NCERT Solutions Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 9 My Mother at Sixty-six
Flamingo Chapter 9
My Mother at Sixty-six Class 12
Chapter 7 My Mother at Sixty-six Exercise Answers & Summary
Before you read : Solutions of Questions on Page Number : 90
Q1 :
Ageing is a natural process; have you ever thought what our elderly parents
expect from us?
Answer :
Aged people usually undergo pangs of loneliness and need companionship. The
pessimistic approach they develop towards life can be shunned only if we provide them
with abundant love, care, importance and empathy. They expect their children to sit
calmly and talk to them about the happenings of their lives and to take their suggestions
for making significant decisions. Their lost vitality can thus be easily rejuvenated. This
happiness will encourage them to live life enthusiastically.
(A model answer has been provided for students' reference. It is strongly recommended
that students prepare the answer on their own.)
Think it out : Solutions of Questions on Page Number : 91
Q1 :
What is the kind of pain and ache that the poet feels?
Answer :
The poet, while leaving her parent's home, observes her mother's pallid face. For the
poet, the 'ashen' face of her mother, lost of all vitality and colour, bears resemblance to
a corpse. She realises, with pain, that her mother has grown old and is nearing her
death. Such thoughts make her recollect her childhood fear and anxiety of losing her
mother. The idea of getting separated from her mother distresses her. Even her smiles
are an expression of her helplessness at the face of what is inevitable.
Q2 :
Why are the young trees described as 'sprinting'?
Answer :
While driving to the airport, in an effort to distract herself from the thoughts of her ageing
mother, the poet looks at the young trees 'sprinting'. The trees seem to be running past
the moving car. The sprinting of the trees symbolises the rapidly passing years of
human's life from childhood to old age. This image, which shows activity and strength, is
contrasted with that of her old and weak mother who seems dormant, sleeping in the
car. The 'young' trees represent life in contrast to her mother's approaching death.
Q3 :
Why has the poet brought in the image of the merry children 'spilling out of their
homes'?
Answer :
In the poem, the poet has shown contrasting images of life and death. She has
incorporated the image of the merry children, running out of their houses to play, in
order to signify liveliness, vigor, health, beauty and happiness. This image is a sharp
contrast to that of her mother who is nearing her death and has become old, inactive,
weak and withered. The poet has juxtaposed the two images to indicate the contrasts
between them. Childhood marks the beginning of life whereas old age marks its end.
Q4 :
Why has the mother been compared to the 'late winter's moon'?
Answer :
With the growing age, the poet's mother has started losing all her vitality and radiance.
The poet uses the simile of 'late winter's moon' for her mother to indicate her
approaching death.
Winter, being the last season of the year, is synonymous with lifelessness and
dormancy. And, a winter's moon is also pale-white in colour bearing close resemblance
with her mother who, having lost all her strength and beauty, looks 'wan' and 'pale' to
the poet. Her mother, too, is in the last phase of her life.
Q5 :
What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?
Answer :
The poet's parting words, "see you soon, Amma," signify both her farewell to her mother
and an effort to leave her with optimism and cheer. They also enable the poet to
empathise with the sense of isolation faced by her mother in the old age.
Her smiles signify her helplessness at the face of her mother's inevitable death. They
express her love and concern for her mother along with the underlying pain and struggle
that she undergoes in coming to terms with this bitter realisation.
