My Mother at Sixty Six Class 12 summary short explanation, question answers solved

CBSE NCERT class 12th poem my mother at sixty six

 ‘FLAMINGO’

POEM : . MY MOTHER AT SIXTY SIX  ( Kamala Das ) 

INTRODUCTION

Kamala Das is considered  to be one of the great Indian Poets writings in English, although her popularity in Kerala is based on her short stories ang autobiography.

   This poem ‘My Mother at Sixty-six’ revolves around the theme of advancing age and the  year adhered to it about loss and separation. We give a lot of importance to physical appearance; so the idea of growing old terrifies people. 

SUMMARY WITH EXPLANATION

The poet is on the way to Cochin, When she is stuck by the realization of her advancing age of her mother, who was sitting beside her in the car. Her mother’s face appeared ashen like that of a corpse This image disturbed her because it reminded her of her mother’s approaching death; it is very difficult for her to accept that her mother is creeping into the grips of old age. She then wanted to drive away this worrying thought: hence she looked out at the trees that appeared to be sprinting while she sat in the moving car. She also saw children rushing out of homes to play outside. Both these reminded her of youth and beauty. the green  trees racing past the speeding car were grim reminders of time which had passed. The joyous children playing outside gave her some respite as she was lost in her thoughts of old age. The children represented youth, energy and life. The poet was probably driven back to the days of her idyllic youth when the mother had been young. Now she was encircled in the fear of losing her, this made her feel insecure. She had this feeling whenever she looked at her mother as she  had lost the blush of youth and middle age and now in her twilight years had become as pale as  the winter’s is moon Even when she bid her mother goodbye at the airport she felt the old pain, but she smiled at her giving hope that she would return soon. She hides her emotional turbulence with a sweet smile gives her mother hope to survive.

A plethora of emotions races past the screen of the poet’s mind. She was afraid of growing old and sad because she was going away from her mother. She also must have felt guilty for not been able to be with her in her old age. There is also a longing for the lost youth and beauty in her. The poem contains two important image- of a corpse and late winter’s moon; both remind us of loss of beauty and charm and the approaching death and decay . The poem consists of one sentences and this indicates the single thread of thought interspersed with observations of the real world around and the way these are connected to the main idea.

My mother at sixty six question and answer ; 

Q1. What is the kind of pain and ache that the poet feels ?

Ans. When the poet looks at the pale and colorless face of her mother, her old pain, very familiar to her, revived. She was painted to realise that her mother was ageing and that might eventually lead to her ultimate end.

Q2. Why are the young trees described as ‘sprinting’ ?

Ans. Kamala Das Describes the young trees sprinting because it is an illusion one has when sitting in a vehicle. Actually, the car is moving with the person in it while trees remain static but the trees appear to be running because visually the passenger is focusing on the same spot while things [ trees ] move through it: hence appear to be sprinting.

Q3. Why has the poet brought in the image of the merry children ‘spilling out of their homes’ ?

Ans. The poet brought in the image of the merry children spilling out of their homes to convey the idea of youth and beauty in contrast to her ageing mother. The poet finds consolation by looking at those things are beautiful and full of life unlike her old mother.

Q4. Why has the mother been compared to the ‘late winter’s moon’ ?

Ans. The mother has been compared to the late winter’s moon she looks pale due to the old age. Her mouth was open and her face appeared very pale and withered. Hence it looked like the late winter’s pale moon.

Q5. What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify ?

Ans. The parting words of the poet to her mother signify hope and assurance not only to her mother but also to the poet herself. The poet’s heart aches to see her mother’s   but also to the poet herself. The poet’s heart aches to see her mother’s pale face which reminds her about her ageing away to her ultimate end. Her ‘smile’ means to hide this ache and fear the poet has been nurturing.

Some Other Questions

30-40 Words