THE LIVING PHOTOGRAPH Exercise 3

By Jackie Kay Answer the following questions based on your understanding of the poem.

Exercise 1 1 How old was the persona when the photograph was taken?
Complete the poem

My small grandmother _________(1) tall there, 2 Which line in the poem tells us :
straight back, white __________(2) __________(3) shirt,
__________ (4) skirt, flat shoes, grey __________(5), a. The grandmother has become forgetful?
a kind, old smile round her __________(6).
Her big hand __________(7) mine,
white hand in __________(9) hand. b. The grandmother seems to be a friendly and kind woman.
Her sharp blue eyes ___________(10) her own death in the eye

It __________(11) true after all; that look. c. The persona and her grandmother are from different races .
My tall grandmother ___________(12) small.
Her back round and ____________(13).
Her soup ____________(14) to boil. d. The persona’s grandmother looks as if she is still alive.
She ___________(15) to the awful place grandmothers ____________(16).
Somewhere unknown, __________________(17).

But there she __________(18) still, 3 Give one moral value one can learn from the poem.
in the photo with me at __________(19),
the crinkled smile __________(20) still living, breathing.
4 Sometimes an elderly member of the family is sent to a nursing home. Do you
agree with this practice? Provide your reason.
Exercise 2
Read the following statements and state whether they are “True” or “False”.

1 The persona recollects the memories of her grandmother as she

looks at the photograph. 5 If you were to take care of your grandmother for a day, what would you do to
2 The persona’s grandmother is still living with her. make her experience an unforgettable one?
3 The grandmother seems to be a friendly and kind woman.
4 The persona is three years old when her grandmother dies.
5 The grandmother remains strong and healthy until her death.
6 In the photograph, the grandmother will always be alive.
 1 How old was the persona when the photograph was taken?

THE LIVING PHOTOGRAPH 2 Which line in the poem tells us :

By Jackie Kay a. The grandmother has become forgetful?
Exercise 1
Complete the poem
b. The grandmother seems to be a friendly and kind woman.
My small grandmother _________(1) tall there,
straight back, white __________(2) __________(3) shirt,
__________ (4) skirt, flat shoes, grey __________(5), c. The grandmother seems to be a friendly and kind woman.
a kind, old smile round her __________(6).
Her big hand __________(7) mine,
white hand in __________(9) hand. d. The persona is three years old when her grandmother dies.
Her sharp blue eyes ___________(10) her own death in the eye

It __________(11) true after all; that look.

My tall grandmother ___________(12) small.
Her back round and ____________(13).
Her soup ____________(14) to boil.
She ___________(15) to the awful place grandmothers ____________(16).
Somewhere unknown, __________________(17).
3 Give one moral value one can learn from the poem.
4 Sometimes an elderly member of the family is sent to a nursing home. Do you
agree with this practice? Provide your reason.

But there she __________(18) still,

in the photo with me at __________(19),
the crinkled smile __________(20) still living, breathing. 5 If you were to take care of your grandmother for a day, what would you do to
make her experience an unforgettable one?
Exercise 2
Read the following statements and state whether they are “True” or “False”.
1 The persona recollects the memories of her grandmother as she
looks at the photograph.
2 The persona’s grandmother is still living with her.
3 The grandmother seems to be a friendly and kind woman.
4 The persona is three years old when her grandmother dies.
5 The grandmother remains strong and healthy until her death.
6 In the photograph, the grandmother will always be alive.

Exercise 4
Answer the following questions based on your understanding of the poem.