Access NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo Poem 1 “My Mother at Sixty-Six” Q&A effortlessly. Explore the poem’s poignant reflection on aging through well-crafted answers. These solutions are indispensable for comprehensive exam preparation, offering insights into the poem’s themes, emotions, and literary techniques. Immerse yourself in the verses of “My Mother at Sixty-Six” with expertly curated solutions, refining your analytical and interpretive skills in the process.
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo Poem – 1 My Mother at Sixty – Six Questions and Answers
THINK IT OUT ➤➤➤
1. What is the kind of pain and the ache that the poet feels?
Answer: The poet experiences profound anguish and sorrow stemming from the dread of parting with her mother. During her childhood, the poet harbored a fear of being separated from her beloved mother. Presently, as her mother grows old and frail, the poetess is burdened with the sorrow of an imminent loss. It seems evident that her mother’s life may not extend much longer.
2. Why are the young trees described as ‘sprinting’?
Answer: Seated inside the car, the poet gazes out of the window, perceiving the trees in the distance swiftly receding as if engaged in a race. The sight of the youthful trees triggers memories of her own fleeting youth, which seems to have swiftly passed by. These trees also serve as a poignant reminder of carefree children, merrily running about, while the elderly, like her mother, find themselves unable to move with the same agility.
3. Why has the poet brought in the image of the merry children spilling out of their homes’?
Answer: The cheerful children stand in stark contrast to the elderly mother seated beside the poetess. The mother’s pallid countenance sharply juxtaposes the rosy faces of the lively children. It serves as a profound reminder of the inevitable passage of time—a constant reminder of change. While the young children exude happiness, the weathered faces of the aged reflect a sense of melancholy. Nevertheless, both these aspects, the exuberance of youth and the wisdom of age, constitute integral parts of life’s journey.
4. Why has the mother been compared to the ‘late winter’s moon’?
Answer: The mother has been likened to the late winter’s moon due to its frail and chilly appearance in this sea of darkness. Much like an elderly person, the moon seems to have lost the radiance it once possessed during the summer season. In contrast, during the summer, the same moon shines brilliantly, akin to a joyful and vibrant child.
The comparison draws upon the parallel between the changing phases of the moon and the stages of life experienced by a person, where youth may be likened to the brightness of summer, while old age may resemble the subdued and cold demeanor of late winter.
5. What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?
Answer: As the poetess bids her final words and offers a smile, it becomes evident that her spoken expressions fall short of adequately conveying her emotions. Behind that smile lies a profound pain, born from the fear of an inevitable separation from her aged and feeble mother. The poetess grapples with the inability of words to fully capture the depth of her feelings and the weight of the impending farewell. The tender connection between mother and daughter makes this impending parting all the more poignant and difficult to bear.