My Mother at Sixty-six
A. Very Short Answer Questions
1. Who is the poet of “My Mother at Sixty-six”?
Answer: The poem was written by Kamala Das.
2. Where was the poet going?
Answer: She was going to the Cochin airport.
3. Who was sitting beside the poet in the car?
Answer: Her mother was sitting beside her.
4. How old was the poet’s mother?
Answer: She was sixty-six years old.
5. What was the mother doing in the car?
Answer: She was dozing with her mouth open.
6. How did the mother’s face look?
Answer: Her face looked pale and ashen.
7. What did the poet compare her mother’s face to?
Answer: She compared it to that of a corpse.
8. What did the poet see outside the car?
Answer: She saw young trees and merry children.
9. Why did the trees appear to be sprinting?
Answer: Because the car was moving fast.
10. What do the young trees symbolize?
Answer: Youth, energy and life.
11. What do the merry children symbolize?
Answer: Joy, vitality and youthfulness.
12. What did the poet do to avoid the painful thought?
Answer: She looked outside the car.
13. What did the poet compare her mother to at the airport?
Answer: She compared her to a late winter’s moon.
14. Why is the late winter’s moon an appropriate comparison?
Answer: Because it is pale, weak and lacking brightness, like the ageing mother.
15. What is the poet’s “old familiar ache”?
Answer: It is her childhood fear of losing her mother.
16. What are the poet’s parting words?
Answer: “See you soon, Amma.”
17. Why does the poet smile repeatedly?
Answer: To hide her sorrow and reassure her mother.
18. What is the main theme of the poem?
Answer: Ageing, fear of separation, love for one’s mother and the inevitability of death.
B. Textbook Exercise
1. What kind of pain and ache does the poet feel?
Answer:
The poet feels an old and familiar emotional pain when she notices her mother’s ageing face. It reminds her of the fear she has carried since childhood—the fear of losing her mother. The thought of old age, separation and death fills her with sadness and anxiety.
2. Why are the young trees described as “sprinting”?
Answer:
The poet is travelling in a moving car. As the car moves quickly, the trees outside appear to rush backward. This creates the illusion that they are “sprinting.” The image also contrasts the energy of youth with the stillness and weakness of the ageing mother.
3. Why does the poet mention the merry children “spilling out of their homes”?
Answer:
The merry children represent youth, joy and vitality. Their energetic movement sharply contrasts with the poet’s mother, who is weak, pale and dozing. This contrast deepens the poem’s theme of youth versus old age.
4. Why is the mother compared to the “late winter’s moon”?
Answer:
The late winter’s moon appears pale, weak and without much brightness. In the same way, the poet’s mother looks faded and frail because of old age. The comparison expresses the effects of ageing and the poet’s fear of separation.
5. What do the poet’s parting words and smile signify?
Answer:
The words “See you soon, Amma” express hope and reassurance. The repeated smile hides the poet’s inner fear and sadness. She does not want her mother to see her anxiety, so she smiles to remain cheerful and comforting.
C. Short Answer Questions
1. Where is the poet going and who is with her?
Answer:
The poet is travelling from her parents’ home to the Cochin airport. Her sixty-six-year-old mother is sitting beside her in the car.
2. How does the poet describe her mother?
Answer:
The poet describes her mother as old, weak and pale. She is dozing with her mouth open, and her ashen face looks almost like that of a corpse. These details reveal the physical effects of ageing.
3. Why does the poet “put that thought away” and look outside?
Answer:
The sight of her mother’s pale face reminds the poet of ageing and death. Unable to bear the painful thought, she deliberately turns her attention outside the car to distract herself.
4. Describe the contrast between the scene inside and outside the car.
Answer:
Inside the car, the mother appears weak, silent and lifeless, representing old age and decline. Outside, the young trees seem to sprint and children play happily, representing youth and energy. The contrast highlights the cycle of life.
5. Why does the poet feel her “old familiar ache”?
Answer:
She feels the ache because her mother’s ageing face reminds her of the childhood fear of losing her. The fear of separation has returned as the mother has become old and frail.
6. What is the poet’s childhood fear?
Answer:
Her childhood fear is the fear of separation from her mother and of eventually losing her to death.
7. What does the image “ashen like that of a corpse” suggest?
Answer:
It suggests the mother’s pale, weak and lifeless appearance. It also hints at the poet’s fear of death and separation.
8. What were the poet’s feelings at the airport?
Answer:
At the airport, the poet feels deeply sad and anxious. Seeing her mother from a distance makes her aware of her frailty and old age. Yet she controls her emotions and tries to remain cheerful.
9. How does the poet hide her sorrow?
Answer:
She hides it by smiling repeatedly and saying, “See you soon, Amma,” even though she is internally disturbed.
10. What do the young trees and children together symbolize?
Answer:
They symbolize youth, movement, vitality and continuity of life.
