My Mother at Sixty Six by Kamala Das Explanation and NCERT Questions and answers

INTRODUCTION

In this poem Kamala Das’s relationship with her mother is treated in a very restrained and poignant manner. It echoes the painful realisation of the poetess that her mother was ageing and inching closer to death. The poet chooses the moment of parting to reveal how painful the parting of her mother could be.

IMPORTANT POINTS:

·         Poetess travelling to the Cochin airport with her old mother in a car.

·         Looks at the wan, pale face of her dozing mother.

·         Old fear of losing her mother returns

·         Sprinting trees and merry children provide the contrast and relief.

·         After the security check the old familiar ache returns.

·         Tries to hide her face by smiling.

·         Ends with a positive note.

·         Simile –“like that of a corpse”. ”as a late winter moon”

·         Alliteration –“smile and smile and smile.

                                    There is contrast used.

NCERT QUESTIONS  AND ANSWERS

Q 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?

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?

 -Optimism ,   - ahope to see her mother again , -reassuring her mother

-hiding her anxiety and fear , -emotions hidden behind the smile

Reference to Context

1.       ‘Driving from my parent’s home to Cochin last Friday morning, I saw my mother beside me doze, open mouthed, her face ashen like that of a corpse and realized with pain that she thought away and looked but soon put that thought away’

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.

  2 “…Standing a few yards away, I looked again at her wan, pale as a late

        winter’s moon”.

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.

3.    “..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.”

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.

Extra Short Questions  (30-40 words)

1.           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.

2.         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

3.        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.

4.       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.

Other links:

Information about the poet	GO TO LINK
Explanation of the poem	GO TO LINK
Reference to context Questions and answers	GO TO LINK
PPT depicting story and theme	GO TO LINK
Video	GO TO  LINK   GO TO  LINK