Class 12 English Poem 1 My Mother at Sixty Six

Poetic Devices in the Poem “My Mother at Sixty-Six”

The poem “My Mother at Sixty-six” by Kamla Das makes use of several poetic devices. Here are some examples:

Imagery: The poet uses vivid images to describe her mother’s appearance and surroundings to create a picture of the scene.

For instance, she describes her mother’s face as “ashen like that of a corpse” and “wan, pale as a late winter’s moon.” She also describes “Young Trees sprinting” and “the merry children spilling out of their homes.”

“Doze, open-mouthed, her face ashen”
- Creates a visual image of the mother’s fragile state.
“Young trees sprinting, the merry children spilling out of their homes”
- Conveys energy and liveliness, contrasting with the mother’s condition.

Metaphor: An implied comparison between two things.

“Young trees sprinting”
- The trees appear to sprint, symbolizing the vitality and speed of life.

Simile: A direct comparison using “like” or “as.”

“Her face ashen like that of a corpse”
- The mother’s pale face is compared to a dead body, showing her fragility.
“Pale as a late winter’s moon”
- The mother’s face is compared to the faded, weak moon of late winter, symbolizing aging.

Personification: The poet personifies the trees as “sprinting” to show their liveliness and youthfulness.

Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

The repetition of the “s” sound in “I said was, see you soon, Amma”
“smile and smile and smile” – repetition of the “s” sound in “smile”. (the poet’s effort to conceal her pain.)

Repetition: thought away ……. thought away, | smile and smile and smile

The repetition of the word “smile” at the end of the poem creates a sense of emotional tension. The poet seems to be trying to put on a brave face and hide her true feelings about her mother’s aging.

Contrast: Juxtaposition of two opposite ideas.

The mother’s frail, pale appearance contrasts with the vibrant trees and cheerful children outside.

Enjambment: Lines flow into the next without a pause.

The lines of the poem are not end-stopped, meaning that the sentence or phrase continues onto the next line without a pause. This creates a sense of flow and movement in the poem, reflecting the movement of the car and the passing scenery.

Symbolism: Using objects or images to represent larger ideas.

“Corpse” symbolizes death and mortality.
“Late winter’s moon” symbolizes fading life (aging) and nearing the end.
“Young trees” and “merry children” represent youth and vitality and cycle of life.

The airport’s security check and the distance between the poet and her mother symbolize the physical and emotional distance that has grown between them over time.

Hyperbole: The poet uses hyperbole to emphasize her emotional response to seeing her mother in such a frail state. She describes feeling an “old familiar ache” and “childhood’s fear,” which suggests a deep-seated and intense emotional reaction.

Tone: The tone of the poem is contemplative and introspective, with the poet reflecting on her own feelings and perceptions of her mother’s aging.

Irony: The irony of the situation lies in the fact that the poet is driving her mother to the airport, but she is the one who feels left behind and disconnected from her mother.

Caesura: The use of the pause in the line “but all I said was, see you soon, Amma,” creates a break in the flow of the poem, emphasizing the significance of the moment.

Assonance: The repetition of the “o” sound in “doze, open mouthed” creates assonance, which adds a musical quality to the line and emphasizes the mother’s vulnerability and aging.

Use of ‘Ellipses’ (…) Narrative Device

In the poem “My Mother at Sixty-Six” by Kamala Das, the use of ellipses (…) at the end of the poem. The repetition of the word “smile” in the last line of the poem, followed by the ellipses, creates a sense of ambiguity of unresolved emotions. It suggests that the poet is trying to hide her emotions by smiling as the poet is unable to express her emotions fully leaving much left unsaid.

The ellipses create a sense of hesitation and trailing off (becoming quiter and then stops), as if the poet is holding back her true feelings.

The use of ellipses in this poem helps to convey the complex emotions of the poet towards her mother, and creates a sense of tension and ambiguity that leaves the reader with a powerful emotional impression.

Think it Out

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

Ans. The poet feels a pain and ache of realising the ageing and mortality of her mother. She initially tries to push away the thought of her mother’s advanced age, but upon seeing her again at the airport, the poet is struck by the sight of her mother’s pale and wan appearance, which brings back a childhood fear and ache. Despite this, the poet puts on a brave face and smiles as she says goodbye to her mother, expressing her love and affection.

Another Answer:

The poet is anguished to witness her mother’s pallid, corpse-like countenance, which evokes a sense of nostalgia for the days when she was vibrant and youthful. The poet is overwhelmed by the fear of losing her mother and is torn apart by the possibility of not seeing her alive again. She decides to visit her hometown, but the pain, insecurity, and fear of her childhood return with a vengeance, rekindling her apprehension of losing her mother.

