FLAMINGO - POETRY

MY MOTHER AT SIXTY-SIX
Summary
One last Friday morning, the poetess was driving from her parents‟ home to the
Cochin airport. Her mother was sitting beside her in the car. She suddenly had a look
at her mother. She found that her mother was dozing with her open mouth. Her face
was as pale as that of a corpse. The poet painfully realized that her mother is not
going to live long. This painful thought haunted her. But soon she tried to put it off by
looking out of the car window. She saw the young trees running past them. She
looked at the merry children coming out of their homes. As she saw life and vitality in
the outside world, the painful thought passed away from her mind.
After reaching the airport, she went through the security check. Her mother was
standing outside a few yards away. After the security check, she looked at her
mother again. Her face was pale white like a late winter‟s moon. She felt the old
familiar ache of childhood in her heart which is usually felt by a child due to the fear
of separation from his/ her mother. But she contained herself and kept on smiling in
order to conceal her emotions. She spoke no word to her mother. All that she said
was, “See you soon, Amma” and bade good bye to her mother with a hope to see
her again.
Main points
1. Poetess travelling to Cochin airport with her mother in a car.
2. Looks at the wan, pale face of her dozing mother.
3. Old fear of loosing her mother returns.
4. Sprinting trees and merry children provide the contrast and relief.
5. After the security check the old familiar ache returns.
6. Tries to hide her emotions by smiling.
7. Bids good bye to her mother with a hope to see her again.
Questions for Comprehension
Q1. Where was the poet driving to? Who was sitting beside her?

Ans. The poet was driving to Cochin. The poet‟s mother was sitting beside her.

Q2. What did the poet notice about the mother?

Ans. She noticed that her mother was weak, pale and unconscious like a dead body.

Q3. How does the poet describe her mother in the poem?

Ans. The poet describes her mother as an old lady who has become pale, weak and
worn out. She often dozes and remains unconscious about herself like a dead body.

Q4. Why does the poet look outside? What activities does the poet see outside
the car window?

Ans. The poet feels very sad thinking that her mother is nearing death. This painfum
thought makes her worried and anxious. So in order to divert her attention from her
mother, she looks outside.The poet sees young trees running past them. She also

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sees little children coming out of their homes in a merry mood. She sees life and
vitality in the outside world.

Q5. Why are the young trees described as „sprinting‟?

Ans. The young trees are described as sprinting‟ as the movement of the racing car
makes the trees appear as if they are running along.

Q6. Why is the mother compared to the late winter‟s moon?

Ans. The mother is compared to the late winter‟s moon because like the moon of
winter season, the poet‟s mother also looks pale, dull and grayish.

Q6. What childhood fears do you think, the poet is referring to in the poem?

Ans. The poet feels uneasy and unprotected with the thought of losing her mother.
She does not expect to see her mother again on her return. So she shows a childish
unwillingness to leave her mother.

Q7. Why has the poet brought in the image of the merry children „spilling out
of their homes‟?

Ans. The poet, Kamala Das, has used the image of merry children spilling out of
their homes to bring a contrast between the old age and childhood. Her mother‟s
pale, colourless face stands for old and fading age. Merry children symbolise the
spring of life, vigour and happiness. They also symbolize spontaneity of life in
contrast to the passive and inactive life of her aged mother.

Q8. What does Kamala Das do after the security check up? What does she
notice?

Ans. After the security check up, the poet stands a few yards away from her mother
and gazes at her mother. She notices the declining age and finds her pale and worn
out than ever before.

Q9. The poet compares her mother to many things. Pick out two similes which
reinforce this comparison.

Ans. The two similes are: “Her face ashen like that of a corpse.”
“I looked again at her wan, pale as a late winter‟s moon”

Q10. What image does the poet use to describe death in the poem?
Ans. The poet uses the image “corpse” to describe death in the poem.

Q11. Cite an example of one device of contrast that the poet uses in the poem.

Ans. The device of contrast that the poet uses in the poem is old age of her mother
and the young trees and children playing merrily. The poet compares youth, energy,
vitality and jubilance of childhood.

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Q12. What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?

Ans. The poets parting words, „see you soon, Amma‟ are expressive of the dilemma
and confusion in her mind. They not only hide her anxiety and fear about her
mother‟s rather frail health but reflect also a faint hope that the old woman would
survive long enough for the two to meet again.

Q13. Why did the poet say “see you soon Amma”? What does the poet actually
mean by „smile and smile and smile….‟? What kind of smile is it?

