English literature, Poetry | Second Year, P.U.C. 7.

ANSWERS; Objective one mark questions

To whom did the woman ask “speak to us of children”?

To the prophet.

What may parents give to their children?

Parents may give to their children, love.

Whom do the children not belong to?

The parents.

God loves the arrow that flies, so he loves the bow that is stable.

Where do the souls of children dwell?

They dwell in “the house of tomorrow”.

Whom does the word “Bows” refer to?

It refers to Parents.

How does the poet describe the children?

He describes them as “arrows”. He also describes them as “sons and daughters of life’s longing for itself”.
English literature, Poetry | Second Year, P.U.C. 8.
ANSWERS; Objective one mark questions

Whom do the words “The Archer” refer to?

The almighty.

What does the phrase “the bow that is stable” refer to?
A parent who is resolute and willing to sacrifice to steadfastly and firmly propel his/her child to his/her destiny.

How does life go on?

Life goes forward.

Who bends the bow?

God Almighty personified as an archer.

How are the arrows sent forth?

Swift and far.

You may house their bodies but not their Souls.

Who sees the mark upon the infinite?

God Almighty personified as an archer.
English literature, Poetry | Second Year, P.U.C. 9.
ANSWERS; Objective one mark questions

“Your children are not your children” means:

A) They do not belong to the parents only.
B) The children should have their own space.
C) Parents should not be possessive of their children

“They came through you but are not from you” means:
A) Though parents give birth to children, they do not own them.
B) Children have personalities independent of their parents.
C) Parents should be indifferent to their children.

“Their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow” means:

A) Children belong to the future.
B) Parents cannot shape their children’s futures.
C) Children have a different vision of life

“And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, ‘speak to us of children’ and he said:” Here “he” refers to:
A) Her child.
B) The prophet.
C) The poet.
English literature, Poetry | Second Year, P.U.C. 10.
ANSWERS; Elaborate explanatory four mark questions

Why does the prophet categorically state “your children are not your children”? (4)
The phrase, "your children are not your children", is a reminder to parents about the fact that their children belong to the divine. Children according to him are the
result of life's longing to evolve and continue itself and to be expressed. He conveys that parents only play the role of stewards to take care of them and bring them
up to face the new world. Parents are, in the poet’s opinion, only vessels to bring forth the child into this beautiful world and therefore they do not own their spirit
and cannot be obsessively attached to them. The poet urges parents to realise that they can only shower their love but cannot force them to become like them or
think like them as their dreams and lives lie in the parents’ future ( said to be “in the house of tomorrow”). Every time a child is born, the birth emphasizes an
eternal life and the purpose of the divine.

What does the metaphor of a bow and arrows signify with regard to parent- child relationships? (4)
The poem dedicates an entire one third of itself to this metaphor and in doing so stresses strongly on the speaker’s views on the parent-children relationship. The
poet highlights the fact that children belong to the part of never ending cycle of life. He metaphorically refers to the parents as a bow and their children as arrows
and the almighty as the archer who draws the bow and takes aim. The bow is bent by the Archer to shoot the arrows to reach its goal likewise parents undergo
strain and sacrifice and are bent in the hands of the almighty. They submit themselves into his will so that their children move forward and reach the goal pre
determined by God. If the bows are steady and strong then the arrows will move swiftly in the right direction and carry out God’s will. Similarly parents should be
steady and strong in teaching their children the responsibility of moving forward and be firm in teaching them to face life's challenges and to reach and fulfill their
destiny.

According to the prophet what attitude should parents have towards children? (4)
According to the prophet parents should not be obsessively attached to their children because children belong to the future. He stresses on children's individuality
and independent ideas. Apparently parents try to fulfill their unfinished dreams through their children which can hinder the growth of their children. He points out
that life tarries not with the past but moves forward. He requests the parents to become like their children rather than moulding them to become like them. He
wants parents to shower love and help them to move forward and face life's challenges.
English literature, Poetry | Second Year, P.U.C. 11.
ANSWERS; Elaborate explanatory six mark questions

Explain how, in this poem, “parents” could stand as a metaphor for the following: (6)
a. the older generation
b. leaders
c. religious heads
d. Teachers

“Parents” as a metaphor for the older generation:

The older generation generally thinks that they are well-experienced and expects the younger generation to follow their ideas without question. There is no doubt
that there is valuable experience with this generation but those experiences come from their own unique context that is now past. They cannot, therefore, be
forced upon the younger generation.

“Parents” as a metaphor for leaders:

Leaders at every level have great amount of responsibility and power as well over the general people. Oftentimes they think its important for them to control their
people and life in order to achieve their goals. The may disapprove the ideas of their people and in a bid to prove their power and influence, neglect the will of the
people and fail to understand them. This can have catastrophic results because the will of the people is a very strong force and will find its way.

“Parents” as a metaphor for religious heads:

Faith and belief are among the strongest emotions and generators of passion in human beings. It can be a strong weapon to control innocent minds or it could be a
force for tremendous betterment. Through history there are ample examples of how this power has been abused by religious heads who did not wield this power
with a sense of divine duty or as being bent by the will of “the archer”. We also see how much progress can be achieved if they submit to this sense of divine duty

“Parents” as a metaphor for teachers:

Teachers and mentors, like parents, should facilitate independent thinking rather than largely trying to control them or impart rote knowledge. Teachers should
appreciate and encourage children to think and act independently rather than discouraging them and demotivating them and imposing dogma. This is to develop
critical thinking so that the child can confidently take on the world when they reach that stage. Like the bow they should propel the young minds to think.
English literature, Poetry | Second Year, P.U.C. 11.
ANSWERS; Elaborate explanatory six mark questions

Explain how, “parents” could be the following: (6)

a. the older generation
b. leaders
c. religious heads
d. Teachers

Parents as older generation:

The older generation generally thinks that they are well-experienced and expects the younger generation to follow their ideas without question. There is no doubt
that there is valuable experience with this generation but those experiences come from their own unique context that is now past. They cannot, therefore, be
forced upon the younger generation.

Parents as leaders:
In the name of parenting , parents end up leading their children. They think its important for them to control their children's thoughts and life in order to achieve
their goals. The disapprove the ideas of their children and in the bid to prove their power and influence, parents as leaders spurn the tender minds.

Parents as religious heads:

Parents use faith and belief as strong weapon to control the innocent minds. They expect their children to practice these traditions without any questions.

Parents as teachers:
Parents should be like mentors, facilitate independent thinking rather than largely controlling them. Parents should appreciate and encourage children to think and
act independently rather than discouraging them and demotivating them.