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

Ans. The young trees are described as “sprinting” to create a visual image of their growth and vitality. The word “sprinting” suggests rapid movement, energy, and enthusiasm, which are qualities associated with youth and vitality. The poet is juxtaposing the image of the young and lively trees with the image of her ageing mother who is dozing beside her. This contrast highlights the transience of life and the inevitability of ageing and mortality.

Another Answer:

As the car speeds down the road, the poet observes the young trees sprinting by, their swift passage creating the illusion of motion. This contrast sharply with the poet’s depiction of her aged, ashen mother, who has weakened with the passage of time. Additionally, it highlights the disparity between the lively, vigorous trees and the mother who appears to be dozing, further emphasizing the mother’s frailty and the inexorable march of time.

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

Ans. The image of the merry children spilling out of their homes serves as a contrast to the image of the poet’s ageing mother dozing beside her. The children’s playful and carefree nature juxtaposes with the sombre and reflective mood of the poet, who is coming to terms with her mother’s ageing and mortality. The image also reflects the cyclical nature of life – the children represent the beginning of life, while the poet’s mother represents the end of life. The contrast highlights the inevitability of the ageing process and the cycle of life and death. The poet may have brought in this image to emphasise the importance of cherishing the present moment and living life to the fullest, as time is fleeting and waits for no one.

Another Answer:

The poet employs this effect to underscore the contrast between the exuberant, enthusiastic children and the aged, frail mother who appears pale and asleep. Through this juxtaposition, the mother becomes an emblem of aging and decay, while the children embody the vitality and liveliness of youth. It is possible that the poet is reminded of her mother’s youthful spirit as she observes the children’s ebullience, further highlighting the passage of time and the inevitability of aging.

Question 4. Why has the mother been compared to the ‘late winter’s moon’?

Ans. The mother has been compared to the “late winter’s moon” to create a visual image of her appearance. The moon in late winter is typically pale and wan, and this comparison emphasises the mother’s pallor and frailty. The use of “late winter” also suggests that the mother is in the later stages of her life, as winter is a metaphor for old age. The comparison also creates a sense of melancholy and nostalgia, as the moon is often associated with reflection and introspection. The poet is reflecting on her mother’s ageing and mortality and is trying to come to terms with the inevitable passing of time.

Another Answer:

The poet employs a simile, likening the hazy, lackluster appearance of the late winter’s moon to the pallid, shrunken countenance of the sixty-six-year-old mother, which resembles that of a corpse. The simile effectively highlights the mother’s lack of vitality and effervescence, a stark contrast to the energy and enthusiasm of youth. The comparison emphasizes the mother’s advanced age and the toll that time has taken on her physical and emotional well-being. Overall, the simile underscores the theme of the transience of life and the inevitability of aging.

Question 5. What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?

Ans. The parting words of the poet, “see you soon, Amma” and her smile signify her love and affection for her mother, and her attempt to be strong in the face of her mother’s ageing and mortality. The poet is aware that her mother is growing old and frail, and this realisation causes her pain and sadness. However, she puts on a brave face and smiles, as she wants to express her love and affection for her mother and to reassure her that they will see each other soon.

The smile may also signify the poet’s acceptance of the inevitable cycle of life and death. By smiling, she is acknowledging that life is fleeting and that one must cherish the moments they have with their loved ones. The parting words and the smile may be the poet’s way of expressing gratitude for her mother’s presence in her life and the love and support she has received from her.

Another Answer:

The poet puts on a facade of a smile and says her parting words to hide her true feelings of insecurity. Her mother’s pale and senile appearance triggers childhood fears of losing her, causing her to experience the pain of separation. Despite this, she bids her farewell in a pleasant manner and reassures her mother that everything will be fine until they meet again.

Extract Based Questions

Directions: Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:

Extract – 1

…but soon
put that thought away, and
looked out at Young
Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling
out of their homes, but after the airport’s
security check, standing a few yards
away, I looked again at her, wan, pale
as a late winter’s moon and felt that old
familiar ache, my childhood’s fear,

(a) Select the correct option.

The impact of ‘merry children’ on poet’s mind ………… .

(i) caused anxiety
(ii) created a sense of longing
(iii) brought comfort
(iv) reminded her of her own childhood

Answer: (iii) brought comfort

(b) The tone of the poet expressed in the above lines is:

(i) sadness and helplessness
(ii) excitement and eagerness
(iii) appreciation and gratitude
(iv) anger and anxiety

Answer: (i) sadness and helplessness

Answer: Fragility and weakening health due to old age.

(d) Complete the following sentence appropriately:

The poet looked at her mother again to …………….. .

Answer: To capture her image and feel a deep connection before parting.

(e) Explain one inference that can be drawn from the line ‘felt that old familiar ache’.