Ans. The poet said, “See you soon Amma” in order to give her mother moral support
and encouragement. She said so to give her mother hope that she would see her
again. By “smile and smile and smile…” she means to make herself and her mother
hopeful to see each other again. It is actually a painful smile. The poet tries to
conceal the swelling emotions by smiling. By using this poetic device of repetition,
the poet has made the poetic language rich by depicting many hidden emotions
through “smile”.

Q14. Discuss mother- daughter relationship as described in the poem.

Ans. Mother- daughter relationship as described in the poem is very sensitive and
full of love, care and emotions. Mother has a deep emotional link to her children and
does not want them to be away. In particular, when the mother reaches her old age,
she becomes more concerned and worried about her children. Daughter also tends
to bear a specific kind of emotional link to her mother. She tries to remain close to
her mother and feels very bad and worried when separated from her. In this poem,
the mother does not want her daughter to leave her; similarly the daughter gives a
mysterious and indefinable smile which is to show unwillingness and anxiety of
leaving her mother.

Q15. “My Mother at sixty six” is an emotional account of the poet about her old
mother. Discuss.

Ans. “My Mother at sixty six” is an emotional account of the poet about her old
mother. She feels very sad and depressed on seeing her pale, weak and worn out.
She tries her best to divert her thought but remains unsuccessful and this thought
haunts her mind every now and then. Till the end of the poem, she feels very sad
and disappointed about the declining age of her mother. She is unable to express
her fears and emotions to her mother with the thought of disheartening her. She bids
goodbye to her mother by just smiling in order to hide her hurt feelings and
encourage her mother.

Important Extracts
Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow:
…..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 …….

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Questions:

Q1. Who looked wan and pale? Why?

Ans. The poet‟s mother looked wan and pale due to her old age.

Q2. What is the comparison in the stanza?

Ans. The mother‟s wan and pale face has been compared to the late winter‟s moon.

Q3. What is her childhood‟s fear?

Ans. It is the fear of ageing and approaching death of her mother.

Q4. Which figure of speech is used in the second line?

Ans. Simile – as a late winter‟s moon.

Q5. How does she comfort/ console her mother?

Ans. She smiled and promised to see her mother soon.

Q6. What is the significance of the parting words?

Ans. These words signify hope and expectation to see her again.

Q7. What kind of pain/ ache does the poetess feel?

Ans. She feels pain on seeing wan and pale face of her mother. It appears she will
not live long.

Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow:
………..I saw my mother, beside me,
Doze, open mouthed, her face ashen like that
Of a corpse and realised with pain
That she thought away, and looked but soon
Put that thought away, and looked out at young
Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling
Out of their homes, ………………

Q1. Where was the poet driving to? Who was sitting beside her?
Ans. The poet was driving from her parent‟s home to the Cochin airport. Her mother
was sitting beside her.

Q2. What did the mother look like?

Ans. Her old mother look sick, drowsy and lifeless like a dead body.

Q3. What thought did she put away?

Ans. She put away her fear that she would not live long.

Q4. What do the sprinting trees signify?

Ans. The “sprinting tress” signify the vitality of youth.

Q5. What are “the merry children spilling out of their homes” symbolic of?
Ans. The “merry children spilling out of their homes” are symbolic of carefree
childhood when all time is playtime.

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AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM IN A SLUM

Detailed Analysis of the Poem

Stanza – 1

The poem describes an elementary school class room in a slum. These slum
children look very pathetic. Their faces are pale and reflect sadness. They are „like
rootless weeds‟ as they lack proper nutrition. Moreover, they are unwanted plants
which grow on their own without being cared for, totally neglected. The tall girl has a
„weighed – down head‟ as she is burdened with the load of poverty. In fact she is so
subdued and suppressed that her head had bowed down with the burden of her
misfortunes. The „paper thin‟ – extremely thin boy has „rat‟s eyes‟ because the poor
undernourished boy is deprived of all the basic amenities of life. He is timid like a rat
and full of anxiety, he searches for food and security. This unfortunate boy suffers
from malnutrition and his growth is also „stunted‟ – not properly developed. He has
also inherited from his father „twisted bones‟ – bent and distorted bones. He has
inherited the poverty, disease and despair from his parents. His body is also
deformed because of the twisted bones which he has inherited. He appears to be as
sick as his parents. There is a sweet tender looking student who sits at the back of
the class. This boy is different from the others as „his eyes live‟ in a dream – he is
dreaming and probably thinking about a better future. He is lost in his own world,
therefore, not sad like the others. This boy thinks of the „squirrel‟s game‟ (metaphor).
He wants to enjoy and play freely like the squirrel in the garden outside. The squirrel
climbs trees and hides in their holes. The boy also dreams to be free but he cannot
as he must sit in the dull and dreary classroom. In the boys imagination „tree room‟ –
the hollow in a tree, is full of fun, curiosity and mystery. This is in contrast to the
gloomy classroom.

