MY MOTHER AT 66

MCQs

1. ‘put that thought away, and

looked out at Young
Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling
out of their homes, but after the airport’s
security check, standing a few yards
away, I looked again at her wan,
pale
as a late winter’s moon……..’

i. Which thought did the poet put away?

a) Missing her flight

b) Seeing her mother fall sick
c) Looking at the fading moon
d) Losing her mother as she was old

ii. What do the ‘sprinting trees’ signify?

a) Carefree and happy

b) Youth and energy
c) Pain and weakness
d) Reassurance and hope

iii. Who are the ‘merry children spilling out of their homes’
symbolic of?

a) Freedom and happiness

b) Childhood and old age
c) Youth and energy
d) Hope and faith

iv. The word similar in meaning to ‘wan’ is:

a) Fade
b) Old
c) Pale
2.
d) Healthy

The expression ‘her face ashen like that of a corpse’ is an example of:
 a) Metaphor
b) Simile
c) Symbolism
d) Alliteration

3. “……….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. What does the phrase’ familiar ache’ mean?

a) Fear of her mother growing old

b) Loss of her mother’s beauty
c) Death of her mother
d) Childhood fear of losing her mother

ii. What does the repeated use of the word ‘smile’ mean?

a) Worry
b) Happiness
c) Reassurance
d) Pain

iii. Identify the poetic device used in the last line.

a) Simile
b) Personification
c) Repetition
d) Imagery

4. Choose the option that applies correctly to the two statements given
below:

Assertion: The poet wards off the thought of her mother getting old
quickly
Reason: The poet didn’t want to confront the inevitability of fate that
was to dawn upon her mother.

a) Assertion can be inferred but Reason cannot be inferred.

b) Assertion cannot be inferred but the Reason can be inferred.
c) Both Assertion and Reason can be inferred.
d) Both Assertion and Reason cannot be inferred.
5. Choose the book title that perfectly describes the condition of the
poet’s mother

Title 1 Title 2 Title 3 Title 4

You’re only old The Gift of Somewhere The Book you
once! Years towards the wish your
By Dr. Seuss By Joan End parents have
Chittister By Diana Athill Read
By Phillippa
Perry

a) Title 1
b) Title 2
c) Title 3
d) Title 4

SHORT ANSWERS

1. What childhood fear does Kamala Das express?

2. What is the underlying message of the poem?

3. What poetic devices have been used by Kamala Das in ‘My Mother at
Sixty-six’?

LONG ANSWERS

1. The poem, ‘My Mother At Sixty Six’, brings home the theme that
ageing is a natural process and is going to envelop one and all.
Comment.

2. In today’s fast life, children neglect their ageing parents. What do you
think children can do to have an involved and inclusive relationship
with their elderly parents?