My Mother at Sixty Six Question Answers (Important)| Class 12 English Flamingo Book

 

 

 

CBSE Class 12 English Poem 1 My Mother at Sixty Six  Question Answers (Important) from Flamingo Book

Class 12 English My Mother at Sixty Six Question Answers – Looking for My Mother at Sixty Six question answers (NCERT solutions) for CBSE Class 12 English Flamingo Book Poem 1? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practising Class 12 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the board exam. Our solutions provide a clear idea of how to write the answers effectively. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring Poem 1: My Mother at Sixty Six question answers now. The questions listed below are based on the latest CBSE exam pattern, wherein we have given NCERT solutions to the chapter’s extract based questions, short answer questions, and long answer questions. 

 Also, practising with different kinds of questions can help students learn new ways to solve problems that they may not have seen before. This can ultimately lead to a deeper understanding of the subject matter and better performance on exams. 

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My Mother at Sixty Six NCERT Solution

Q1. What is the kind of pain and ache that the poet feels?

Ans. When the poet looks at her mother’s face closely, she discovers that she has aged and her end is near. The feeling of her mother being old, needing care and help pains the poet as there is no one to look after her. She feels that her mother can die any moment and that then she will lose her forever. Her childhood fear of losing her mother which was then timely but now, will be forever, resurfaces. The poet feels the pain of her mother’s old age and her helplessness towards her. She has the fear of separating from her mother forever, upon her death.

Q2. Why are the young trees described as ‘sprinting’?

Ans. The young trees have been personified. When looked at from the poet’s moving car, they seem to be running past. The poet found it to be strikingly opposite to her mother who looked as still as a dead body.

Q3. Why has the poet brought in the image of the merry children ‘spilling out of their homes’?

Ans. The poet draws a comparison between what is travelling with her and what she can see outside. It’s a comparison between life and death. Her mother is sleeping, with mouth open, like a dead body, while outside she can see children who are full of life, energy and enthusiasm.

Q4. Why has the mother been compared to the ‘late winter’s moon’?

Ans. Just as the late winter’s moon is dull and lacks luster, so is her mother at the end stage of her life. Also, as the late winter moon gets overshadowed by the fog and mist in the sky similarly her mother can get overshadowed by death at any time. Both of them are nearing an end- one of season and the other of life.

Q5. What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?

Ans. The parting words of the poet show her positive attitude. She overcomes her pain and fear, assures herself and her mother that they would meet again. She is being very brave which is indicated by the use of repetition in the poem:
“smile and smile and smile……”

Class 12 English My Mother at Sixty Six Question Answers Poem 1 – Extract Based Questions

Extract-based questions are of the multiple-choice variety, and students must select the correct option for each question by carefully reading the passage.

 

A. 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,
all I did was smile and smile and smile ……… (Foreign 2014; Modified)

 

1. What was the poet’s childhood fear?
Ans. In her childhood, the poet was insecure about losing her mother, just as all young children often are.

2. What were the poet’s parting words?
Ans. The poet’s parting words were, “See you soon, Amma”, which are suggestive of the hope that they will meet again.

3. What is the poetic device used in these lines?
Ans. The poetic device used in these lines is simile, where the mother’s dull and lifeless face is compared to a late winter’s moon.

4. Why did the poet smile and smile?
Ans. The poet smiled and smiled (meaning that she smiled continuously) because she was trying to hide her real feelings. She feared the fact that she might not see her mother again, which left her almost in tears.

Class 12 My Mother at Sixty Six Important Question Answers Video

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B. Read the extracts 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……………(Compartment 2014;Modified)

What thought did the poet drive away from her mind?
Ans. The poet drove away the painful thought of the distressing reality that her mother was getting old and she might die anytime.

1. What did she see when she looked out of the car?
Ans. When she looked out of the car, she saw young trees on the roadside, which appeared to be moving. She also saw a group of children, merrily rushing out of their homes to play.

2. How do you know that the joyful scene didn’t help her drive away the painful thought from her mind?
Ans. As the poet passed through a security check at the airport and happened to look at her mother, she was again haunted by the same fear of losing her to death. This shows that the joyful scene earlier didn’t help drive away the painful thought from her mind.