Answer: The poet is reminded of her childhood fear of losing her mother, indicating her deep emotional bond and sense of impending loss.

(f) ‘put that thought away’.

What is the intention of the poet that can be inferred from the above line?

Answer: The poet tries to distract herself from painful thoughts about her mother’s mortality by focusing on the outside world.

Extract- 2

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…

(i) What is the speaker’s emotional state when looking at her mother?

Options:
(A) Confused and disoriented
(B) Nostalgic and longing
(C) Empathetic and understanding
(D) Fearful and apprehensive

Answer: (D) Fearful and apprehensive

(ii) What does the use of the word “but” at the beginning of the line, ‘but all I said…’, suggest?

Answer: The word “but” suggests a contrast between the poet’s inner emotional turmoil and her outward actions. Despite feeling a deep fear of losing her mother, the poet outwardly tries to appear calm and composed by only saying a casual goodbye.

(iii) Select the word that WILL NOT complete the sentence appropriately.
The description of the mother as “wan, pale / as a late winter’s moon” creates a vivid image of ________.

Options:
(A) Vulnerability
(B) Sensitivity
(C) Frailty
(D) Mortality

Answer: (B) Sensitivity

(iv) State whether the given statement is TRUE or FALSE.
The poetic device used in the line, ‘pale as a winter’s moon’ is the same as the one used in the line, ‘the winter wind wistfully wailed at night’.

Answer: FALSE
Explanation: The first line uses simile (comparison using “as”), while the second line uses personification (attributing human qualities to the wind).

(v) What message do these lines highlight, in the context of familial relationships, and the speaker’s sense of anxiety and fear at the prospect of losing her mother?

Answer: The lines highlight the inevitability of aging and the transient nature of life. They convey the poet’s deep emotional bond with her mother and her fear of separation and mortality. It emphasizes cherishing family relationships and coping with the anxiety of losing loved ones.

(vi) Complete the sentence appropriately.
The repetition of the word, ‘smile’ suggests that

Answer: The repetition of the word, ‘smile’ suggests that the poet was making desperate efforts to mask her inner fears and sadness with a facade of positivity and composure.

Extract -3

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, and
looked out at Young
Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling
out of their homes,

(a) Identify the phrase that indicates youthful energy.

Answer: Young trees sprinting, the merry children spilling out of their homes.

(b) Which thought is the poet trying to put away?

(i) Missing the flight
(ii) Fear of losing her mother
(iii) Leaving her mother behind
(iv) Reaching Cochin
Answer: (ii) Fear of losing her mother

(i) she is curious
(ii) she is surprised
(iii) she was dead
(iv) she was dozing
Answer: (iv) she was dozing

(d) Complete the following analogy:

children spilling: metaphor :: ………. : personification
Answer: Young trees sprinting

(e) The sight of the trees and the children helped the poet ………. .

Answer: Distract herself from the painful thoughts about her mother’s aging and mortality.

(f) In the given extract, the phrase ‘realised with pain’ indicates the poet’s:

(i) anxiety
(ii) desperation
(iii) troubled past
(iv) ill-health
Answer: (i) anxiety

Extract – 4

but after the airport’s
security check, standing a few yards
away, 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……

(a) Choose the correct option:

In the above extract the narrator feels:

(i) satisfied
(ii) fearful
(iii) nostalgic
(iv) regretful

Answer: (iii) nostalgic

(b) Identify the word in the extract that means ‘colourless’.

Answer: Wan

She sang like a bird: Simile
All I did was smile and smile and smile: ……….

Answer: Repetition

(d) Read the following statement and choose the correct option:

(I) The poet had gone through the security check.
(II) She did not want to look at her mother.
(i) (I) is true, but (II) is false.
(ii) (I) is false, but (II) is true.
(iii) Both (I) and (II) are true.
(iv) Both (I) and (II) are false.

Answer: (i) (I) is true, but (II) is false.

(e) What childhood fear is the poet referring to?

Answer: The fear of separation and losing her mother.

(f) Fill in the blank with appropriate words with reference to the extract:

Pale as a winter’s moon suggests ………… .

Answer: The mother’s fragility and faded vitality, resembling the dim and lifeless appearance of a winter moon.

Extract – 5

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

(i) Where was the poetess driving to? Who was sitting beside her?

(a) The poetess was on her way back to Coimbatore. Her father was seated beside her in the car.
(b) The poetess was on her way back to Delhi. Her sister was seated beside her in the car.
(c) The poetess was on her way back to Cochin. Her mother was seated beside her in the car.
(d) The poetess was on her way back to Cochin. Her grandmother was seated beside her in the car.
Answer: (c) The poetess was on her way back to Cochin. Her mother was seated beside her in the car.

