Short important questions
Q. 1. What is the central theme of the poem?
The central theme revolves around the inevitability of aging, the fear of separation, and the
complex emotions associated with a mother-daughter relationship, particularly when
facing the reality of mortality.
Q. 2. How does the poet describe her mother’s appearance?
The poet describes her mother as “pale and ashen,” resembling a “late winter’s moon”. This
image symbolizes the fading vitality and frailty of old age.
Q. 3. What do the “sprinting trees” signify?
The “sprinting trees” represent the energy and vitality of the natural world, contrasting with
the mother’s dozing and passive state.
Q. 4. What do the “merry children spilling out of their homes” symbolize?
These children represent the joy and energy of life, contrasting with the mother’s aging and
the poet’s own feelings of melancholy.
Q.5. How does the poet’s smile and parting words to her mother reflect her real feelings?
The poet’s smile and reassurances are a deliberate attempt to hide her true feelings of fear
and sadness, which are rooted in her childhood fear of losing her mother.
Q. 6. What is the significance of the “late winter’s moon” simile?
The simile highlights the mother’s age and the fading of life, mirroring the season’s end and
the inevitability of death.
7. What emotions does the poet experience during the journey?
The poet experiences a complex mix of emotions, including sadness, fear, and a sense of
loss as she observes her mother’s aging and contemplates the possibility of her absence.
Q. 8. What is the overall message of the poem?
The poem explores the universal themes of aging, mortality, and the bond between a
mother and child, highlighting the emotional impact of facing the reality of aging and
separation.
Q. 9. How did Kamala Das put away the thought of her mother’s old age?
Ans: The poet started looking out of the window because she wanted to drive away the pain
and agony she was experiencing by looking at her aged mother. She looked outside at the
world which was full of life and activity. She saw young trees running past her and merry
children sprinting out of their homes to play.
Q. 10. What childhood fear did Kamala Das refer to in her poem? How did she hide it?
Answer:
Kamala Das childhood fear was that she would lose her mother to the cruel hands of death
and thus would be separated from her forever. She attempts to hide her fear through her
elongated and superficial smile.
Long 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.
Q. 2. 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.
Q. 3.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.