4. What are the merry children symbolic of?
Ans. The merry children are symbolic of the exuberance of youth. The energetic and lively children present a contrast to the poet’s mother who has grown old and pale.

 

C. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

…………….and felt that 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 (All India 2013)

1. What was the childhood fear that now troubled the poet?

Ans. As a child the poet was insecure about losing her mother and the same fear has come again now when her mother has grown old.

2. What do the poet’s parting words suggest?

Ans. The poet, while parting, smiled and said to her mother that she would see her soon. This expression of her suggests that though she was aware that her mother was quite old and weak, yet she hoped that she would live and that they would meet again.

3. Why did the poet smile and smile?

Ans. The poet smiled and smiled only because she wanted to hide her fears from her mother. She was reassuring herself and also her mother that they would meet again.

4. Explain, “that old familiar ache.” 

Ans. “That old familiar ache” refers to the agony and pain of separation from her mother that the poet felt in her childhood, as she feared that she might lose her mother.

 

D. 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 realized with pain .
that she was as old as she looked …

 

1. Where was the poet driving to?

Ans. The poet was driving to Cochin airport from her parent’s home.

2. Why was her mother’s face looking like that of a corpse?

Ans. Her mother’s face had lost all its glow and color. It was nearly lifeless. That is why it was looking like a corpse’s face.

3. What did the poet notice about her mother?

Ans. The poet noticed that her mother was sleeping with her mouth open. Her face looked like that of a corpse. She suddenly realized that her mother had become very old.

4. Why was the realization painful? 

Ans. The realization that her mother had grown very old was painful because it brought with it the distressing thought that she was also nearing her death, whose cruel hands would separate the poet from her mother.

 

E. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

…….and
looked but soon
put that thought away and
looked out at young
trees sprinting,
the merry children spilling
out of their homes,………..

 

1. Name the poem and the poet.

Ans. The name of the poem is ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six’ and the poet is Kamala Das.

2. What did the poet realize? How did she feel?

Ans. The poet realized that her mother was getting old and was nearing her impending death. She felt afraid of losing her mother, the same fear which she used to face in her childhood.

3. What did she do then?

Ans. The poet at once turned her face away from the harsh reality and looked out of the window to divert her mind.

4. What did she notice in the world outside?

Ans. The poet saw green trees sprinting by. She also saw a group of children who were exuberant, enthusiastic and were merrily coming out of their houses.

 

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Class 12 English My Mother at Sixty Six Question Answers (including questions from Previous Years Question Papers)

In this post we are also providing important short answer questions from the poem My Mother at Sixty Six for CBSE Class 12 Boards in the coming session. These questions have been taken from previous years class 12 Board exams and the year is mentioned in the bracket along with the question.

Q1. What is the kind of pain and ache that the narrator feels?

Ans. The emotional pain and anguish the narrator feels is the realization that her mother is old, frail and pale as a corpse.


Q2. Why are the young trees described as ‘sprinting’? (Delhi 2012,2010)
Ans. While driving to the airport, the poet looks at the young trees sprinting to distract herself from thoughts of her aging mother. The trees sprinting represents the rapidly passing years of human life from childhood to old age. This image of activity and strength contrasts with that of her elderly and frail mother. In contrast to her mother’s impending death, the ‘young’ trees represent life.


Q3. Why has the narrator brought in the image of the merry children ‘spilling out of their homes’?
Ans. The poet has depicted contrasting images of life and death in the poem. She has used the image of the happy children running out of their houses to play to represent life, vigor, health, beauty, and happiness. This image contrasts sharply with that of her mother, who is nearing the end of her life and has become old, inactive, weak, and withered. The poet has juxtaposed the two images to emphasize the differences between them. Childhood is the beginning of life, while old age is the end.


Q4. Why has the mother been compared to ‘late winter’s moon’?
Ans. The poet’s mother’s vitality and radiance have begun to fade as she ages. The poet compares her mother to a “late winter’s moon” to indicate her impending death. Winter, as the year’s final season, is associated with lifelessness and dormancy. A winter’s moon is also pale-white in color, resembling her mother, who, having lost all her strength, appears ‘wan’ and ‘pale’ to the poet.


