Unity Academy

Subject: English(FL) For Practice Date: 31/01/2025

Standard: 12 Marks: 00
Chapter: 1 to 5 Poem (Long Question Answer) Exam Time: 00

Section - A
‣ Answers the following questions in about four to five sentences each. (00)
01. What poetic devices have been used by Kamala Das in ‘My Mother at Sixty-six’?
02. Why does the poet smile and what does she say while bidding good bye to her mother?
03. How does Kamala Das try to put away the thoughts of her ageing mother?
04. What is the poet’s familiar ache and why does it return?
05. Why is the poet’s mother compared to the late winter’s moon?
06. Where was the poet going and who was with her?
07. What was the poet’s childhood fear?
08. What does the poet’s mother look like? What kind of images has the poet used to signify her ageing decay?
09. What does the poet realize with pain ? Why does the poet ‘put that thought away’ and look outside?
10. Describe the world inside the car and compare it to the activities taldng place outside?
11. Which is the exotic moment that the poet refers to in ‘Keeping Quiet’
12. According to the poet what can we learn from the nature?
13. Justify the title ‘Keeping Quiet’.
14. Under the apparent stillness there is life. Justify this statement giving an example from the poem ‘Keeping
Quiet’.
15. What does the poet ask the fisherman and the man collecting salt to dot What Docs In-exactly want to convey
by this?
16. What are the different kinds of war mentioned in this poem?
17. What alternative does Pablo Neruda suggest instead of indulging in wars?
18. How does the poet distinguish ‘stillness’ from ‘total inactivity? Why does Neruda say’ I want no truck with
death’?
19. Why shouldn’t we “speak in any language” and “not move our arms so much”?
20. Why does Pablo Neruda urge us to keep still?
21. List the things the cause suffering and pain.
22. List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.
23. What makes human beings love life in spite of all troubles?
24. What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth?
25. What is the message of the ‘A Thing of Beauty’?
26. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings?
27. Keats feels that Nature binds us to the Earth. How does he justify this?
28. Which objects of nature does Keats mention as sources of joy in his poem ‘A Thing of Beauty’?
29. What does a thing of beauty do for us?
30. What does Keats consider an endless fountain of immortal drink and why does he call its drink immortal?
31. Why do the people at the roadside stand talk ‘crossly’ with the rich people?
32. Why are the poor people angry with the city men when they ask for gas?
33. What is the most queer demand of the rich man at the roadside stand ? How is it queer?
34. What do you understand by ‘farmer’s prices’ ? Who want to know that and why?
35. How do the poor people react to the squeal of brake in front of the roadside stand?
36. What are the two significant roles of money in the lives of the poor people?
37. How does money become the ‘requisite lift of spirit for the country men?
38. Why can’t the poet help ‘own’ the relief of helping the poor out of their poverty at one stroke?

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39. How do the influential rich destroy the sleep of the poor? How is this done in the ancient times?
40. Why does the poet seek an unrealistic solution for the poor people’s distress even though he himself blamed
them earlier for their ‘childish longing in vain’?
41. ‘The tigers represent Aunt Jennifer’s spirit and her hands represent her reality’ How?
42. How is Aunt Jennifer different from her tigers?
43. What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers when she is dead?
44. Why does Aunt Jennifer create animals that are so different from her own character?
45. Why did Aunt Jennifer choose to embroider tigers on the panel?
46. What are the difficulties that Aunt Jennifer faced in her life?
47. What will happen when Aunt Jennifer is dead?
48. Why has Aunt Jennifer made ‘prancing, proud and unafraid’ tigers?
49. What lies heavily on Aunt Jennifer’s hand? How is it associated with her husband?
50. What are the examples in the poem that suggest that Aunt Jennifer found her life a great challenge?

