CBSE Class 12 English: My Mother at Sixty-six NCERT Solutions
CBSE Class 12 English, Chapter 9, 'My Mother at Sixty-six' delves into the poignant emotions of aging, separation, and the fear of loss. The poem beautifully captures the poet's realization of her mother's advancing age and the inevitable passage of time. Through vivid imagery and evocative language, the poet expresses her deep affection and the underlying sadness of their impending separation. The solutions explore the poem's central themes, analyzing the poet's perspective and the emotional journey she undertakes. We examine the use of literary devices that enhance the poem's impact, providing a deeper understanding of its nuances. This guide aims to help students connect with the poem's emotional core, offering insights into its themes of love, mortality, and the bittersweet nature of familial bonds. It serves as a valuable resource for comprehending the poem's profound message and preparing for examinations.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 12 |
| Subject | English |
| Session | 2026 |
| Language | English |
| Type | NCERT Solutions |
| Chapter | 9. My Mother at Sixty-six |
Chapter summary
NCERT Solutions for 'My Mother at Sixty-six' (Class 12 English) offers a detailed analysis of the poem. It covers comprehension of key stanzas, interpretation of imagery like the 'corpse-like' mother and 'sprinting' trees, and the poet's childhood fear of separation and death. The solutions explain the contrast between youth and old age, and the poet's efforts to mask her pain with smiles. This chapter's solutions focus on understanding poetic devices and emotional depth.
Learning outcomes
- Understand the central themes of aging, love, and separation in 'My Mother at Sixty-six'.
- Analyze the use of imagery and symbolism, such as the 'late winter's moon' and 'sprinting' trees.
- Interpret the poet's emotions and her coping mechanisms for dealing with fear and loss.
- Explain the contrast presented between youth and old age within the poem.
- Identify and understand the significance of the poet's childhood fear.
- Improve comprehension skills by analyzing poetic stanzas.
Topics covered
Paper topics
- Poem Analysis
- My Mother at Sixty-six
- Themes of Aging
- Mother-Daughter Relationship
- Fear of Separation
- Imagery and Symbolism
- Poetic Devices
- Comprehension Questions
- Stanza Interpretation
- Childhood Fears
- Contrast in Poetry
- Emotional Expression
Important topics
- Analysis of 'My Mother at Sixty-six'
- Themes: Aging, Love, Separation
- Symbolism: Late Winter Moon, Sprinting Trees
- Poet's Emotional Conflict
- Childhood Fear of Loss
- Contrast between Youth and Old Age
- The Poet's Coping Mechanism
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Questions and Solutions
Stanza 1 Questions
(a) Where was the poet driving to? Who was sitting beside her?
(b) What did the poet notice about her mother?
(c) Why was her mother's face looked like that of a corpse?
(d) Find words from the passage which mean: (i) sleep lightly (ii) dead body (iii) felt.
Solution:
(a) The poet was on a journey from her parents' home to the Cochin airport. Her mother was seated next to her in the car.
(b) The poet observed that her mother was dozing, with her mouth left open, and her face appeared pale and lifeless.
(c) The mother's face looked like that of a corpse because she had grown very old, and her features had become pale, faded, and lost their vitality, resembling the appearance of a dead body.
(d) The words from the passage are:
(i) doze
(ii) corpse
(iii) realised
Stanza 2 Questions
(a) What did the poet realise? How did she feel?
(b) What did she do then?
(c) What did she notice in the world outside?
(d) Find words from the passage which mean: (i) running fast (ii) happy (iii) moving out.
Solution:
(a) The poet realised that her mother was lost in her own thoughts, perhaps reflecting on her age and mortality. This realisation brought a sense of pain and sadness to the poet.
(b) To cope with the painful thoughts about her mother, the poet consciously diverted her attention away from her mother and looked out of the car window.
(c) Outside the car, the poet noticed young trees that appeared to be sprinting past, and happy children were seen spilling out of their homes, full of life and energy.
(d) The words from the passage are:
(i) sprinting
(ii) merry
(iii) spilling
Stanza 3 Questions
(a) What did the poet do after the security check?
(b) Why did the poet compare her mother's face to a late winter's moon?
(c) What is her childhood fear?
(d) How do the parting words of the poet and her smile present a contrast to her real feelings?
Solution:
(a) After completing the security check at the airport, the poet stood a few yards away from her mother and looked at her face once more.
(b) The poet compared her mother's face to a late winter's moon because the moon in late winter is often perceived as lacking brightness, warmth, and strength. Similarly, her mother's face was pale, wan, and seemed to have lost its youthful vigour and vitality due to old age.