Stanza – 2

The classroom is not well maintained. The pale cream walls which were painted
long ago with the help of donations, make the place look more miserable and sad.
Probably there is a portrait of Shakespeare on the wall. This is ironical as it is put up
in a place where there is no serious teaching. „Cloudless dawn‟ and „civilized dome‟
suggest the monotonous life in the slum. These slums are surrounded by the
civilized city and the children cannot experience the beauty of the sky at dawn and
are unaware of it. All around them are concrete structures of the cities. The life in the
slum contrasts with the cloudless sky at dawn and concrete structures which
override the cities. There is also a picture of a beautiful valley full of sweet fragrant
flowers and these children of the slum will never be able to experience this beauty.
They are deprived of this beauty as they are condemned to live in the slums amidst
garbage. The „open-handed map‟ in the classroom contrasts with their world. The
world given to us by god is full of all the bounties whereas the world of these slum
children is full of poverty and hunger. The world which they see is not the real world.
Their world is confined to the narrow, dusty streets of the slum. The map in the
classroom gives them hopes and aspirations and motivates them to explore the
world but they will never be able to see that world. These children can get the

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glimpse of the outside world from the windows and it is far beyond their reach. They
are far away from nature. These slum children have a bleak and foggy future in store
for them. „Their future is painted with a fog‟ – it is blurred by hopelessness. There is
no hope for the slum children. Instead of the normal blue sky they live under the
„lead sky‟ – dark and dull, polluted – shows there is no hope for them. The
atmosphere hints at their monotonous life and the slum children remain confined
throughout their lives confined to the filth and dirt of the narrow slum streets. They
are away from the glory of natural beauty of the rivers, mountains, stars etc.

Stanza 3

The children of the slum are fighting the battle of life unarmed. They are troubled by
disease and despair. For them Shakespeare is „wicked‟ and „map‟ a bad example‟.
The literary excellence of Shakespeare and the scenic beauty portrayed in the map
cannot relieve them from their despair. For these slum children, literary excellence is
a far-fetched thing and hence seems wicked. The map on the wall gives them false
aspirations as it makes them aware of the beautiful world given by god. The world of
these children is confined to the narrow streets of the slums. Therefore, map is „a
bad example‟. They feel cheated in being deprived of the thrilling sensations of the
sun, the ships, and the emotions of love. The „ship‟, „sun‟ and „love‟ symbolize joy
and happiness which these children are deprived of. Their only experience is that of
hunger and poverty. To reach out to the world beyond, these children are sometimes
tempted to adopt wrong means even stealing to fulfill their dreams.
These slum children live in cramped holes, striving and struggling for survival in the
small, dirty rooms from „fog to endless night‟ – from foggy mornings till long endless
nights, trying to meet both ends. The slum children live on „slag heaps‟ – piles of
waste material. Their world is full of dirt and garbage. These children are very weak
and undernourished. They look like skeletons as their bones peep through their thin
skin.
They wear „spectacles of steel with mended glass‟ – discarded spectacles by the
rich, mended (repaired) and worn.
Their life is like „bottle bits on stones – shattered and broken like bits of bottle on a
stone. They are deprived of even the basic amenities of life. Their world is comprised
of the foggy slums where they live nightmares. Slums are the reality for these
children, their home, where they spend their life. The maps displayed in their
classroom are no reality for them. They cannot locate their slum in that map. It is
urgently required to give these slum inhabitants means and opportunities to lead a
dignified and civilized life.

Stanza – 4

The elementary school in the slum exists for name sake. The infrastructure is poor
with hardly any serious teaching. The school springs in activity only when a
governor, a school inspector or a visitor comes on a round of the school. The
administrative machinery of the school also gears up at that time. Then the map
becomes their window from where they can see the world beyond their slums. Since
they are confined to the slums, these sights and glimpses are shut upon them as
they are deprived of all opportunities and means. Their lives are shut up in the
cemeteries of these slums where they slither and slog to make both ends meet. The
poet hopes that these children will break free from their morbid life, from the chains

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of the slums. He appeals to those in power to liberate these children from the
miserable slums and enable them to breathe in the fresh, beautiful and healthy
environment away from the foggy slums. They should be able to bask in the open
green fields and let them run free on the golden sands. Their world should not be
confined to the horrendous and gory slums. The poet visualizes freedom for these
children. He wants a carefree life where they get economic and social justice, where
they have the right to be happy. These slum children should be able to enjoy the
fundamental right of education otherwise their lives will be miserable. They should be
able to learn not from the books alone but also from the world, the nature around
them.
The poet ends on a note of positivity and wants opportunities to be available to these
children. The people who strive for knowledge are the ones who create history. The
ones who are let free are the ones who will create history. People who outshine
others, who glow like the sun, who break free from the constraints of their restricted
life are the ones who create history.

