1. What is the kind of pain and ache that the poet feels?
The emotional pain and ache that the poet feels is due to the realisation that her mother has
gone old and has become frail and pale like a corpse. She also feels the pain of separation from
her mother whom she is leaving.
Q2.Why are the young trees described as sprinting?
Ans. The young trees are personified in the poem. Trees appear to be running because from
moving vehicle stationary objects seem to be moving in opposite direction. The sprinting trees
signify fervour, vigour and youth. This is a sharp contrast to the decaying, frail and lifeless
condition of the poet’s mother.
Q3. Why has the poet bought in the image of the merry children ‘spilling out of their homes’?
● The merry children present an image of happiness, joyousness, vitality and spontaneous
overflow of life. This image is in stark contrast to the ‘dozing’ old mother whose ‘ashen’
face looks lifeless and pale like a corpse. She is an image of ageing, decay and
passivity. Children symbolize the beginning of life and old woman’s pale face symbolizes
her imminent death.
Q4.Why has the mother been compared to ‘late winter’s moon’?
● The poet has compared her mother to the ‘late winter moon’ to convey the idea of her
old age. Winter comes in the last phase of the year , in the same way, the mother is
approaching the last phase of her life.
As late winter’s moon lacks brightness and looks hazy and misty, in the same way the mother is
looking pale ,old and weak. She has also lost the charm and the strength of her youth.
Q5. What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?
The parting words “See you soon ,Amma” signify:
-Optimism , - ahope to see her mother again , -reassuring her mother
-hiding her anxiety and fear , -emotions hidden behind the smile
Q1 What do the words ‘ashen, open-mouthed and corpse’ signify?
Ans. The poet uses a simile to describe her mother’s condition. Her face was pale and lifeless
like that of a dead body. This signifies loss of vitality and death.
Q2 What do these words signify about the poet’s state of mind?
Ans. The poet is very disturbed looking at her old mother. The deep fear of her mother’s
imminent death upsets and grieves her.
Q3 Explain ‘put that thought away’?
Ans. The poet was grieved to see her mother’s condition. The fear of her impending death
troubled her. She swept away this thought by looking out of the car window.
Q4 Why does the poet look out?
Ans. The poet looked out from the window of the car to dispel the painful and agonizing
thoughts that she experienced on seeing her old and helpless mother.
Q1. Where was the poet standing?
Ans. The poet was at the airport waiting to board the plane after the security check.
Q2 Pick out a poetic device from the above lines. Explain.
Ans. The poet uses a simile -‘pale as a late winter’s moon’ to reinforce her mother’s frail
physical health. Like a late winter moon is pale, devoid of sheen her mother is lifeless indicative
of her impending death.
Q3 Why does the poet look at her mother again?
Ans. The poet looks at her mother again to reassure herself of her mother’s well-being for the
last time before she left.
Q1 Explain that ‘old familiar ache’.
Ans. The ‘old familiar ache’ refers to a constant fear and agony that haunts the poet. It is an
apprehension of separation from her mother that terrifies the poet.
Q2 What were the poet’s childhood fears?
Ans. The fear of losing her mother. The terror of death engulfing her were the childhood fears
that the poet experienced.
Q. How does the poet describe the old age of her mother?
Ans. The poet’s mother is sitting next to her in the car. The poet observes her dozing off almost
open mouthed. With a pale face she totally lacked the vigour of life. The poet later compares her
to a late winter’s moon.
Q.Bring out the contrast portrayed by the scene outside with the state of the poet’s mother.
Ans. The world outside the window of the car with the sprinting trees and the children spilling
out in energetic exuberance are a sharp contrast to the poet’s old mother who lacks the vigour
of life
Q Though filled with negative thoughts in her mind did the poet share her feelings with her
mother?
Ans. The poet did not share her fears and anxiety with her mother. Sharing her emotions of
agony would have grieved her mother all the more. Instead she bid adieu and smiled with the
hope to see her again.
Q.Explain the irony inherent in the conclusion of the poem?
Ans. The poet’s words ‘See you soon Amma’ and her prolonged smile at parting are ironical.
They are a sharp contrast to the fear and agony which she experiences with regard to her
ageing mother and her frail health.