(ii) What did the poetess notice about her mother?

(a) Her face looked grey and ash coloured as that of a dead body.
(b) Her face looked pale and black coloured as that of a dead body.
(c) Her face looked grey and yellow coloured as that of a dead body.
(d) Her face looked pale and ash coloured as that of a dead body.
Answer: (d) Her face looked pale and ash coloured as that of a dead body.

(iii) Which thought made the poet feel painful?

(a) She thought that her mother would not live long.
(b) She thought that her mother would live long.
(c) She thought that her mother would suffer from illness.
(d) She thought that her mother would not talk to her.
Answer: (a) She thought that her mother would not live long.

(iv) Name the figure of speech used in the expression: ‘her face ashen like that of a corpse’.

(a) Metaphor
(b) Simile
(c) Oxymoron
(d) Personification
Answer: (b) Simile

Extract – 6

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 …

(i) Name the poet and the poem.

(a) Poem–A Thing of Beauty, Poet–John Keats
(b) Poem–Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers, Poet–Adrienne Rich
(c) Poem–Keeping Quiet, Poet–Pablo Neruda
(d) Poem–My Mother at Sixty–Six, Poet–Kamala Das

Answer: (d) Poem–My Mother at Sixty–Six, Poet–Kamala Das

(ii) What was the poet’s childhood fear?

(a) Shifting from parental house
(b) Losing mother
(c) Shifting to a new city
(d) Darkness

Answer: (b) Losing mother

(iii) What is the poetic device used in ‘as a late winter’s moon’?
(a) Personification
(b) Metaphor
(c) Simile
(d) Transferred epithet
Answer: (c) Simile

(iv) Explain: ‘late winter’s moon’.

(a) Poet’s mother was looking pale and dull as the late winter’s moon. Her face was covered with wrinkles, as winter moon misted and obscured with clouds.
(b) Poet’s mother was looking bright and cheery.
(c) Poet’s mother was looking pale and dull as the late winter’s moon. Her face was covered with dark patches.
(d) Poet’s mother was looking beautiful as the late winter’s moon. Her face was brightly lit, as winter moon shining among stars.

Answer: (a) Poet’s mother was looking pale and dull as the late winter’s moon. Her face was covered with wrinkles, as winter moon misted and obscured with clouds.

Extract – 7

I saw my mother,
beside me,
doze, open mouthed, her face
ashen like that
of a corpse and realised with
Pain

(a) Who does ‘I’ refer to?

Answer: ‘I’ refers to the poet, Kamala Das.

(b) What did ‘I’ realise with pain?

Options:
(i) That her mother is of sixty-six years now
(ii) That her children are playing outside
(iii) That her mother was ageing
(iv) None of these

Answer: (iii) That her mother was ageing

Options:

(i) Corpse
(ii) Doze
(iii) Ashen
(iv) Realised

Answer: (ii) Doze

(d) Identify the poetic device used in the above stanza.

Answer: The poetic device used is Simile (ashen like that of a corpse), where the poet compares her mother’s pale face to that of a corpse.

(e) “and realised with pain”. Why was there pain in the poet’s realisation?

Answer: The pain arose because the poet realized her mother was aging and frail, which made her face the harsh truth of her mother’s mortality. The sight of her mother’s frailty caused emotional discomfort for the poet.

(f) Which of the following rhyme schemes has been employed by the poet in the above stanza?

Options:

(i) ababab
(ii) free verse
(iii) abc abc
(iv) aabbaa

Answer: (ii) free verse

Extract – 8

. . . she looked but soon
put that thought away, and looked out at Young
Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling
out of their homes, . . .

(a) Which poetic device has been used in ‘trees sprinting’?

(i) Metaphor
(ii) Personification
(iii) Repetition
(iv) Simile

Answer: (ii) Personification

(b) What did the poet realise?

Answer: The poet realised that her mother was aging and appeared frail and lifeless.

(i) She was fine with it.
(ii) She tried to divert her thoughts.
(iii) This feeling was hard for her to accept.
(iv) None of these

Answer: (iii) This feeling was hard for her to accept.

(d) What did she do then?

Answer: The poet distracted herself by observing the outside world, such as the young trees and children.

(e) What does the poem not revolve around?

(i) Poet’s fears
(ii) Poet’s love for her mother
(iii) Theme of old age
(iv) Poet’s travel plans

Answer: (iv) Poet’s travel plans

(f) ‘put that thought away’. Which thought was put away?

Answer: The thought of her mother’s aging and the inevitable separation was put away by the poet.

Short answer questions

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’?
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, vigour, 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 colour, 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?
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…’?

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.
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 colour 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.

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?

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.

Long Answer Questions

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?

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, shrivelled 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, vigour 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.

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 born 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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