Q5. What do the parting words of the narrator and her smile signify?(All India 2010)
Ans. The parting words “goodbye Amma” are used by the narrator to reassure the mother and to increase the narrator’s own optimism. She accepts the reality of her mother’s imminent death, but continues to keep smiling and happy. It requires a lot of effort and that is why the poet uses poetic repetition to emphasize it. She tries to hide her fear with a smile on her face.


Q6. What childhood fears do you think the narrator is referring to in the poem ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six’?
Ans. The poet’s childhood fear was that she would lose her mother to death and thus be separated from her for all time. As a result, she was terrified of being separated from her mother.


Q7. What does the narrator mean by ‘all I did was smile and smile and smile…’? 

OR

A smile does not always indicate happiness.’ Does My Mother at Sixty-Six reflect this statement? Justify your response with an example from the poem.(CBSE Sample Paper 2022)
Ans. Throughout the stanza, ‘all I did was smile and smile and smile…’ the poet tries to conceal her concern about her mother’s failing health. The poet smiled and smiled, hoping to reassure herself that she would be able to see her mother again.


Q8. What does the narrator’s mother look like? What kind of images has been used to signify her aging?
Ans. The narrator’s mother is sixty-six years old, looking as pale as a corpse. The image of death arises with this comparison. The color of her face is of ash which shows pale and weak. She is like the late winter’s moon which lacks energy.


Q9. What were the activities that the narrator saw outside the car window?
Ans. The narrator noticed young trees speeding by, as if they were sprinting or running fast. Children running out of their homes were seen to be happy, enthusiastic, and energetic. They present an image of youth and energy in contrast to the narrator’s mother’s lack of energy.


Q10. Why does the narrator look outside? What does she perceive?
Ans. Even the thought of being separated from her mother shocks and depresses the narrator. She experiences the fear that she may never see her mother again. To ward off such negative thoughts, she looks out the window and her mind changes when she sees the trees appear to be moving fast and children playing happily.


Q11.State the common issue faced by most of the aged in the current times, with reference to the poem My Mother at Sixty-six.(CBSE Sample Paper 2022)

Ans. The most common issue faced by most of the aged in the current times, with reference to the poem My Mother at Sixty-six is the absence of a supporting presence or loneliness or they feel alone when children move away. This issue was faced by the aged mom of the poet as she lived away from her mother.


Q12. Kamala Das speaks of ‘an old familiar ache…’ What do you think is the reason for this feeling? (CBSE Sample Paper 2020)

Ans. Kamla Das’ mother is elderly and pale, and her health appears to be failing. As a result, the poet experiences a familiar pain, which is one of her constant fears of losing her mother. She recollects her childhood fear of being separated from her mother.

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Class 12 My Mother at Sixty Six Long Answer Questions Poem 1

 

Q1. Aging is a natural process; have you ever thought about what our elderly parents expect from us ?
Ans. Aging is a natural process. A person becomes weaker as he ages, he needs support both mentally and physically. So, it is our duty to give our elderly parents the love, emotional support and respect they deserve. Our parents usually give us the best time of their lives to bring us up. Therefore, it is our moral duty to respond in kind as they age.
Loneliness is common in the elderly, and they require companionship. The pessimistic attitude they develop towards life can be avoided only if we lavish them with love, importance, and empathy. They expect their children to sit quietly and talk to them about what is going on in their lives, and to consider their advice when making important decisions. Their depleted vitality can thus be easily restored. This joy will inspire them to live life to the fullest. Thus, ensuring that we give them the best time of their lives just as they once did for us when we were younger. 


Q2. Write a brief summary of the poem, ‘My Mother at Sixty Six’ by Kamala Das.
Ans. The poem begins with Kamala Das, the poet, is on her way to the airport in Cochin, accompanied by her elderly mother. She suddenly realizes her mother has grown old. Her face is ashen, as if she were a corpse. This thought disturbs her because it reminds her of her mother’s impending death. As a daughter, the thought of losing her mother disturbs her, and in order to distract herself, she begins looking out the window at the trees that appear to be sprinting as she drives a car. She also notices small children rushing out of their homes to play outside. This brings back memories of her youth and beauty.Her mother, on the other hand, is getting older. She has grown old and is nearing the end of her life. This gives her a sense of insecurity. In contrast to the young children and green trees, the mother has aged and become as pale as the winter moon.

