NCERT Solutions
for Class 12 English Flamingo

Chapter 1 My Mother at Sixty-six by Kamala Das

Updated
Syllabus for 2024-2025 Exams 

Q.1 What is the kind of pain and ache that
the poet feels?

Answer:
The pain and ache that the poet feels stem from the realization that her mother
is aging. As she observes her mother dozing off with an “ashen” face,
she is reminded of the inevitable reality of death. The poet feels the sorrow
of seeing her mother grow old and fears the separation that will come when her
mother passes away. This fear evokes a deep emotional response, which has been
with the poet since childhood.

Q.2 Why are the young trees described as
‘sprinting’?

Answer:
The young trees are described as ‘sprinting’ to symbolize the contrast between
the vitality of youth and the stillness of old age. As the poet drives by, the
trees seem to be running past, full of energy and movement, in stark contrast
to her aging mother, who appears motionless and frail. This imagery highlights
the inevitable cycle of life and the difference between the dynamic, lively
world outside and the stillness within the car.

Q.3 Why has the poet brought in the image
of the merry children ‘spilling out of their homes’?

Answer:
The poet brings in the image of merry children ‘spilling out of their homes’ to
further emphasize the contrast between youth and old age. The children
represent life, vitality, and new beginnings, while the poet’s mother
represents aging and the approach of death. This contrast serves to heighten
the poet’s sense of loss and fear as she contemplates her mother’s mortality.

Q.4 Why has the mother been compared to
the ‘late winter’s moon’?

Answer:
The mother has been compared to the ‘late winter’s moon’ because, like the
winter moon, she appears pale, wan, and weak. The winter moon is often seen as
dim and distant, lacking the brightness and warmth of the full moon. Similarly,
the poet’s mother looks fragile and aged, suggesting that her life is nearing
its end, much like the moon at the end of the winter season.

Q.5 What do the parting words of the poet
and her smile signify?

Answer:
The poet’s parting words, “see you soon, Amma,” and her smile signify
an attempt to mask her inner emotions. Though the poet feels deep pain and fear
at the thought of losing her mother, she chooses to hide these feelings behind
a smile to avoid causing her mother distress. The smile is an act of
reassurance, both for her mother and herself, as she tries to maintain
composure in the face of her overwhelming fear of separation.