Q1: The poems "My Mother at Sixty-six" by Kamala Das and "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" by Adrienne Rich explore the themes of pain and conflict. Explain. (2025)
Solution:
Ans: In My Mother at Sixty-Six, Kamala Das portrays pain as the speaker's deep sorrow and anxiety on seeing her ageing mother. The mother's "wan, pale" face and the simile "ashen like that of a corpse" create an intense sense of impending loss, while the speaker's repeated smiles conceal her inner conflict and fear of separation. In Aunt Jennifer's Tigers, Adrienne Rich presents pain as the result of long-standing oppression within marriage; the "massive weight" of the wedding band symbolises that oppression. Aunt Jennifer's conflict lies between her constrained domestic life and her yearning for freedom, which she expresses through the courageous, unafraid tigers she embroiders. Both poems use vivid imagery and symbols to show women's suffering and their inner resistance: Das focuses on filial fear of loss, while Rich highlights gendered oppression and creative escape.
(PYQs)
Q. 1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: "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 realised with pain That she was as old as she looked but soon, put that thought away." (a) Name the poetess and the poem? Ans:The poem is My Mother at Sixty-Six and the poetess is Kamala Das. (b) Where was she driving to? Ans:She was driving to the Cochin airport. (c) How did her mother look like? Ans:Her mother looked drowsy and unwell; she was dozing with her mouth open and her face appeared ashen and pale. (d) What thought did she put away? Ans:She tried to put away the painful thought that her mother had grown old and might not live for much longer. Q. 2. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow. ............ I saw my mother, beside me, doze, open mouthed, her face ashen like that of a corpse and realised with pain ............ (a) Who is 'I'? Ans: The pronoun 'I' refers to Kamala Das, the poetess and narrator of the poem. Detailed Answer:'I' is Kamala Das, the poetess, who speaks as a daughter observing her mother. (b) What did 'I' realise with pain? Ans:She realised, with pain, that her mother had grown old. Detailed Answer :The painful realisation was that her mother's appearance showed clear signs of ageing. (c) Why was the realisation painful? Ans:The realisation was painful because it made her face the possibility of separation and loss of her mother. Detailed Answer:Seeing her mother aged reminded the poet of the likely separation that comes with old age and death, which saddened her. (d) Identify and name the figure of speech used in these lines. Ans:The figure of speech used is a simile, as in "ashen like that of a corpse." Q. 3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: ........ but soon, Put that thought away and Looked out at young Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling Out of their homes, ...... (a) What thought did the poet drive away from her mind? Ans:The poet tried to drive away the thought of her mother's ageing and the fear of losing her. (b) What did she see when she looked out of the car? Ans:She saw young trees appearing to sprint and merry children spilling out of their homes to play. (c) How do you know that the joyful scene didn't help her drive away the painful thought from her mind? Ans: The joyful scene did not help because she looked back at her mother's face and still felt the same old ache and fear. (d) What does the phrase 'trees sprinting' signify? Ans:The phrase 'trees sprinting' signifies lively movement and the swift passage of life or time, giving a sense of energy outside the car. Q. 4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. 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 and all I did was smile and smile and smile... ... (a) Who looked pale and wan? Ans:The poet's mother looked pale and wan. (b) What was the speaker's familiar ache? Ans:The speaker's familiar ache was the childhood fear of separation from her mother and the thought of her mother's death. (c) Explain 'as a late winter's moon'. Ans:The simile "as a late winter's moon" compares the mother's face to the faint, cold glow of a winter moon, emphasising her faded, weak, and dim appearance. (d) Name the poem and the poet. Ans:The poem is My Mother at Sixty-Six and the poet is Kamala Das. OR (a) What was the poet's childhood fear? Ans:The poet's childhood fear was being separated from her mother or losing her to death. (b) Why is the mother compared to a late winter's moon? Ans:The comparison emphasises the mother's paleness and diminished vitality; like a late winter moon she appears faint and lacking warmth. (c) What were the poet's parting words? Ans:Her parting words were, "See you soon, Amma." (d) What does her smile signify? Ans:Her smile signifies an attempt to hide her fear and to reassure her mother, giving comfort despite her own anxiety. Q. 5. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow. 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 .... (a) What does the phrase, 'familiar ache' mean? Ans: The phrase 'familiar ache' refers to the recurring pain or fear she has always felt about losing her mother. (b) What was the poet's childhood fear? Ans:Her childhood fear was that her mother would grow old and die, leading to separation. (c) What do the first two lines tell us about the poet's feelings for her mother? Ans:The first two lines show that the poet deeply loves her mother and feels sorrow and anxiety on seeing her age. (d) Which word has been repeated in the poem? Ans:The word "smile" is repeated to show how the speaker hides her pain behind a smile. Q. 6. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: ............ my childhood's fear but all I said was, see you soon, Amma, all I did was smile and smile .......... (a) What was 'my childhood's fear'? Ans: Her childhood fear was being separated from her mother. (b) Who is 'I'? Ans: 'I' is the poetess, Kamala Das. OR What were the poet's parting words? Ans: Her parting words were "See you soon, Amma." (c) Why did the narrator smile repeatedly? Ans: The narrator smiled repeatedly to hide her fear and to reassure her mother, masking her true feelings. (d) What is the poetic device used in these lines? Ans: The poetic device used here is repetition, shown in the repeated word "smile."
The document Previous Year: Short Questions With Answers (Part- 1) - My Mother at Sixty Six is a part of the Class 12 Course English Class 12.
FAQs on Previous Year: Short Questions With Answers (Part- 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" is the fleeting nature of time and the emotional bond between a mother and her child.
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.
3. What emotions does the speaker experience while traveling with her mother in the poem?
Ans. The speaker experiences a mix of emotions while traveling with her mother, including a sense of protectiveness, worry, and a realization of her mother's mortality.
4. How does the poet convey the theme of the poem through imagery?
Ans. The poet conveys the theme of the poem through vivid imagery, describing the vulnerability of her mother's face, the passing landscape, and the fleeting nature of life.
5. What is the significance of the title "My Mother at Sixty Six"?
Ans. The title "My Mother at Sixty Six" highlights the poet's personal connection to her mother and emphasizes the specific age of her mother, indicating the poet's concern for her aging parent.
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