As she waves goodbye to her mother at the airport, the poet experiences the same pain and fear she did as a child, but she masks her feelings with a smile that assures her mother that she will return soon. So, even when the poet is terrified of old age, her smile gives her mother hope of survival.


Q3. Imagine you are the poet’s friend. Write a dialogue exchange between yourself and the poet where the latter confides in you about her fears and asks for your advice. What would your advice be to face her fears, to ignore them or something else? (CBSE QB, 2021)

Ans.

Poet: Hi, how are you doing?
Friend: I am good, but you are not your usual self. What happened? You seem lost somewhere else
Poet: I met my mother over the weekend. She is just sixty-six but was looking older than her age.
Friend: Oh, they all look like that. My father is only fifty-nine but he already looks like seventy. Poet: Not only that, but her health was also looking deteriorated. I had to shift over here due to professional work. It was a pain leaving her alone at home. I have not spent enough time with her lately. There is so much I want to discuss with her, but don’t have time
Friend: Don’t worry, she will be well. We all seem afraid of the impending truth. But, come on, face your fears boldly. Take a week’s off and spend time with her. At least, you will not regret later in life.
Poet: But, my boss will not allow me to take off. You know the work pressure we have right now at the office
Friend: Don’t worry, I will take care of that. I will work overtime for a couple of days and cover up for you.
Poet: Thanks dear, you are truly a friend indeed. I will talk to boos in the morning. Thanks and good night
Friend: So, cheer up now! All will be well. Good night.


Q4. Analyze the concept of losing our dear ones on account of old age in the context of the poem.
Ans.The poem ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six’ captures the natural complexities of the human mind, as well as the universal fear of losing our parents. Aging is an unavoidable part of human life that we must accept regardless of the pain it causes in our hearts. The poet discusses her mother, who is getting older and has a pale and weak face. Her mother, who is sixty-six years old, is depicted as an elderly woman in need of rest. The poet recalls how, even as a child, she was terrified of losing her mother. Her fear has evolved over time into a fear of losing her mother to death. Her attention is diverted by her mother’s failing health, but she smiles, expressing her desire to see her soon.


Q5. In the last line of the poem, ‘My Mother at Sixty-six’, the word ‘smile’ is repeated three times. What is its significance ?
Ans.Even after attempting to distract her from the fact that her mother was aging, the poet couldn’t help but notice her mother’s fading face. She is afraid that this is the last time she will see her mother. However, the poet chose to conceal her fear from her mother. The poet uses the word “smile” three times in the final line to emphasize that, while she is afraid of losing her mother and is distressed by their separation, she does not let it show on her face. She smiles to persuade herself and her mother that they will meet soon.


Q6. What are the main ideas combined in the poem ‘My Mother at Sixty- six’
Ans. In this poem, the poet details what her mother looks like at the age of 66. She also shares her pain at seeing her deteriorate so much. It was her last Friday morning at home when she looked up at her mother as she drove to the airport. The poet was not only injured but also shocked to see her sleeping with her mouth open. She became all the more worried as she looked pale, shriveled and withered like a corpse. To distract himself from this pain and suffering, she looked outside and saw young trees and children. She understood in them life, vigor and vitality. Then to airport security. A similar old age was reflected in her pale body. She compared her to a late winter month and realized that it was due to old age. The poet smiled at her to see her again and left. The poem was an example of the pain caused by old age and separation.


Q7. In the poem “My Mother at Sixty-six,” how does the poet convey the nuance of human relationships?
Ans. In the poem ‘My Mother at Sixty-six,’ the poet Kamala Das depicts a close relationship between a mother and a daughter with such sensitivity that the reader is moved by similar emotions. The poem is written in one continuous sentence and depicts a single thread of thought interspersed with real-world sights and sounds that connect to the main idea of old age and death. The poet is about to leave the airport with her elderly mother. Her heart is gripped by the agony of losing her mother to death, but she suppresses it. The fear in her heart is hidden by a smile on her face, and she leaves knowing she will see her mother again.