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 ANSWERS

Subject: English(FL) For Practice Date: 31/01/2025

Standard: 12 Marks: 00
Chapter: 1 to 5 Poem (Long Question Answer) Exam Time: 00

Section - A

‣ Answers the following questions in about four to five sentences each. (00)
01. The poem ‘My Mother at Sixty-six’ is rich in imagery Kamala Das uses the devices of comparison and
contrast. The use of simile is very effective. The face of the poet’s old mother is described as ‘ashen’. This
ashen face is ‘like that of a corpse’. The poet uses another simile. The “wan, pale’ face of the mother is
compared to ‘a late winter’s moon’. The poem excels in contrasts. The old ‘dozing’ lady inside is contrasted
with the young trees “sprinting” and merry children “spilling” out of their homes.
02. The ‘wan’, ‘pale’, face of the poet’s mother at sixty-six brings an image of decay and death. It brings that old
familiar fear of separation back. She fears the ultimate fate of human beings. But she has to put on a brave
face. She regains self-control. She composes herself and tries to look normal. She utters the words of
assurance that they will meet again soon. She tries to hide her ache and fear by smiling continuously.
03. Kamala Das was in much trouble after seeing the lifeless and faded face of her mother. The old lady seemed
to be lost in her own thoughts. The poetess turned away her attention from her mother and looked outside.
The outside world was full of life and activity The young trees seemed to be running fast. The children looked
happy while moving out of their homes.
04. The poet is pained at the ageing and decaying of her mother. The fear is that with ageing comes decay and
death. The sight of her old mother’s ‘ashen’ and corpse-like face arouses “that old familiar ache” in her heart.
Her childhood fear returns. She is also pained and frightened by the idea that she may have to face all these
things herself.
05. The poet’s mother has been compared to the late winter’s moon to bring out the similarity of ageing and
decay The late winter moon looks hazy and obscure. It lacks shine and strength. The poet’s mother has an
‘ashen’ face resembling a corpse. She has lost her shine and strength of youth. The comparison reinforces the
impact.
06. The poet was driving from her parent’s home to the Cochin airport. The poet’s mother had come to see her
off. She was sitting beside her. She was dozing with her mouth open. The words ‘driving’ and ‘doze’ provide a
contrast between images of dynamic activity and static passivity respectively.
07. The child is always in fear of being separated from his parents. In the same way, the poet’s fear as a child was
that of losing her mother or her company.
08. The poet’s mother is sixty-six years old. She is sitting beside the poet and dozing with her mouth open. This is
a sign of old age. Usually old people keep their mouth open to overcome breathing problems. Her face looked
pale and faded like ash. Actually, she is an image of death as her ‘ashen’ face looks like that of a corpse.
09. The lifeless and faded face of the poet’s mother pains her heart. She looks lifeless like a corpse. She provides
an image of passivity decay and death. The old lady seems to be lost in her thoughts. The poet needs a
distraction, a change. She puts that thought away and looks outside. There she gets a picture of life, happiness
and activity
10. The pale and faded face of the poet’s mother looks lifeless like a corpse. Her dozing with mouth wide open
suggests passivity decay and death. Outside the car, the poet watches young trees speeding past them. They
seem to be running fast or sprinting. Happy children are moving out of their homes cheerftilly. They present
an image of life, dynamism and activity
11. The poet talks about the exotic moment when everyone keeps quiet. There will be no rush for a second. The
machines must stop for a moment. That moment will be fascinating for all of us. All of us shall enjoy the
sudden V strangeness of the moment together.
12. Nature teaches us a lot of things. We must learn that all things are bound together and depend on each other
for their survival. We should introspect ourselves by remaining calm and composed. This way the nature
teaches us to be quiet and still. It is of no use to obstruct others in their work. We should grow and develop at
our own pace and place. We must be contented with what we have or possess. The nature teaches us to be
devoid of greed because the need by greed is cause for grief.
13. The title of the poem is quite appropriate and logical. It suggests the necessity of quiet introspection. The
people of the world are overactive and always on the move. Their activities have caused untold troubles and
sufferings. Keeping quiet will do them a lot of good. It will save them from many harmful and violent
activities. Moreover, it will help in reflecting over the fate of man and help in creating a feeling of mutual
understanding among human beings.