(c) Her childhood fear is the deep-seated anxiety and apprehension related to the inevitable separation from her mother, which is linked to the natural process of aging and the ultimate fear of death.
(d) The poet's parting words, such as "See you soon, Amma," and her repeated smiles are a deliberate attempt to conceal her profound inner pain and the 'old familiar ache' of her childhood fear. This outward show of cheerfulness and assurance contrasts sharply with her true feelings of sorrow and anxiety about her mother's condition and their impending separation.
Q1. What is the kind of pain and ache that the poet feels?
What is the kind of pain and ache that the poet feels?
Solution: The poet feels a deep emotional pain and an 'old familiar ache' when she observes her mother's frail, pale, and corpse-like appearance. This pain stems from the realisation of her mother's advanced age and the inevitable approach of separation and mortality. It's a recurring fear, possibly harboured since childhood, that time and aging will eventually lead to loss.
Q2. Why are the young trees described as 'sprinting'?
Why are the young trees described as 'sprinting'?
Solution: The young trees are described as 'sprinting' to create a vivid contrast with the poet's aging mother. As the car moves swiftly towards the airport, the trees appear to be running past rapidly. This image of youthful energy and rapid movement highlights the stillness and frailty of the poet's mother, emphasizing the passage of time and the difference between youth and old age.
Q3. Why has the poet brought in the image of the merry children 'spilling out of their homes'?
Why has the poet brought in the image of the merry children 'spilling out of their homes'?
Solution: The image of 'merry children spilling out of their homes' is introduced to provide another stark contrast to the poet's mother. The children, full of life, joy, and spontaneous energy, represent vitality and youth. This vibrant scene stands in sharp opposition to the poet's mother, who appears lifeless, pale, and passive, thereby intensifying the emotional impact of the poem and highlighting the theme of aging and decay.
Common mistakes
- Misinterpreting the 'corpse-like' simile as literal rather than symbolic of decay and old age.
- Overlooking the contrast between the mother's state and the 'sprinting' trees or 'merry children'.
- Failing to connect the poet's smiles and parting words to her underlying fear and pain.
- Not recognizing the 'childhood fear' as a recurring motif related to separation and mortality.
Revision tips
- Reread the poem, focusing on the specific stanzas covered in the solutions.
- Pay close attention to the explanations of imagery and symbolism.
- Practice answering comprehension questions based on the provided examples.
- Reflect on the emotional journey of the poet and her mother.
- Summarize the main themes and contrasts in your own words.
Practice MCQs
Q1. What was the poet's destination on the last Friday morning?
Explanation: The poet was driving from her parents' home to Cochin airport, as stated in the first stanza.
Q2. The poet compares her mother's face to:
Explanation: The poet compares her mother's wan and pale face to 'a late winter's moon', symbolizing its lack of vitality and warmth.
Q3. What does the image of 'Young Trees sprinting' suggest?
Explanation: The 'sprinting' young trees represent the dynamic energy and vitality of youth and nature, contrasting with the mother's frailty.
Q4. What is the 'old familiar ache' that the poet feels?
Explanation: The 'old familiar ache' refers to the poet's deep-seated childhood fear of losing her mother due to aging and eventual separation or death.
Q5. Why does the poet smile and smile at the end?
Explanation: The poet's repeated smiles are a facade to conceal her inner pain and fear, offering a false sense of normalcy and reassurance to her mother.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main theme of the poem 'My Mother at Sixty-six'?
The main themes are the poet's fear of losing her aging mother, the passage of time, the inevitable process of aging, and the bittersweet emotions associated with separation and love.
Why does the poet compare her mother's face to a corpse?
The poet compares her mother's face to a corpse ('ashen like that of a corpse') to highlight her extreme paleness, lifelessness, and the visible signs of old age and decay.
What does the image of 'sprinting' young trees signify?
The 'sprinting' young trees represent the vibrant energy, speed, and vitality of youth and nature, which stands in stark contrast to the poet's frail and aging mother.
What is the 'childhood's fear' mentioned in the poem?
The 'childhood's fear' is the poet's long-held fear of separation from her mother, which is intensified by seeing her mother's aging and realizing the inevitability of loss and death.
How does the poet deal with her emotions at the end of the poem?
The poet masks her deep pain and fear with forced smiles and reassuring words like 'See you soon, Amma,' to hide her true feelings from her mother and maintain a semblance of normalcy.
What is the significance of the late winter moon simile?
Comparing her mother to a 'late winter's moon' emphasizes the mother's diminished vitality, warmth, and brightness, reflecting her advanced age and frail condition.
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