Q8. Read the following and answer the question that follows.

“but all I said was, see you soon, Amma,
all I did was smile and smile and smile…………….”

It is always painful to depart from our loved ones. Our hearts bleed but lips smile. Nothing is more difficult than to wear an artificial smile, notwithstanding the tragic fact that there may not be another meeting with the loved person. Death is the ultimate goal of life.

After reading the above lines and the poem ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six’, do you feel that death should be accepted silently and there is no use crying over something inevitable? Or do you feel that sentiments don’t understand the nature of death and sadness can’t cease? Justify your answer.

Ans. According to me, Death should be accepted silently because it is unavoidable and our minds are aware of this. However, our hearts are unaware of something that is unavoidable. It understands emotional language. It understands how to laugh and cry. We all care about those close to us. Love is a beautiful emotion and the foundation of life. We are heartbroken when someone we care about dies. Our mind understands that death is the ultimate goal of life, but our sadness is natural. Similarly, the author is aware that this is most likely her last meeting with her mother. She is depressed, and her smile is an attempt to hide it. She can’t stop loving her mother, and she can’t stop mourning her mother’s departure and impending death.


Q9. Bring out the poetic devices used in the poem.
Ans. The poem “My Mother at Sixty Six” is structured into a one-sentence frame with commas. This shows one chain of thought that runs through. 

In her poem, My Mother’s Sixty-six, Kamla Das employs imagery to convey her main point: aging is natural, and we all have to go through it at some point in our lives. We should not be concerned about aging because it is a natural process. The poet employs imagery to convey the concepts of death and youth. “Trees sprinting, happy kids spilling.” This is explained by the poet by comparing her mother’s old age to trees and young children. Similes like “ashen as a corpse’s face,” “as a late winter’s moon.” are used. The poet compares her mother’s old age to a corpse and the moon in winter. They are symbols of hopelessness and darkness. It refers to the symptoms of death caused by old age. The body and ashes have arrived at the cremation facility. The poem reflects the poet’s fear of losing her mother, which no one wants. She uses words and phrases like “doze, open-mouthed,” “wan, pale as a late winter’s moon,” and “wan, pale as a late winter’s moon” to describe these as signs of aging.

Young trees and children are personified by the poet. The young trees grow quickly because children are active and represent youth, whereas their mother’s face is pale, ashy, and corpse-like. Her youth is fleeting, and she will soon be old like her mother. In My Mother at Sixty-six, the metaphor “children spilling” is used. A child’s action represents youth, while her mother represents old age. Youth and children are similar in that they are both active and not in the state of dormancy like her mother.


Q10. Imagine the mother gets to know of the poet’s persona’s fears. Write a letter, as the mother, telling the daughter why she must not dwell on these fears. (CBSE QB,2021)

You may begin this way:
Pallipuram
Cochin, Kerala
22 August ‘60
My dear Kamala,

 I am writing to you because when you left me at the airport, I felt something wasn’t right. Judging by how little you spoke that day ………………………. ………………………………………(continue)………………………………… 

With love Amma

Ans.

Pallipuram
Cochin, Kerala
22 August ‘60
My Dear Kamala,

I’m writing to you because something didn’t feel right when you dropped me off at the airport, judging by how little you said that day. I understand you were attempting to conceal your fears. You are afraid that you will lose me and that I will die soon. You can put your worries to rest, my child, because I am in the prime of my health. I am actively performing my daily chores and am not becoming tired; I am looking forward to meeting you soon. If everything goes as planned, I’ll be shitting near you in about a month.

Having said that, my child, you must recognise that death is the ultimate truth of life. The one who is bom must perish. We will all face this fate sooner or later. As your guide and mentor, I would advise you to face this truth boldly, as it will be realized in my case as well. Remember, when that day comes, I want you to cherish the happy times we shared and move on with your life, not mourn. I look forward to seeing you soon.

With love Amma

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