My mother at sixty six class 12th Summary and questions answer

My mother at sixty six summary :

➣ "My Mother at Sixty-Six" is a poignant and introspective poem written by Kamala Das, an Indian poet and writer. It captures the emotions and thoughts of the speaker as they travel with their aging mother. The poem reflects on the inevitable passage of time and the realization of mortality.

The speaker describes their mother, who is sixty-six years old, sitting beside them in a car as they journey through the city. The physical setting becomes a metaphor for the passage of time and the fleeting nature of life. The speaker notices the signs of aging on their mother's face, such as wrinkles and greying hair. They feel a sense of sadness and concern, realizing that their mother's youth and vitality are fading away.

As they observe their mother's face, the speaker reflects on the memories and experiences they have shared over the years. They recall their mother's beauty and grace in her younger days, contrasting it with her current state. The speaker acknowledges the inevitability of aging and the toll it takes on the body.

Throughout the poem, the speaker expresses a mix of emotions: love, concern, and a sense of loss. They are torn between the desire to protect their mother from the effects of aging and the need to accept the reality of the situation. The poem captures the universal experience of watching a loved one grow old and the bittersweet emotions that accompany it.

In the end, the speaker realizes that they must come to terms with their mother's mortality. They understand that time is relentless, and aging is an unavoidable part of life. Despite the sadness and nostalgia, there is also a deep appreciation for the bond between mother and child.

"My Mother at Sixty-Six" is a reflective and poignant exploration of the complexities of aging and the emotional journey of accepting the passage of time.

Class 12th my mother at sixty six question answer

Q. 1. Where was the poet driving to ?

Ans : The poet was driving to the Cochin air port.

Q.2. What did the notice while her mother sat baside her [HS'12]

Ans: She noticed that ber mother dozing with her mouth open.

Q. 3. was her mother's face like that of a corpse? [H.S '12, 14]

Ans: Her mother's face pale and lifeless because of her old age.

Q. 4. Which thought did the poet put away.

Ans : The poet put the thought of her decaying mother away.

Q. 5. What do the young sprinting trees signify? 

Ans : The young sprinting trees sigiify powerful action of the youth.

Q. 6. What did she see the children doing? 

Ans : She saw them spilling out merrily of their homes. 

Q. 7. Why did the poet compare her mother's face to a Late winter's moon? [HS2014,2015]

Ans : The late winter's moon lacks brightness and The pale 

colourless face of her mother resanbled the moon. 

Q. 8. What was the childhood fear? [HS-2014]

Ans : The childhood fear is the fear of death and dacay which 

 spare none. 

Q. 9. What do the poet's parting words suggest? 

Ans : They suggest both hope and fear. At her age, anything could happen to her mother. But she hides her real fear and hope to see again with a smile.

Q.1O. What did the do after the security check? 

Ans. After security check the poet stood few yards away and locked again and again at her mother. 

Q.11. Read the folhwing and answer the questions : [HS'19]

"Driving from parents 

home to Cochin last Friday 

morning, I saw my mother, 

beside me, 

doze, open mouthed, her face 

ashen like that of a corpse"' 

(i) Where was the speaker driving to? 

(ii) What did see notice when her mother sat beside her? 

(iii) Find two words from the passages that means 'sleep lightly ‘dead body' 

(iv) Why was her mother's face like that of a corpse?

Ans: (i) The speaker was driving to Cochin airport.

(ii) she noticed her mother doze and open mouthed.

(iii) sleep lightly : doze and dead body : corpse.

(iv)Because of old age the poet's mother has lost normal body colour andher face became like that of a corpse.

Very short Answer Questions : (1 marks)

Q. 1. Who is the poet of the poem •My Mother at sixty-six'? 

Ans : The poet of the poem is Kamala Das.

Q. 2. Where is the poet driving to? 

Ans : The poet is driving from her parent's home to Cochin Airport.

Q, 3. What does she notice when her mother sits beside her? 

Ans : The poet notices that her mother is dozing -with her mouth open. 

Q. 4. Find words from the passage that mean 'sleep lightly' and 'dead body'. 

Ans: Sleep lightly : doze

Dead body : Corpse 

Q. 5. Why is her mother's face like that of a corpse? 

Ans : For old age the poet's mother's face is pale, faded and lifeless like that of a corpse. 

Q. 6. What do the words, “ashen”, “open mouthed”, and “corpse” — signify? (HS: 14) 

Ans : The words ashen, 'open mouthed', and •corpse' signify ageing and decay. 

Q. 7. Who looks out at 'young trees'? 

Ans : The poet looks out at 'young trees'. 

Short Answer Questions : ( 2 - 3 Marks ) 

Q.1. What does the speaker do after the security check? What does she notice? 

Ans: After the security check in "My Mother at Sixty-Six," the speaker boards the airplane and takes her seat. As she settles in, she notices her mother sitting beside her. It becomes clear that her mother is feeling tired and vulnerable, clutching her handbag tightly. The speaker observes her mother's frailty and how her face appears to have aged significantly. This observation serves as a poignant reminder of the passage of time and the inevitable effects of aging on her beloved mother.

Q. 2. How does the poet's mother look like? What kind of images has thepoet used to signify her ageing decay? 

Ans : The poet mother looked like asked, lifeless as dead body (corpse), wan an pale as like as the let winter's moon.

She signifies the aging decay of her 66 years old mother will some images as the faded ashes pale moon of last winter and the half opened mouth of her mother at the airport.

Q. 3. What does the poet see happening outside? 

Ans: In "My Mother at Sixty-Six," the poet observes the surroundings outside while traveling with her aging mother. She witnesses the streets passing by, dotted with shops, buildings, and trees. As she gazes out, she notices young boys riding bicycles, carefree and full of life. The traffic moves swiftly, and the cars appear like colorful toys. Through her observations, the poet contrasts the vibrancy and energy of the external world with her mother's fragile state, further highlighting the contrast between youth and old age.

Q. 4. Why does the poet feel her old familiar ache and what is her childhood fear? 

In "My Mother at Sixty-Six," the poet experiences an old familiar ache as she observes her aging mother beside her. This ache represents a deep sense of emotional connection and empathy that the poet feels towards her mother. It is a poignant reminder of the inevitable passage of time and the fragility of life. The poet's childhood fear is also referenced in the poem, as she recalls the fear of her mother's mortality that haunted her as a child. This fear resurfaces in the present, intensifying the poet's emotional response and adding to her ache as she confronts the reality of her mother's aging.