1.

MY MOTHER AT SIXTY SIX – BY KAMALA DAS :-

### **1. Title Significance**

The title *”My Mother at Sixty-Six”* reflects the central theme of the poem—the poet’s
realization of her mother’s aging and mortality. The specific age emphasizes the poet’s
deep emotional response to her mother’s frailty and the fear of losing her.

### **2. Message of the Poem**

Kamala Das conveys the universal theme of aging and the inevitability of death. She
highlights the emotional turmoil experienced when witnessing a loved one grow old and the
struggle to accept this harsh reality. The poem also explores the deep bond between a
mother and daughter.

### **3. Theme of the Poem**

- Aging and mortality

- Fear of separation

- Parent-child relationship

- Emotional conflict and helplessness

### **4. Tone Used in the Poem**

The tone of the poem is **nostalgic, melancholic, and reflective**. The poet expresses
**sadness and helplessness** as she sees her mother’s declining health. However, in the
end, she tries to mask her sorrow with a forced smile, making the tone **bittersweet**.

### **5. Poetic Devices Used**

- **Simile**: Comparison using “like” or “as” (e.g., “as a late winter’s moon”)

- **Personification**: Objects given human qualities (e.g., “trees sprinting”)

- **Imagery**: Vivid descriptions of the mother’s pale face, sprinting trees, and happy
children

- **Contrast**: The dullness of the mother’s face vs. the liveliness outside the car

- **Repetition**: “Smile and smile and smile” (emphasizing the poet’s attempt to hide her
pain)

### **6. Rhyming Scheme of the Poem**

The poem is written in **free verse** with no fixed rhyme scheme, which enhances its
conversational and introspective tone.

### **7. All Poetic Devices with Sentences from the Poem**

- **Simile**: “I looked again at her, wan, pale / as a late winter’s moon” (Comparison of the
mother’s face to a fading winter moon)

- **Personification**: “Trees sprinting” (The trees appear to move rapidly as seen from the
moving car)

- **Imagery**: “I saw my mother, beside me / doze, open-mouthed, her face ashen like that
/ of a corpse” (Creates a vivid image of the mother’s aging and weakness)

- **Contrast**: “Children spilling out of their homes” (Lively, youthful energy vs. mother’s
aging)

- **Repetition**: “Smile and smile and smile” (Shows the poet’s effort to hide her sorrow)

### **8. Analysis of the Poem**

The poet, while driving to the airport with her mother, notices her frail, aged appearance,
triggering a deep sense of fear and sadness. She momentarily diverts her thoughts by
looking at the outside world, which is full of energy and life. However, the realization of her
mother’s mortality returns, leading to an emotional farewell where she tries to hide her pain
with a smile.
### **9. Central Idea**

The poem reflects the universal theme of **aging, separation, and emotional conflict**. It
highlights the fear of losing a loved one and the pain of witnessing a parent’s gradual
decline. The poet struggles between acceptance and denial, ultimately masking her sorrow
with a forced smile.

Most Important Extract (Based on CBSE 12 Board Exam)**

**Extract:**

*”I looked again at her, wan, pale*

*as a late winter’s moon and felt that old*

*familiar ache, my childhood’s fear,*

*but all I said was, see you soon, Amma,*

*all I did was smile and smile and smile.”*

**Question:**

1. Why does the poet compare her mother to a “late winter’s moon”?

2. What is the “childhood’s fear” mentioned in the poem?

3. How does the poet conceal her emotions at the end of the poem?

4. What is the significance of repetition in the last line?

2. A THING OF BEAUTY – JOHN KEATS

1. Title Significance
The title “A Thing of Beauty” highlights the poem’s central idea—that beautiful things
provide everlasting joy and serve as a source of comfort and inspiration. Keats emphasizes
that beauty is eternal and never fades, making life meaningful despite its struggles.

2. Message of the Poem

Keats conveys that beauty has a transformative power; it brings joy, provides solace, and
helps people cope with hardships. The poem suggests that nature’s beauty, art, and noble
deeds create a lasting impact on human lives, offering an escape from sadness and
suffering.

3. Theme of the Poem

The permanence of beauty

The connection between beauty and happiness

Nature’s role in healing human suffering

The contrast between suffering and the soothing effect of beauty

4. Tone Used in the Poem

The poem has an optimistic, appreciative, and celebratory tone. Keats expresses
admiration for nature’s beauty and its ability to uplift the human spirit. The tone remains
consoling and soothing, emphasizing the eternal joy derived from beautiful things.

