is the title of the poem?
Ans: Father to Son.

Q2: Who is the author of the poem?
Ans: Elizabeth Jennings.

Q3: What is the father's greatest wish for his son?
Ans: To return to his father's house.

Q4: What has the father tried to build since his son's early years?
Ans: A relationship.

Q5: In what way does the father hope to reshape his son?
Ans: From long-bounded sorrow to new love.

Q6: What do both father and son need to learn in the poem?
Ans: To live on the same globe and land.

Q7: What does the father admit about himself at the end of the poem?
Ans: He cannot always understand himself.

Q8: What does the father complain about in the poem?
Ans: Not understanding his own child.

Q9: What has the father known about his son since birth?
Ans: His son's existence.

Q10: What kind of relationship does the father hope for with his son?
Ans: A strong and understanding relationship.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: What is the central theme of the poem "Father to Son"?
Ans: The central theme of the poem "Father to Son" is the strained relationship between a father and his son.

Q2: Describe the father's relationship with his son in the poem.
Ans: The father and son have a distant and strained relationship, with the father expressing a desire for a stronger connection.

Q3: What does the father hope to achieve by forgiving his son?
Ans: The father hopes to reshape his son from a state of long-bounded sorrow to a state of new love and understanding.

Q4: Explain the significance of the father's wish for his son to return to his father's house.
Ans: The father wants his son to come back home, which represents a desire for their relationship to be restored and for his son to find his way back to a familiar and loving environment.

Q5: How does the poem reflect the theme of generational differences?
Ans: The poem highlights the gap in understanding and communication between generations, as the father and son seem like strangers to each other.

Q6: What traditional belief about sons is challenged in the poem?
Ans: The poem challenges the belief that sons are created and born to the likings and designs of their fathers.

Q7: How does the father's desire for his son to be 'The Prodigal' son reflect his feelings?
Ans: The father's desire reflects his hope for reconciliation and forgiveness, as the Prodigal Son in the Bible returns home after going astray.

Q8: Why does the father and son speak like strangers in the poem?
Ans: The distance and lack of understanding between them have led to a situation where they communicate like strangers.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1: Describe the evolving relationship between the father and his son as portrayed in the poem "Father to Son."
Ans: In the poem, the father expresses his frustration and sorrow over not understanding his own child, despite having known him since birth. He recalls trying to build a connection with his son from a very early age but laments the lack of understanding between them. He hopes for his son to return to their home, indicating a desire for reconciliation and a stronger bond. The poem highlights the evolving relationship, moving from an attempt to connect to a strained and distant connection.

Q2: Analyze the father's emotional journey in the poem and how it reflects his hopes and desires.
Ans: The father's emotional journey in the poem is characterized by frustration, sorrow, and a deep desire for a closer relationship with his son. He expresses a longing to understand his child and a feeling of failure in this regard. His hope for his son to be 'The Prodigal' son reflects his desire for reconciliation and forgiveness. He is willing to forgive his son, reshape him from sorrow to love, and have him return home. This emotional journey reflects the father's hope for a harmonious and loving relationship with his child.

Q3: What is the significance of the title "Father to Son" in the context of the poem?
Ans: The title "Father to Son" is significant as it highlights the central theme of the poem – the relationship between a father and his son. The poem explores the complexities, challenges, and desires within this relationship. It portrays the father's attempt to convey his hopes, desires, and understanding to his son. The title suggests a generational transfer of wisdom and feelings, emphasizing the importance of familial bonds and communication.

Q4: Discuss the poem's overall message about parent-child relationships and the generational gap.
Ans: The poem "Father to Son" conveys a poignant message about parent-child relationships and the generational gap. It depicts the challenges and miscommunication that can occur between parents and their children. The father's struggle to understand his own child highlights the disconnect between generations. The poem suggests that even though there may be differences, misunderstandings, and silences, there is always a hope for reconciliation and a desire for a stronger bond. It underscores the timeless theme of parents' longing for understanding and connection with their children, despite the challenges posed by generational differences.