D. Long Answer Questions
1. Discuss the theme of ageing and separation in “My Mother at Sixty-six.”
Answer:
The poem focuses on the emotional pain caused by ageing and the fear of separation.
While travelling to the airport, the poet notices her mother dozing beside her. Her pale and ashen face makes the poet suddenly aware of her old age and mortality. This brings back a childhood fear—the fear of losing her mother.
To escape the painful thought, she looks outside and sees young trees and happy children. These images of youth and energy contrast sharply with the mother’s frailty.
At the airport, the mother is again compared to a late winter’s moon, suggesting weakness and fading life. The poet’s repeated smile and hopeful farewell hide her anxiety.
Thus, the poem presents the universal human fear of losing a loved one and the inevitability of ageing and separation.
2. How does Kamala Das use contrast in the poem?
Answer:
Contrast plays an important role in the poem.
The mother is old, pale, silent and weak, while the trees outside appear to sprint and the children are full of joy and movement. The mother represents ageing and decline, whereas the outer world represents youth and life.
Another contrast appears between the poet’s inner sadness and her outward smile. Though she is deeply worried, she pretends to be cheerful.
Through these contrasts, Kamala Das makes the emotional tension of the poem more powerful.
3. Explain the significance of the image of the “late winter’s moon.”
Answer:
The “late winter’s moon” is a powerful image of ageing.
A winter moon is pale, dim and lacking the brightness of a full summer moon. In the same way, the poet’s mother has lost the energy and glow of youth.
The image also suggests decline and the approach of an ending, which strengthens the poet’s fear of losing her mother.
4. What is the central idea of “My Mother at Sixty-six”?
Answer:
The central idea of the poem is the poet’s love for her ageing mother and her fear of separation.
The poem shows how the sight of an old parent can suddenly remind a child of mortality. The poet’s mother appears weak and pale, and this brings back an old childhood fear.
Yet the poet does not openly express her anxiety. She smiles and says goodbye with hope. The poem is therefore about love, ageing, fear and emotional restraint.
E. Poetic Devices
1. “Young trees sprinting”
Device: Personification.
Explanation: The trees are described as if they could run.
2. “Merry children spilling out of their homes”
Device: Visual imagery.
Explanation: It creates a lively picture of children rushing out joyfully.
3. “Ashen like that of a corpse”
Device: Simile.
Explanation: The mother’s pale face is compared to that of a dead body.
4. “As a late winter’s moon”
Device: Simile.
Explanation: The mother’s pale face is compared to a weak winter moon.
5. “Smile and smile and smile”
Device: Repetition.
Explanation: It emphasizes the poet’s effort to hide her sadness.
6. Contrast
Explanation: The ageing mother is contrasted with young trees and merry children.
F. Important Additional Questions
1. Why does the poet use the word “ashen”?
Answer:
It suggests a pale, colourless appearance associated with weakness and old age.
2. Why is the mother shown dozing?
Answer:
Her dozing state reflects tiredness, weakness and the slowing down associated with ageing.
3. What does the phrase “spilling out” suggest?
Answer:
It suggests children coming out in large numbers with energy and excitement.
4. Why does the poet look at her mother again at the airport?
Answer:
Before parting, she looks at her mother once more and is struck by her pale, weak appearance.
5. Why is the poet’s smile significant?
Answer:
It shows emotional control. She hides her fear to protect both herself and her mother from sadness.
6. Is the poem only about the poet’s mother?
Answer:
No. It expresses a universal fear of ageing, separation and the loss of loved ones.
7. What is the mood of the poem?
Answer:
The mood is reflective, sad and affectionate.
8. What does the poem reveal about the poet’s relationship with her mother?
Answer:
It reveals deep love, emotional attachment and fear of separation.
9. What does the outside world represent?
Answer:
It represents life, youth, energy and continuity.
10. What does the mother represent in the poem?
Answer:
She represents old age, physical decline and mortality.
