My Mother at Sixty-six

MCQ
1.The poem 'My Mother at Sixty-six' can be best described as the poet's __________.

A. resentment of her situation

B. realisation of a difficult truth
C. reflection on her own identity
D. commitment to look after someone

2. 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... .
i). Kamala Das comparing her mother to winter moon signifies __________________.
a) Human life is as short as that of the moon.
b) Though the mother is old, she is still beautiful
c) Winter is the last season of the year
d) Mother is about to die
ii). Though she feels painful, kamala Das smiles on ______________________.
a) To hide her sad feelings and emotions
b) To encourage her mother to smile and feel good
c) Not to dishearten her mother by showing her worried face
d) All the above
iii). The tone of the poem is ____________________.
a) Pensive and sorrowful
b) Disillusioned and unhappy
c) Happy but discontented
d) Remorseful
3. What is the significance of the parting words of the poet and her smile in ‘My Mother at
Sixty-six’?
4. How did Kamala Das put away the thought of her mother’s old age?
5. Why did Kamala Das add the image of merry children to her poem?

3. What is the significance of the parting words of the poet and her smile in ‘My Mother at Sixty-
six’?

Answer:
The poet’s parting words convey the dilemma and confusion in her mind. Her superficial smile
expresses her helplessness. She is anxious about her mother’s frail health and fears that anything
can happen to her mother. But, on the other hand, she also nurtures a faint hope that her mother
survives long enough so that they can meet again.

4. How did Kamala Das put away the thought of her mother’s old age? (Comptt. Delhi 2010)
Answer:
The poet started looking out of the window because she wanted to drive away the pain and agony
she was experiencing by looking at her aged mother. She looked outside at the world which was
full of life and activity. She saw young trees running past her and merry children sprinting out of
their homes to play.

5. Why did Kamala Das add the image of merry children to her poem? (Comptt. Delhi 2010)
Answer:
The merry children symbolise the spring of life, its energy, vigour and happiness. Their image
presents a sharp contrast to the poet’s limp and ageing mother. This image is also imperative for
the understanding of the process of old age which is associated with decay. The spontaneous
outpouring of life symbolised by these children is in contrast to the poet’s mother’s passive and
inactive life.