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14. Neruda does not equate stillness with total inactivity He believes that under this apparent stillness there is
life. We can learn it from the earth. When everything seems dead, the earth still remains alive. The earth is
never dead. The life on the earth goes on as usual under the apparent stillness.
15. Pablo Neruda is against any kind of violence. He addresses the fishermen and asks them not to harm whales
living in the cold seas of the Polar Regions. He is also against any kind of self-torturing. The man who is
gathering salt has hinted his hands He asks this man to look after himself and take care of his injured hands.
16. The poet is against wars of all kinds. He wants a total stoppage of war. Green wars against the environment,
wars with poisonous gases and wars with. fire must be terminated (stopped) at once.
17. Instead of indulging in wars, the people must come out in their best dresses with then- brothers. They should
go out for a walk under the shady trees and enjoy themselves doing nothing. This would bring the feeling of
togetherness among them.
18. Pablo Neruda is in favour of stillness or silence. We remain still and quiet for some time. On the other hand,
total inactivity is a permanent suspension of work. It is just like death. ‘Stillness’ should not be confused with
..‘total inactivity’. Life goes on as usual. There can’t be anything like total inactivity. The poet refuses to
associate with death or deal with it.
19. People of the world speak in different languages. They indulge in unnecessary debates and disputes. Most of
these arguments lead to destructive wars. The poet urges people to stop speaking in any language. They must
speak through their hearts. So far men have moved their arms only to harm others. Therefore, the poet wants
that they should not move their arms so much. Let these arms rest for once. Let a feeling of mutual
understanding, be created among human beings.
20. Stillness is essential for calm reflection and quiet introspection. We hear the voice of conscience in moments
of silence. The poet is convinced that most of human troubles and miseries are caused by man’s hurry and
rush to do things. The poet wishes that we may withdraw ourselves from our undesirable actions and keep
still for a moment.
21. The things that cause suffering and pain are dark phases of our life like depression, disappointment, adverse
circumstances, gloomy days, the death of noble people and ill, health.
22. The things of beauty are the sun, the moon, old and new trees, sheep, daffodils, green world, clear streams,
musk roses that bloom among the thick forest ferns, deeds of our noble ancestors’ tales that we have heard or
read.
23. In spite of all the sufferings, a thing of beauty helps us to remove the cover of gloom or darkness from our
lives.
24. The poet creates the image of ‘an endless fountain of immortal drink’ that pours joys on to us from the edge
of heaven. These are the beautiful things in nature or man-made objects that he calls ‘immortal drink’.
25. Keats, an ardent lover of nature, in his poem refers to the powers of nature. He urges man to realize that
these powers make life enjoyable and worth living. He tells us how a thing of beauty provides joy.
26. Human beings love life because nature is the best healer and it brings beauty and joy to our lives. The
memory of beautiful experiences helps us to bear our sorrows.
27. Keats feels that man has a strong bond with nature. Despite the gloom and suffering, man is connected to the
earth. A flowery band ties us to the earth. This band is a thing of beauty and metaphorically made of flowers
and brings joy. There is an affinity between things of beauty in nature and in man.
28. Keats talks about various bounties of nature which act as a source of joy in our lives. These are the sun, the
moon, old and new trees, even the simple things like sheep, daffodils, clear springs of water, etc.
29. Human life is full of despondency, disappointments, tribulation and loss of faith which brings sadness. It is
only beautiful things which lift this veil of gloom and make life worth living by bringing joy, hope and
optimism in life.
30. Keats considers the joy provided by nature as a never-ending fountain which uplifts the spirits of human
beings. The beauty of nature is a constant source of pleasure and delight to the human mind and is like an
immortal drink from heaven.
31. The poor people sometimes become angry with the rich people. The latter refuse to buy the wild berries at
the stand at a price demanded by the owners of the stand. They indulge in bargain and blame the berries and
squash. But the poor, who know the rich people are so mean, grow angry at their unwillingness to help them
by parting with a little amount of their money.
32. The roadside stand has the store of wild berries, squash and paintings which are never bought by the city
men. On the contrary the city men require a gallon of gas and the roadside stand does not have it for sale.
This helplessness makes the poor people angry
33. The insensitive city man demands a gallon of gas at the roadside stand. This is queer because the city man is
not aware of the fact that the poor man cannot provide him with expensive items such as gas.
34. Farmer’s prices refer to the wages for which the farmer could be hired to work in the city Farmer’s prices can
also refer to the prices of the berries, squash and paintings displayed at the roadside stand for sale.