Important Extracts
Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow:

The stunted, unlucky heir of twisted bones, reciting a father’s

Gnarled disease, His lessons from his desk. At back of the dim class
One unnoted, sweet and young. His eyes live in a dream,
Of Squirrel’s game, in the tree room, other than this.

Questions:

Q1. Who is the unlucky heir? Why is he called unlucky?

Ans. The thin slum boy is the unlucky heir. He is so called because he has inherited
poverty, despair and disease from his parents.

Q2. Who sits back unnoted? Why?

Ans. A young boy sits at the back. This boy is different from the others as „his eyes
live‟ in a dream – he is dreaming and probably thinking about a better future. He is
lost in his own world, therefore, not sad like the others. This boy thinks of the
„squirrel‟s game‟. He wants to enjoy and play freely like the squirrel in the garden
outside.

Q3. Pick two images each of despair and disease from these lines.
Ans. The images of despair are – „unlucky heir‟, „dim class‟, and that of diseases are
– „twisted bones, gnarled disease‟.

Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow:
And yet, for these
Children, these windows, not this map, their world,
Where all their future’s painted with a fog,
A narrow street sealed in with a lead sky
Far far from rivers, capes and stars of words.

Questions

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Q1. Who are these children?

Ans. These are the slum children of Tyrol Valley.

Q2. What is their world like?

Ans. The school windows are their world because they cannot move beyond them.

Q3. What kind of future does the poet foresee for them?
Ans. The future of these children is quite dim. As we can‟t see things in the fog, in
the same way the future of these children is looming under darkness. Their future is
bleak.

Q4. Why does the poet say that the narrow street is sealed?
Ans. The narrow street is sealed as these provide no opportunity to make an access
to the outer world of wisdom.

Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow:

Break O break open till they break the town

And show the children to green fields, and make their world
Run azure on gold sands, and let their tongues
Run naked into books, the white and green leaves open
History theirs whose language is the sun.

Questions:

Q1. What should they break?

Ans. They should break all barriers and obstructions that hinder the school children‟s
growth.

Q2. What kind of a world does the poet imagine for these children?
Ans. The poet imagines a world where these children run around in the fields or on
sea beaches in a carefree manner. They should also enjoy freedom of knowledge
and expression.

Q3. What does the word „sun‟ symbolize?

Ans. „Sun‟ symbolizes light and brightness which, comes from education. Proper
education alone can improve the lives of these slum children.

Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow:
Unless, governor, inspector, visitor,
This map becomes their window and these windows
That shut upon their lives like catacombs,
Break O break open till they break the town
And show the children to green fields, and make their world
Run azure on gold sands, and let their tongues
Run naked into books, the white and white green leaves open
History is theirs whose language is the son.

Questions:

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Q1. Who can improve the lot of the poor slum children?
Ans. The rulers, the educationists, the teachers and the general public can pool their
efforts to give a better life to the poor slum children.

Q2. What kind of life do they live?

Ans.They are shut up in their dim classrooms and small hovels like dead bodies in
the grave.
Q3. What is the poet‟s appeal to the upper class people?
Ans. The poet urges them to bring some light into the lives of the slum children.
They may be imparted education in a healthy atmosphere.

Q4. What is the poet‟s advice?

Ans.The poet suggests that the slum children should not only be educated properly
but also removed from their dirty surroundings to sunny and green fields.

Q5. Explain: “History is theirs whose language is the sun.”

Ans. The language that has warmth and power of the sun only can mould and write
history.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q. What does the poet want for the children of the slums? How can their lives
be made to change?
The poet wants an improvement in the quality of the lives of the slum children. He
feels that the government has a moral obligation to provide a meaningful education
to these children and to break down the barriers that stand in the way of improving
their lives.

KEEPING QUIET

Summary
This poem advocates the importance of silence and self- introspection. It can
transform not only the life of an individual but also the face of the earth. The poet
says that it does not need much time to look within and examine oneself. It will take
only as long as it will take to count to twelve. During this time of introspection (self-
examination), one should keep quiet and say nothing at all. It will give him a strange
feeling of togetherness with all others.

