A PHOTOGRAPH
II. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING:
1.The poet talks about a particular cardboard. How is it special to her?
Ans:The poet talks about a particular cardboard to which is pasted her mother’s photograph
taken at the sea beach. The mother seems to have been enjoying her sea holiday. The
photograph is special as she has lost her mother sometime back and looking at the
photograph makes her happy as well as sad.
2.The poet’s mother would laugh looking at the photograph. Why?
Ans:The poet’s mother was in middle age when she looked at that photograph and used to
laugh remembering those golden days of her childhood, enjoying a sea holiday. She would
also laugh at the beach dresses which looked weird after many years.
3. Why does the poet feel nostalgic?
Ans:The poet sees an old photograph of her mother in which she was standing on the beach
with her two cousins — Dolly and Betty. They were enjoying themselves. The photograph
captured her mother’s sweet and smiling face. At that time, she was around twelve years old.
The poet remembers how her mother used to laugh whenever she looked at that old
photograph. But time has passed and now the poet has been left only with the memories of
her mother. Thus, she feels nostalgic
4. Comment on the tone of the poem.
Ans:The tone of the poem is that of sadness. Shirley Toulson looks at an old photograph of
her mother and is sadly reminded of her mother who is no more. She mentions about death
of her mother indirectly only but this photograph has made her speechless and silent.
II. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING IN DETAIL:
1. ‘Both wry with the laboured ease of loss.’ The poet is missing her mother. What is
the role of the mother in forming the personality of a child?
Ans: A mother’s role in shaping the personality of a child is of paramount importance. The
child watches his/ her mother intently and learns about the world and how to react to it at the
initial stages. The mother can play an important role by making the child to deal
constructively with mistakes, forgive others, handle frustration, show kindness and share
love. When a mother is nurturing and caring the child, it will develop a healthy bond with
not only the mother but will be willing to form new relationships with others. Children and
adults both want a sense of independence and autonomy. It is very important on a mother’s
part to offer choices to the child. This makes the child feel that he/she is smart enough to
make choices. The mother’s thoughts nourish a child’s mind and soul as her personal
attention nourishes a child’s body. She is a child’s first teacher. She tries to imbibe such
values that may help a child lifelong.
2.Happy moments are short-lived but provide a lifetime memory. They provide a
cushion to bear the difficulties which the future has in store for you. Comment in the
light of the poem ‘A Photograph’ by Shirley Toulson.
Ans: Our life is a mixture of happy as well as adverse times. We must learn to move on with
the help of those happy memories which provided us with so much enjoyment and
happiness. As life is not a bed of roses, everyone at one stage or another is likely to face
difficulties. At the time of difficulties, happy moments can give us solace and fill us with
positivity which is required during difficult times. Happy moments will certainly provide us
with a hope that, as happy moments are short-lived, so are difficult times. One must learn to
cope with the situation. The memories of happy times can provide us a cushion to bear
difficulties with patience and peace.