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35. At the sound of the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car, the poor people at the stand feel their spirits
cheered at the possible arrival of a customer to buy their things.
36. Money is the measuring rode of growth for the village people. They estimate their economic growth by means
of the small amount of money at hand. Similarly, money is necessary for a villager to feel confident. He feels a
‘lift of spirit with money in reach.
37. Money is the most important requirement for man in the modem world. If one has money at hand then he
feels confident and a feeling of his spirit being lifted.
38. The poet wants to see that the poor people are given some kind of help and support by the rich people but he
knows that this would not happen. When he fails to see this, he allows himself to dream that these poor
people have been helped by some supernatural powers to alleviate their miseries.
39. The influential rich people give the poor great promises and exploit them to make profit out of them. This
destroys the sleep of the poor people. This method of the rich and mighty is as old as the human civilizations.
40. The poet, unlike the greedy good-doers, genuinely wishes to get the poor people out of their pain, poverty and
endless miseries but he is sad and helpless to see that there is no one to help thein come out of their poverty.
This helplessness drives the poet to seek an unrealistic solution for the poor people’s misery.
41. The tigers that Aunt Jennifer created represent her spirit. She was bold and confident in her spirit. But her
hands trembled and could not pull the needle which depicts her reality. She was oppressed and dominated by
her . husband in real life. Her hidden desire to break free is defected in the tiger’s silk embroidered.
42. Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are fearless and confident, whereas Aunt Jennifer is submissive and subdued Aunt
Jennifer is terrified of the patriarchal society in which she lived. She is oppressed by her husbands she is
meek and weak, unlike the tigers who are chivafric and enjoy freedom.
43. The tigers that Aunt Jennifer has embroidered will outlive her. They will keep on moving blatantly,
confidently and intrepidly even after her death as they belong to the piece of art which is immortal.
44. Aunt Jennifer used her art as a medium to vent out her oppressed feelings. She made the tigers which were
confident and majestic. She had been a victim of male chauvinism and was submissive and subdued. But she
wanted to be free and liberated like tigers. That’s why she created animals that were so different from her
own character.
45. Aunt Jennifer lived an oppressed life. But she wanted to have a life of freedom and wanted to be confident
and bold. In order to express his inner feelings and longings of her heart, she embroidered tigers on the
panel.
46. Aunt Jennifer was dominated by her husband. She was denied every kind of freedom and was oppressed. In
the male-dominated society, Aunt Jennifer was subjugated to all kinds of oppression and enslaved.
47. The tigers that she has made will remain the same even when Aunt Jennifer is dead. They will still remain on
the panel prancing with confidence and chivalry. In fact, it refers tO the masculine world which suppressed
her will continue to enjoy the freedom which was denied to her.
48. Aunt Jennifer has tried to express herself through her art. She has created proud, prancing, unafraid tigers on
her panel because she wants herself to be like her tigers, confident and have the freedom to live her life in
her own way.
49. The ‘wedding ring’ lies heavily on Aunt Jennifer’s hand. This is associated with her husband because his
dominant behaviour has oppressed Aunt Jennifer and has made this ‘wedding ring’ a heavy burden for her.
50. The poem suggests that Aunt’s life was full of hardships and difficulties. She was a victim of male oppression
and seemed to have suffered a lot at uncle’s hands. Uncle is a symbol of a male-dominated society The
reference to ‘fiuttering fingers’, ‘needle hard to pull’ massive weight of ‘ordeals’ suggests her challenges.

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