Although it may seem a little strange in the beginning, it will eventually bring us all
together. This silence will be free from „the disturbing sounds of engines and people
rushing to get their work done‟ for some time. He feels contended imagining the
change that will be brought about in those moments. The men who hurt their hands
while collecting salt will get a little rest. Even the people who seek fresh wars, using
fatal gas and weapons, will put on clean clothes and get a chance to walk among
their brothers. They will lead a hatred-free and calm life, giving a halt to their
destructive activities.

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The poet clarifies that his wish should not be considered as a case for “total
inactivity”. He only wants to interrupt the sad, cruel and baleful activities of the world
for a few moments and make the people introspect their actions. In fact what he says
is connected with life, not with death. Activity is very essence of life. Inactivity is
death but for a fresh, better and useful activity, a little stillness is essential.
The poet uses the image of the earth to show how life exists in seemingly dormant
things. In winter, the earth becomes so still and silent that it seems to be dead. But
later in spring, it seems to be lively again. It has new beauties and colours added to
it. Similarly, after a little quietness and silence, man can resume his activities in a
fresh and better manner.

Main points
1. The poem talks about the necessity of quiet introspection.
2. It will help people to understand themselves & will create the feeling of mutual love
& relationship.
3. By quiet introspection, the poet doesn‟t mean total inactivity, instead he wants full
involvement with life.
4. The reason for the discard & war is the imbalance between man & nature.
5. Quiet introspection will establish a spiritual & physical union that is most desirable
for the survival of the earth & of human beings.

Important Extracts
1. Read the extract given below and answer the question that follow:
It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines
we would be all together
in a sudden strangeness.
Questions

Q1. Which moment is referred to here and how will it be?

Ans. it will be a moment of peace and introspection. It will be a strange and
attractive moment that will bring us closer.

Q2. How would we feel at that moment?

Ans. We will realize a feeling of oneness.

Q3. How will it bring all of us together?

Ans. By keeping quiet and still, we all will feel alike as if we are together.

2. Read the extract given below and answer the question that follow:
What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.
Questions

Q1. What is it that should not be confused with total inactivity?

Ans. It is the moment of silence that should not be confused with total inactivity.

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Q2. What is the life about?

Ans. Life is about actions and dynamism. It must go on. The efforts to keep the race
alive cannot be suspended even for a day. Action is essence of life.

Q3. Explain: “no truck with death”.

Ans. Total inactivity is a synonym of death and he has no association with death.
This short silence is very much alive and a preparation for renewed hectic activity.

3. Read the extract given below and answer the question that follow:
Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their brothers
in the shade, doing nothing.
Questions

Q1. In which wars are there no survivors?

Ans. There are no survivors in the wars of poisonous gases and the war of firearms.

Q2. Who would put on clean clothes?

Ans. The war-wagers would put on clean clothes.
Q3. What does „put on clean clothes‟ signify?
Ans. „Put on clean clothes‟ signifies the feelings of their mutual understanding.

4. Read the extract given below and answer the question that follow:
If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving
and for once could do nothing
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.
Questions

Q1. What will happen if we go on thinking single-minded?

Ans. In case we go on thinking single minded, we will remain busy in worldly
activities, thereby we won‟t find time for self-introspection. It will be a sad situation.

Q2. How can we understand ourselves?

Ans. We can understand ourselves through self-introspection.

Q3. In what way can huge silence dispel sadness?

Ans. Huge silence will remove all our tension, violence and warfare. It will do away
with all our sadness.

Q4. What is the „sadness‟ that the poet refers to in the poem?
Ans. The poet Pablo Neruda refers to „sadness‟ which we form out of our own
thinking and actions. We understand a lot of things but fail to understand ourselves

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and our actions and this becomes the creator of all disasters. This is the „sadness‟
that the poet refers to in the poem

Q5. Why does the poet want us to „do nothing‟ for once?
Ans.The poet wants to do nothing for once, here he specifies that we should cease
all our activities in order to have introspection within ourselves so that we can realize
the exotic moment.

Q7. How we can know ourselves?

Ans.We can know ourselves through introspection.

Q8. Identify „we‟.

Ans. „We‟ here refers to all human beings.

5. Read the extract given below and answer the question that follow:
Perhaps the Earth can teach us a
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive.
Now I’ll count up to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.
Questions

Q1. What does the earth teach us?

Ans. The earth teaches us how life springs from dead things. It further teaches us to
realize life under stillness.

Q2. What does the poet mean to achieve by counting upto twelve?
Ans. He wants us to achieve peace by counting upto twelve.

Q3. What is the significance of „Keeping Quiet‟?

Ans. „Keeping quiet‟ means that we should avoid all those activities which hurt the
nature.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. Why does the poet want us to keep quiet?
Ans. Keeping quiet will develop a better understanding among human beings and
allow us to establish communion with our fellow beings at spiritual level.

