Extract Based Questions: Childhood | English Class 11 PDF Download

Read the given extract and answer the questions
Extract:
When did my childhood go?
Was it the time I realised that adults were not
all they seemed to be,
They talked of love and preached of love,
But did not act so lovingly,
Was that the day!```
(Childhood)

Question (i): What is the contrast between what the adults talked and preached, and what they did?

Ans: The contrast between what the adults talked and preached, and what they did is that they spoke about love and its importance, but they did not act in a loving way towards others.
Step-by-step explanation:

• To analyze something means to examine it closely and explain its meaning or effect.
• In this question, we have to analyze the contrast between what the adults said and did in the extract. Contrast is when two things are different or opposite from each other.
• The poet says that the adults talked of love and preached of love, but did not act so lovingly. This means that they spoke about love and its importance, but they did not show it in their actions or behavior.
• The contrast between what they said and did shows that they were hypocritical and dishonest. They did not follow their own words or beliefs, but acted in a selfish or cruel way towards others.
• The contrast also shows that the poet was disappointed and disillusioned with the adults. He realized that they were not as good or trustworthy as he thought they were. He lost his respect and admiration for them.

Question (ii): What does the word "lovingly" mean?

Ans: The word "lovingly" means in a caring or affectionate way.
Step-by-step explanation:

• Vocabulary is the set of words that a person knows or uses.
• In this question, we have to explain the meaning of the word "lovingly". We can use a dictionary, a synonym, or an example to help us define the word.
• The word "lovingly" is an adverb that modifies a verb or an adjective. It describes how someone does something or how something is.
• The word "lovingly" means in a caring or affectionate way. It shows that someone has a strong feeling of love or fondness for someone or something.
• For example, we can say that a mother hugged her child lovingly, or that a painter painted a portrait lovingly. These sentences mean that the mother and the painter showed their love through their actions.

Question (iii): How did the poet feel when he realized that adults were not all they seemed to be?

Ans: The poet felt betrayed and disillusioned when he realized that adults were not all they seemed to be.
Step-by-step explanation:

• To infer something means to make a logical guess based on evidence or clues.
• In this question, we have to infer how the poet felt when he realized that adults were not all they seemed to be. We can use clues from the poem, such as the words, tone, or imagery, to help us make our guess.
• The poet says that adults talked of love and preached of love, but did not act so lovingly. This shows that he was disappointed and angry with the adults for being hypocritical and dishonest. He expected them to be good and kind, but they were not.
• The poet also uses a rhetorical question and an exclamation mark to express his frustration and surprise. He is shocked that he cannot trust or respect the adults anymore. He feels like they have lied to him and let him down.
• We can infer that the poet felt betrayed and disillusioned when he realized that adults were not all they seemed to be. He felt like he had lost his faith and hope in them, and in the world.

Question (iv): What is the effect of repeating the question "When did my childhood go?" at the beginning of each stanza?

Ans: The effect of repeating the question "When did my childhood go?" at the beginning of each stanza is to create a sense of urgency and curiosity, and to emphasize the poet's loss and nostalgia.
Step-by-step explanation:

• To interpret something means to explain its significance or meaning.
• In this question, we have to interpret the effect of repeating the question "When did my childhood go?" at the beginning of each stanza. A stanza is a group of lines in a poem that form a unit. Repeating a word or phrase at the beginning of each stanza is a literary device called anaphora.
• The effect of repeating the question "When did my childhood go?" at the beginning of each stanza is to create a sense of urgency and curiosity. The poet wants to find out when and how he lost his childhood, and he invites the reader to join him in his quest. He makes us wonder what happened to his childhood, and what changed him as a person.
• The effect of repeating the question "When did my childhood go?" at the beginning of each stanza is also to emphasize the poet's loss and nostalgia. The poet misses his childhood and wishes he could go back to it. He feels like he has lost something precious and irreplaceable. He repeats the question to show how important and painful this loss is for him.

Question (v): Complete the sentence with the correct option: The poet uses a/an _________ rhyme scheme in this extract.

Ans: The poet uses a/an AABB rhyme scheme in this extract.
Step-by-step explanation:

• A rhyme scheme is the pattern of sounds that repeats at the end of a line or stanza in a poem.
• To identify the rhyme scheme, we assign a letter to each word that rhymes at the end of a line. For example, if two lines end with the words "be" and "lovingly", we give them both the letter A. If the next two lines end with another pair of rhyming words, such as "seemed" and "preached", we give them both the letter B. We continue this process until we have labeled all the lines in the poem.
• In this extract, the first and second lines end with the words "be" and "lovingly", which rhyme with each other. Therefore, we give them both the letter A. The third and fourth lines end with the words "seemed" and "preached", which rhyme with each other. Therefore, we give them both the letter B.
• The rhyme scheme of the extract is AABB.

Question (vi):  Do you think that the poet's view of adults is fair or unfair? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans: I think that the poet's view of adults is unfair, because he generalizes all adults as being hypocritical and unloving, and he does not consider their perspectives or challenges.
Step-by-step explanation:

• To evaluate something means to judge its value or quality based on criteria or standards.
• In this question, we have to evaluate the poet's view of adults as being hypocritical and unloving. We have to give our opinion on whether this view is fair or unfair, and support it with reasons. We can use examples from the poem, our own experience, or other sources to justify our opinion.
• I think that the poet's view of adults is unfair, because he generalizes all adults as being hypocritical and unloving. He does not acknowledge that there might be some adults who are honest and kind, or who have different views on love and its expression. He does not give any specific examples of how the adults acted unlovingly, but only says that they talked and preached of love. He might be biased or exaggerating his experience.
• I also think that the poet's view of adults is unfair, because he does not consider their perspectives or challenges. He does not understand that adults might have to face many difficulties and responsibilities in life, such as work, money, health, or family. These might affect their mood or behavior, and make them less cheerful or playful than children. He does not empathize with their struggles or appreciate their efforts. He only sees them from his own point of view.

