NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Hornbill - Poem 4 - Childhood

Think It Out

Q1: Identify the stanzas that talks of each of the following.
Ans:
Individuality- The third stanza
Rationalism- The first stanza
Hypocrisy- The second stanza

Q2: What according to the poem is involved in the process of growing up?
Ans: According to the poem, growing up involves the development of mental maturity. It is a process where a person gains the ability to think logically, rationally, and form independent opinions. A grown-up is someone who can differentiate between reality and illusion and can understand the actions of others. The poet observes that adults often preach one thing but practice another, revealing their hypocrisy. As we grow, we become aware of these double standards. Furthermore, a mature individual learns to assert their thoughts and opinions confidently.

Q3: What is the poet’s feeling towards childhood?
Ans: The poet does not seem to feel sad or nostalgic about the loss of childhood. Rather, he is more puzzled and confused by its disappearance and the arrival of adulthood. His feelings are reflected in his questioning tone when he asks, “When” and “Where did my childhood go?” This suggests that he is unsure about how childhood gradually faded away.

Q4: Which do you think are the most poetic lines? Why?
Ans: The lines that seem to be the most poetic are:
The most poetic lines in the poem are:
‘It went to some forgotten place,
That’s hidden in an infant’s face;
That’s all I know.’
These lines are poetic because they beautifully capture the mystery and the transient nature of childhood. The poet uses the image of an infant’s face, suggesting that childhood is hidden deep within a child’s innocence and smile. These lines reflect the idea that childhood is a stage of life that is hard to define or grasp once it’s gone, yet it is part of every child’s being.