Q2. Does the poet advocate total inactivity and death by suggesting being
quiet?
Ans. No, the poet does not advocate it. He wants no truck with death. In fact he
wants to live life full bloodedly. But by advocating quietness he wants mixing of
physical and spiritual aspect of life.

Q3. Why does not the poet want us to speak in any language?
Ans. The poet wants us not to speak in any language to introspect and know what
we are about- know the meaning of our existence. He wants everybody to know his
spirit and have spiritual contact with others for sometimes for which no language is
required.

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Q4. What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve?
Ans. Counting up to twelve and keeping quiet will assist us in attaining a state of
peace in which we will be able to introspect and thus, see and appreciate the
benefits of the symbiotic relationship that would exist between humans and between
man and nature.

Q5. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?
Ans. The poet does not advocate total inactivity and death, but he does advise that
we introspect deeply and not indulge in activity that is mindless and thus potentially
destructive for human beings and for the balance that should exist between man and
nature.

Q6. What is the „sadness‟ that the poet refers to in the poem?
Ans. Man fails to understand themselves. They are always threatening themselves
with death. When they do not understand themselves, they become sad. Only
silence might interrupt this sadness and make them happy.

Q7. What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life
under apparent stillness?
Ans. Life under apparent stillness can be seen in nature. During the winter season,
the earth under the snow looks dead, with no activity and no growth. But when the
spring comes, the snow melts away, the seeds sprout and the grass grows. All
activities of life start again.

Q8. According to the poet, what is that human beings can learn from nature?
Ans. 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. So it teaches us to be quiet and still. It is no use
to hinder others. We should grow and develop at our own Place. We must be
contended with what we possess. There is no need for greed. The nature always
remains alive.

A THING OF BEAUTY

Summary
A beautiful thing is a source of eternal joy, its loveliness grows with the passage of
time and its impact never fades away. It is as soothing as a cool shade. It never
passes into nothingness. It gives us good health, sound sleep and mental peace. It
provides the beholder with a haven of tranquility and solace.

Man and nature are inseparable. It is the beauty of nature that keeps us attached to
this earth. Every morning we collect fresh lovely flowers and prepare garlands. They
refresh our moods and we forget our worries for a while.

Every person gets a bitter taste of sorrow, suffering and grief. Disease,
disappointments and misfortunes give us mental and physical suffering. It is the
beautiful things that remove the pall of sadness from our lives and make us happy
and hopeful.

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All beautiful things of nature are a boon for human beings. The sun, the moon, the
trees, daffodils, simple sheep, clear streams, forests ferns, musk rose etc. provide us
peace and happiness.

In addition to these lovely objects of nature, there are plays and poems to lift our
spirits. The glorious achievements of mighty heroes and magnificent rewards by God
on the day of judgement for those mighty men, lovely tales of olden days are endless
source of everlasting joy. The poet feels that nothing can surpass the beauty of
nature. They are an elixir of life. They are like an endless fountain that pours
immortal drink from the heaven into our hearts. So beauty is a gift of God and it gives
us joy forever.

Main points
1. The beautiful things of nature are permanent source of joy and make our lives
sweet.
2. A thing of beauty is a joy forever.
3. It does not pass into nothingness but its beauty keeps on increasing.
4. It gives us sound sleep and good health;
5. This world is full of frustrations, disappointments and dearth of noble people.
6. These make our life gloomy and sad.
7. But things of beauty remove the pall and sadness from our spirits.
8. Nature is a constant source of happiness for human beings.
9. The beautiful things are – sheep, daffodils, clear streams, musk roses and forest
thickets.
10. These things soothe and make us happy.
11. Stories of heroes who have died in peace of war are also things of beauty and
have a stimulating effect.
12. But the beauties of nature are lovelier than all the lovely tales and are like the
immortal drink from heaven.

Important Extracts
1. Read the extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:
A thing of beauty is a joy forever
Its loveliness increases, it will never
Pass into nothingness; but will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.

Questions
Q1. What is being said to be a joy forever?
Ans. A thing of beauty is said to be a joy forever.

Q2. What is peculiar about a beautiful thing?

Ans. A beautiful thing leaves a permanent impression on our minds. Its loveliness
goes on increasing. It stays in our imagination and becomes a source of joy forever.

Q3.What can a beautiful thing do for the human beings?

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Ans. A beautiful thing gives us a sound sleep full of sweet dreams, good health and
a peaceful breathing. It also helps us in achieving the peace of mind. It removes
sadness and brings happiness to our depressed spirits.