G. MCQs — 20
1. Who wrote “My Mother at Sixty-six”?
A) Kamala Das
B) Adrienne Rich
C) Shirley Toulson
D) Elizabeth Jennings
Answer: A) Kamala Das
2. Where was the poet going?
A) Delhi station
B) Cochin airport
C) Mumbai airport
D) School
Answer: B) Cochin airport
3. Who was sitting beside the poet?
A) Her sister
B) Her daughter
C) Her mother
D) Her friend
Answer: C) Her mother
4. What was the mother doing?
A) Reading
B) Talking
C) Smiling
D) Dozing
Answer: D) Dozing
5. How did the mother’s face look?
A) Ashen
B) Bright
C) Red
D) Cheerful
Answer: A) Ashen
6. The mother’s face was compared to—
A) a flower
B) a corpse
C) a star
D) the sun
Answer: B) a corpse
7. Why did the trees appear to be sprinting?
A) Because of wind
B) Because they were young
C) Because the car was moving fast
D) Because children were running
Answer: C) Because the car was moving fast
8. The merry children symbolize—
A) old age
B) sadness
C) death
D) youth and vitality
Answer: D) youth and vitality
9. Why did the poet look outside?
A) To distract herself from painful thoughts
B) To find the airport
C) To talk to children
D) To watch the road
Answer: A) To distract herself from painful thoughts
10. The mother is compared at the airport to—
A) the sun
B) a late winter’s moon
C) a star
D) a cloud
Answer: B) a late winter’s moon
11. What does “old familiar ache” refer to?
A) Physical illness
B) Headache
C) Fear of losing her mother
D) Travel sickness
Answer: C) Fear of losing her mother
12. What are the poet’s parting words?
A) Goodbye, Mother
B) Take care
C) I will call you
D) See you soon, Amma
Answer: D) See you soon, Amma
13. What does the repeated smile indicate?
A) An attempt to hide sadness
B) Great happiness
C) Humour
D) Excitement
Answer: A) An attempt to hide sadness
14. “Young trees sprinting” is an example of—
A) Simile
B) Personification
C) Metaphor only
D) Irony
Answer: B) Personification
15. “Like that of a corpse” is an example of—
A) Repetition
B) Alliteration
C) Simile
D) Personification
Answer: C) Simile
16. The poem mainly deals with—
A) travel
B) nature only
C) childhood games
D) ageing and fear of separation
Answer: D) ageing and fear of separation
17. The outside scene is used mainly to create—
A) contrast
B) humour
C) suspense
D) anger
Answer: A) contrast
18. The late winter’s moon suggests—
A) great power
B) weakness and fading brightness
C) joy
D) youth
Answer: B) weakness and fading brightness
19. The tone of the poem is mainly—
A) comic
B) angry
C) reflective and sad
D) adventurous
Answer: C) reflective and sad
20. The poem expresses—
A) dislike for old age
B) fear of travel
C) interest in nature
D) love for the mother and fear of losing her
Answer: D) love for the mother and fear of losing her
Teacher Generate Question Answer
My Mother at Sixty-six
TEXTBOOK EXERCISES
1. What kind of pain and ache does the poet feel?
Ans: The poet feels a deep emotional pain when she sees the pale and lifeless face of her mother. This reminds her of the fear she had since childhood—the fear of ageing, separation and death. She realizes that time spares no one and that her mother is growing old and weak. This thought fills her with sadness and anxiety.
2. Why are the young trees described as “sprinting”?
Ans: The young trees are described as “sprinting” because the poet is travelling in a fast-moving car. When a vehicle moves quickly, the stationary objects outside appear to move rapidly in the opposite direction. This creates the illusion that the trees are running or “sprinting”.
3. Why does the poet mention the merry children “spilling out of their homes”?
Ans: The poet uses the image of joyful children to create a contrast with her ageing mother. While her mother appears weak, silent and lifeless, the children are full of energy and happiness. This contrast highlights the difference between youth and old age.
4. Why is the mother compared to the “late winter’s moon”?
Ans: The poet compares her mother to the late winter’s moon because both appear pale, dull and weak. Just as the winter moon lacks brightness and strength, the mother’s face looks faded and lifeless due to old age. The comparison effectively shows the effects of ageing.
5. What do the poet’s parting words and smile signify?
Ans: The poet’s words “See you soon, Amma” and her repeated smiles show her attempt to hide her fear and sadness. Although she is worried about her mother’s health and ageing, she smiles to reassure her mother and give her hope that they will meet again soon.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. Where is the poet going and who is with her?
Ans: The poet is travelling from her parents’ home to the Cochin airport. Her mother is sitting beside her in the car. The mother is dozing during the journey and appears weak and tired.
2. How does the poet describe her mother? What images are used to show ageing?
Ans: The poet describes her mother as old, weak and pale. She is dozing with her mouth open and her face looks faded and lifeless. The poet uses images such as an “ashen face” and a “corpse” to show the effects of ageing and decay.
3. Why does the poet “put that thought away” and look outside?
Ans: The poet tries to ignore the painful thought of her mother’s ageing and possible death. To distract herself, she looks outside the car window. There she sees lively scenes of nature and young children, which remind her of life, energy and activity.
4. Describe the contrast between the scene inside the car and outside.
Ans: Inside the car, the poet’s mother looks weak, silent and lifeless, representing old age and decay. Outside the car, the trees appear to be sprinting and the children are playing happily. These lively images represent youth, energy and life. The contrast highlights the difference between youth and old age.
5. Why does the poet feel her “old familiar ache”? What is her childhood fear?
Ans: The poet feels her old familiar ache when she sees her mother’s pale face and realizes that she is growing old. This reminds her of her childhood fear of losing her mother. The fear is connected with ageing, separation and death, which are unavoidable parts of life.
6. What were the poet’s feelings at the airport? How did she hide them?
Ans: At the airport, the poet feels sad and worried about her ageing mother. The sight of her mother’s pale face reminds her of death and separation. However, she hides her emotions by smiling repeatedly and speaking cheerful words to comfort her mother.
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