Read the given extract and answer the questions
Extract:
Where did my childhood go?
It went to some forgotten place,
That’s hidden in an infant’s face,
That’s all I know
(Childhood)

Question (i) What is the rhyme scheme of the extract?

Ans: 
The rhyme scheme of the extract is ABAB.
Step-by-step explanation:

• A rhyme scheme is the pattern of sounds that repeats at the end of a line or stanza in a poem. To identify the rhyme scheme, we assign a letter to each word that rhymes at the end of a line. For example, if two lines end with the words "go" and "know", we give them both the letter A. If the next line ends with a word that does not rhyme with them, such as "place", we give it a different letter, such as B. We continue this process until we have labeled all the lines in the extract.
• In this extract, the first and third lines end with the words "go" and "know", which rhyme with each other. Therefore, we give them both the letter A. The second and fourth lines end with the words "place" and "face", which rhyme with each other. Therefore, we give them both the letter B. The rhyme scheme of the extract is ABAB.

Question (ii) What does the use of the word "forgotten" suggest?

Ans: 
The use of the word "forgotten" suggests that the poet has lost his connection with his childhood and cannot remember it clearly.
Step-by-step explanation:

• Analysis is the process of examining how the language, structure, and form of a text create meaning and effect. To analyze the use of a word, we need to consider its denotation (literal meaning) and connotation (implied meaning) in the context of the text.
• The word "forgotten" means that something is no longer remembered or thought of. However, it also implies that something is neglected, abandoned, or unimportant. In the context of the poem, the poet uses this word to show that he has lost his connection with his childhood and cannot remember it clearly. He also suggests that he feels sad and regretful about this loss.

Question (iii) How does the poet relate his childhood to an infant's face?

Ans: 
The poet relates his childhood to an infant's face because an infant represents innocence, purity, and joy, which are the qualities that he associates with his childhood.
Step-by-step explanation:

• Inference is the process of making logical deductions based on evidence and reasoning. To infer how the poet relates his childhood to an infant's face, we need to look for clues in the text and use our background knowledge and common sense.
• An infant is a very young child who has not learned to speak or walk. An infant represents innocence, purity, and joy, which are the qualities that the poet associates with his childhood. He contrasts these qualities with the complexity, corruption, and sorrow of adulthood. He also implies that his childhood is hidden in an infant's face, meaning that he can only see glimpses of it in other children.

Question (iv)What is the tone of the extract?

Ans: 
The tone of the extract is melancholic and nostalgic.
Step-by-step explanation:

• Interpretation is the process of explaining the meaning and significance of a text from a personal perspective. To interpret the tone of the extract, we need to consider the mood, attitude, and emotion that the poet conveys through his words and images.
• The tone of the extract is melancholic and nostalgic. Melancholic means sad and gloomy, while nostalgic means longing for the past. The poet expresses his sorrow and regret for losing his childhood and his desire to recapture it. He uses words such as "forgotten", "hidden", and "all I know" to show his sadness and confusion.

Question (v) Do you think childhood can be regained or restored? Why or why not?

Ans: 
I think childhood cannot be regained or restored because it is a stage of life that is unique and irreplaceable. Childhood is defined by innocence, curiosity, and wonder, which are gradually lost as one grows up and faces the realities of the world. Childhood is also influenced by the time and place in which one lives, which are constantly changing and evolving. Therefore, childhood can only be remembered and cherished, but not relived or recreated.
Step-by-step explanation:

• Evaluation is the process of making a judgment or expressing an opinion about a text based on criteria and evidence. To evaluate whether childhood can be regained or restored, we need to consider the definition, characteristics, and factors of childhood, as well as our own experiences and values.
• I think childhood cannot be regained or restored because it is a stage of life that is unique and irreplaceable. Childhood is defined by innocence, curiosity, and wonder, which are gradually lost as one grows up and faces the realities of the world. Childhood is also influenced by the time and place in which one lives, which are constantly changing and evolving. Therefore, childhood can only be remembered and cherished, but not relived or recreated. This is my opinion based on my understanding of the poem and my own life.

Question (vi) Which of the following is NOT true about the use of repetition in the first and second lines of the extract?

(a) It emphasizes the poet's longing for his childhood
(b) It creates a contrast between the past and the present
(c) It shows that the poet is confused and uncertain
(d) It reflects that the poet is hopeful and optimistic

Ans: 
The correct option is (d) It reflects that the poet is hopeful and optimistic.
Step-by-step explanation:

• A multiple-choice question is a type of question that has several options, but only one of them is correct. To answer a multiple-choice question, we need to eliminate the wrong options and choose the right one.
• To answer this question, we need to understand how repetition is used in the extract and what effect it has on the meaning and tone of the poem. The use of repetition in the first and second lines of the extract is NOT true about reflecting that the poet is hopeful and optimistic. This option is wrong because the poet does not show any positive or cheerful attitude towards his childhood or his present situation. He is rather sad and regretful about losing his childhood and not being able to find it again. Therefore, this option does not match the use of repetition in the extract.