Q4. How does a thing of beauty keep a bower quiet for us?
Ans. It reserves a quiet place in our heart. When we are tired, tensed, troubled or
disappointed, it heals our sorrows and restores happiness for us again.

Q5. Explain: “It will never pass into nothingness”.

Ans. A thing of beauty is a perennial thing. Its beauty goes on increasing. It will
never be reduced into nothingness.

2. Read the extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:
And such too is the grandeur of the dooms
We have imagined for the mighty dead;
All lovely tales that we have heard or red;
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink.
Questions

Q1. Who are the mighty dead?

Ans. The mighty dead are those who sacrificed their lives for a noble cause and
made great achievements in their lifetime.

Q2. How is grandeur associated with the mighty dead?

Ans. The mighty dead are honored and worshiped for their remarkable
achievements. Now they are lying buried under their graves. On the day of
judgement, God also will reward them for their noble deeds. It is this dignity that
is associated with them.

Q3. What lovely tales does the poet talk of?

Ans. He talks of the great myths and the tales of the olden days.

Q4. What does the poet call “an endless fountain of immortal drink”?
Ans. Beautiful things.

Q5. What image does the poet draw in the last two lines?
Ans. Beautiful things are like an endless fountain which goes on pouring the
immortal drink unto us from the heaven. They are a source of immense joy and
happiness.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. How is a thing of beauty a joy forever?
Ans. A thing of beauty is a joy forever as its loveliness increases through recollection
and contemplation. It is a perennial source of pleasure that ensures good health and
quiet breathing. It brings relief in our painful existence.

Q2. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings?

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Ans. In spite of troubles and sufferings, human beings love life because there are
some beautiful things that move away the gloom from the depressed minds. The
beautiful things in nature like the moon, the sun, the trees, the ferns and the daffodils
bring happiness and reduce men‟s sufferings.

Q3. List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.

Ans. All beautiful things of nature are a boon for human beings. The sun, the moon,
the trees, daffodils, simple sheep, clear streams, forests ferns, musk rose etc.
provide us peace and happiness.

Q4. List the things that cause suffering and pain.

Ans. Disease, disappointments, jealousy, lack of human qualities, gloomy days,
unhealthy and evil ways cause pains and sufferings in our lives.

Q5. What does the line, „Therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us
to earth‟ suggest to you?
Ans. When we pluck fresh flowers to make a garland, it shows our love for life, for
nature and for beauty. The flowers attract us and bind us to the nature and the earth.

Q6. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings?
Ans. There are many things that depress our spirits but our nature has blessed us
with beauty that alone makes our life happy. It removes the pall of sadness. It offers
us loveliness and pleasures. So human beings love life.

Q7. Do we experience things of beauty only for short moments or do they

make a lasting impression on us?
Ans. Things of beauty make a lasting impression on us and continue to delight us
and give us joy. Beauty can never fade away or lose its value.

Q8. What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the
earth?
Ans. Human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings because nature is the
best healer and it brings beauty and joy to our life. The memory of the beautiful
experiences helps us to bear our sorrows and provide a peaceful retreat.

Q9. Why is grandeur associated with mighty dead?

Ans. Great men have great fall. The exploits of the mighty rulers and generals fill us
with awe and wonder. We admire and even worship our heroes. We remember them
gratefully because they sacrificed their lives for a noble cause.

Q10. What becomes of all lovely tales we have heard or read?

Ans. All lovely tales that we have heard or read become a source of pleasure. They
become an endless fountain of nectar and give us heavenly pleasure.

AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGER

Summary
In the poem „Aunt Jennifer‟s Tigers‟ a woman expresses her suppressed feelings
through her art. Aunt Jennifer is the victim of the male-dominated society. She has

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no one to tell her mental and physical pain. She makes a picture to convey her deep
feelings. The speaker describes the tigers which her aunt produced on the panel.
They are set in motion. They are moving quickly by raising the front legs and jumping
forwards on the back legs. In the green jungle they look free, bright, brave, fearless
and magnificent.

There are men sitting under the tree, but the tigers do not care for them. They move
on to their goal boldly and smoothly. Jennifer finds it difficult to make pictures by
using the ivory needle. She is tired of doing the household work after she got
married. She can‟t get herself involved in her artistic work. She has to do it in her
leisure time. Even then she has to be sure whether her husband is watching her or
not. So her hands are terrified. She will not be free from fear until she dies. She will
be dominated by her husband. She will die, but her art will express her desire to
move proudly and fearlessly like the tigers she has made.