5. Poetic Devices Used

Imagery: Vivid descriptions of nature (e.g., daffodils, streams, forests)

Metaphor: Beauty compared to an endless source of joy

Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds (e.g., “cooling covert”)

Personification: Beauty is given human-like qualities (e.g., “Some shape of beauty moves
away the pall”)

Symbolism: Nature symbolizes eternal beauty and hope

6. Rhyming Scheme of the Poem

The poem follows the rhyming scheme AABBCC, maintaining a musical and harmonious
flow.

7. All Poetic Devices with Sentences from the Poem

Imagery: “And such too is the grandeur of the dooms / We have imagined for the mighty
dead” (Visual imagery of heroic past figures)

Metaphor: “A bower quiet for us” (Beauty is compared to a sheltering bower)

Alliteration: “Cooling covert” (Repetition of ‘c’ sound)

Personification: “Some shape of beauty moves away the pall” (Beauty is depicted as
removing sadness)

Symbolism: “Endless fountain of immortal drink” (Symbolizes the eternal nature of beauty)

8. Analysis of the Poem

Keats, a Romantic poet, believes that beauty exists eternally and can counteract the
suffering of life. He describes how nature—trees, flowers, rivers, and even heroic tales—
provides spiritual nourishment. He contrasts the harsh realities of life with the healing
power of beauty, reinforcing the idea that beauty is a divine blessing that gives hope and
joy.

9. Central Idea

The poem revolves around the idea that beauty is eternal and has the power to provide
solace amid life’s struggles. Keats asserts that beautiful things, whether in nature, art, or
human achievements, offer comfort and inspire the human spirit to transcend sorrow.

Most Important Extract (Based on CBSE 12 Board Exam)

Extract:

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever:

Its loveliness increases; it will never

Pass into nothingness; but still will keep

A bower quiet for us, and a sleep

Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.”

Question:

What does the poet mean by “A thing of beauty is a joy forever”?

How does beauty provide solace to human beings?

Explain the phrase “a bower quiet for us.”

What does the poet mean by “it will never pass into nothingness”?

3.KEEPING QUIET – PABLO NERUDA

1. Title Significance

The title “Keeping Quiet” signifies the poet’s call for introspection, silence, and peace. It
suggests that by pausing and reflecting in silence, humanity can foster understanding,
harmony, and unity, ultimately leading to a more meaningful life.

2. Message of the Poem

Neruda emphasizes the importance of stillness and self-reflection. He urges humans to

take a break from their relentless activities to appreciate the world, understand each other,
and realize the futility of war, destruction, and materialism. Silence can bring unity and a
deeper connection with nature and ourselves.

3. Theme of the Poem

The necessity of self-introspection

The importance of peace and silence

The impact of human activities on nature

Universal brotherhood and unity

4. Tone Used in the Poem

The tone of the poem is calm, reflective, and persuasive. Neruda adopts a meditative tone
to encourage humanity to pause, reflect, and embrace peace. There is also an optimistic
and hopeful tone, as he believes that silence and introspection can lead to a better world.
 5. Poetic Devices Used

Metaphor: Stillness and silence compared to self-introspection

Anaphora: Repetition of “we would” (e.g., “we would all be together… we would all stop”)

Personification: Earth depicted as alive and capable of teaching lessons

Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds (e.g., “sudden strangeness”)

Imagery: Descriptions of fishermen, salt gatherers, and war to depict destruction

6. Rhyming Scheme of the Poem

The poem is written in free verse, meaning it does not follow a fixed rhyming scheme.

7. All Poetic Devices with Sentences from the Poem

Metaphor: “Fishermen in the cold sea / would not harm whales” (Symbolizes ceasing
harmful activities)

Anaphora: “we would all be together / in a sudden strangeness” (Repetition of “we would”)

Personification: “Earth can teach us as when everything seems dead and later proves to be
alive” (Earth is given human-like qualities of teaching)

Alliteration: “Sudden strangeness” (Repetition of ‘s’ sound)

Imagery: “Those who prepare green wars” (Vivid image of war and destruction)

8. Analysis of the Poem

Neruda calls for a universal moment of stillness where people abandon their routine
activities to reflect on their actions. He criticizes human recklessness, war, and
environmental destruction. He does not equate silence with inaction but sees it as an
opportunity for renewal. He compares Earth’s cycles to human potential for rejuvenation.

9. Central Idea

The poem highlights the importance of silence and self-reflection in creating a peaceful
world. It urges people to pause, introspect, and stop destructive activities to realize the
deeper meaning of life.
Most Important Extract (Based on CBSE 12 Board Exam)

Extract:

“Now we will count to twelve

And we will all keep still.