Main points
1. In this poem, the poet addresses the constraints of married life, experienced by a
woman.
2. Aunt Jennifer weaves tigers into the panel. These tigers are brave & have no fear
of men.
3. Aunt Jennifer is terrified by her dominating husband. Her finger flutters due to the
mental suppression. She is not happy with her married life.
4. She will die but her art will express her desire to move proudly and fearlessly like
the tigers she has made.

Important Extracts
1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree:
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.”

Q1. What does prancing tigers symbolize?

Ans. Prancing tigers are a symbol of the spirit of freedom within Aunt Jennifer
which remains subdued.

Q2. Why are they referred to as „denizens of a world of green‟?

Ans. The tigers are the dwellers of the green forest so they are referred to
as denizens.

Q3. What qualities of the „tigers‟ are highlighted here?

Ans. Fearlessness and ferocity of the tigers are highlighted here. Aunt
Jennifer‟s nervousness and timidity are in sharp contrast to wild ferocity of the tigers
who are not afraid of hunting men. Unlike Aunt Jennifer, the tigers fear nothing.

Q4. Explain; “They pace in sleek chivalric certainty”.

Ans. The movement of the tigers are sleek, stealthy, sure, majestic and elegant.
They are sure of their purpose. Gallant and confident, they move ahead fearlessly
undeterred by any obstacles or hindrances.

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2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.”

Q1. Why do Aunt Jennifer‟s fingers flutter through her wool?

Ans. Aunt Jennifer lives in constant fear of her husband. She feels so nervous and
terrified that her hands shake and flutter when she sits down to knit.

Q2. Why does she find it hard to pull the ivory needle?
Ans. She finds it hard to pull the ivory needle more because of mental suppression
than because of physical weakness. Due to constant fear that she confronts, has
become a nervous wreck.

Q3. Explain: „massive weight of Uncle‟s wedding band‟.

Ans. The expression is symbolic of male authority and power. Matrimony binds the
woman physically as well as mentally. Likewise Aunt Jennifer is trapped in gender
oppression and feels herself burdened by the authority of her husband.

Q4. How is Aunt Jennifer affected by the „weight of matrimony‟?

Ans. Aunt Jennifer cannot do things freely. She tries to come up to the expectation
of her husband. She seems to have lost her identity. The freedom that she dreams of
through her art, is itself symbolic of her oppressed self.

3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.”

Q1. What is Aunt Jennifer‟s death symbolic of?

Ans. Aunt Jennifer‟s death is symbolic of her complete submission to her
suppression.

Q2. Explain: “terrified hands”.

Ans. Aunt Jennifer is terrified by her dominating husband and hence her hands are
shivering.

Q3. What does „ringed with ordeals‟ imply?

Ans. Aunt Jennifer has been so victimized in her life that even after death she
remains trapped. We find her a victim of gender injustice and oppression.
Short Answer Type Questions
Q1. How do the tigers made by Aunt Jennifer look like?
Ans. The tigers, made by Aunt Jennifer on the screen, are jumping and playing
about without any fear of the men beneath the tree. They walk in elegance and style
displaying the spirit of courage, fearlessness, strength and confidence.

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Q2. What do the tigers made by the Aunt symbolize?

Ans. The tigers made by Aunt Jennifer symbolize the spirit of courage, strength
and fearlessness Aunt Jennifer, a victim of male oppression, expresses her crushed
feelings in the form of art. So, the tigers are symbolic of the fear of male domination
with which Aunt Jennifer suffers.

Q3. Why do you think Aunt Jennifer‟s hands are fluttering through her wool?
Why is she finding the needle so hard to pull?
Ans. Aunt Jennifer is victimized by the overbearing and dominant nature of her
husband. Her life has become a torture due to her suppression by her atrocious
husband. The fear of her authoritative husband has gone so deep into her being that
she seems to have lostall strength and energy. Thus her hands shake and flutter so
much that she is not even able to pull the needle through the tapestry.

Q4. What do you understand by “massive weight of uncle‟s wedding band”?

Ans. Generally „wedding band‟ is a symbol of joy and happiness. But in case of Aunt
Jennifer, it has become a symbol of torture and oppression. Her relationship with
her authoritative husband has become a painful burden to carry. Her „wedding band‟
has brought her a world of pain, misery and torture. She has lost her freedom and
entered a world of humiliation and oppression.

Q5. Explain ‟her terrified hands will lie, still ringed with the ordeals she was
mastered by‟.
Ans. These lines convey Aunt‟s complete submission to the oppressive authority of
her husband. The fear of her husband has gone so deep into her being that even
death cannot liberate her from the chains of her mental suppression. Memories of
her husband‟s tortures and atrocities which bent her into a humiliating slavery, will
continue to haunt her even after her death.

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