For once on the face of the Earth

Let’s not speak in any language,

Let’s stop for one second,

And not move our arms so much.”

Question:

Why does the poet ask us to “count to twelve”?

What is the significance of keeping still?

How does the poet emphasize unity in the poem?

What is the poet’s ultimate vision in these lines?

4. A ROADSIDE STAND- BY ROBERT FROST:-

1. Title Significance

The title “A Roadside Stand” refers to a small shop set up by poor villagers along highways,
hoping to sell their goods to travelers. It symbolizes the struggles of rural people trying to
earn a livelihood and their disappointment when ignored by city dwellers.

2. Message of the Poem

Frost highlights the economic disparity between the rural poor and the wealthy urban
class. He emphasizes the plight of villagers who seek financial independence but remain
neglected. The poet urges society to recognize and support the underprivileged instead of
merely offering false promises.

3. Theme of the Poem

Economic disparity between rural and urban life

The struggles of poor villagers

False promises of development

The indifference of city people towards the poor

4. Tone Used in the Poem

The poem has a sympathetic and critical tone. Frost expresses empathy for the rural poor
and their unfulfilled dreams while criticizing the wealthy for their ignorance and
indifference. Towards the end, the tone becomes pessimistic, reflecting the poet’s
frustration with societal inequality.

5. Poetic Devices Used

Imagery: Vivid descriptions of the roadside stand, nature, and vehicles

Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds (e.g., “polished traffic passed”)

Personification: The roadside stand is given human-like emotions

Metaphor: “The flower of cities” symbolizes urban prosperity

Irony: The poor expect help from the rich but are only met with neglect

6. Rhyming Scheme of the Poem

The poem follows a mixed rhyming pattern but does not maintain a strict scheme
throughout. It is written in free verse with a conversational style.

7. All Poetic Devices with Sentences from the Poem

Imagery: “The little old house was out with a little new shed” (Visual image of the roadside
stand)

Alliteration: “Polished traffic passed” (Repetition of ‘p’ sound)

Personification: “The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint” (The stand is ‘hurting’
the scenery)

Metaphor: “The flower of cities” (Symbolizes the wealth and beauty of cities)

Irony: “It is in the news that all these pitiful kin / Are to be bought out and mercifully
gathered in” (False promises of upliftment)

8. Analysis of the Poem

Frost portrays the stark contrast between rural hardship and urban prosperity. The roadside
stand represents the hopes of poor villagers, who rely on city travelers to buy their
products. However, these travelers ignore them, treating the stand as an eyesore rather
than a source of livelihood. The poet also criticizes government schemes that promise to
uplift the poor but fail to deliver real change.

9. Central Idea

The poem highlights the economic disparity between the rich and the poor. It conveys the
struggles of rural people who seek economic independence but face neglect from city
dwellers and broken promises from authorities.

Most Important Extract (Based on CBSE 12 Board Exam)

Extract:

“The little old house was out with a little new shed

In front at the edge of the road where the traffic sped,

A roadside stand that too pathetically pled,

It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread

But for some of the money, the cash, whose flow supports

The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint.”

Question:
What does the poet mean by “pathetically pled”?

Why is the roadside stand set up?

Explain the phrase “the cash, whose flow supports / The flower of cities.”

How does the poet highlight the plight of the poor in these lines?

5. AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGERS- BY ADRIENNE RICH

### **1. Title Significance**

The title *”Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers”* highlights the contrast between Aunt Jennifer’s timid,
oppressed life and the fearless, vibrant tigers she creates in her embroidery. The tigers
symbolize her unfulfilled desires for strength, freedom, and independence.

### **2. Message of the Poem**

Adrienne Rich presents the struggles of women in a patriarchal society. Aunt Jennifer’s
embroidery reflects her longing for a life free from oppression. The poet emphasizes the
burdens imposed by gender roles and expresses the silent suffering of women trapped in
unhappy marriages.

### **3. Theme of the Poem**

- Gender oppression and patriarchy

- Female empowerment and freedom

- Art as an escape from reality

- Contrast between fear and strength

### **4. Tone Used in the Poem**

The tone of the poem is **sympathetic and critical**. The poet sympathizes with Aunt
Jennifer’s struggles while criticizing the societal norms that restrict women’s
independence. The tone also carries a sense of **sadness and irony**, as Aunt Jennifer’s
art reflects the strength she lacks in real life.

### **5. Poetic Devices Used**

- **Imagery**: Vivid descriptions of tigers and Aunt Jennifer’s trembling fingers

- **Metaphor**: “The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band” symbolizes marital

oppression

- **Alliteration**: Repetition of consonant sounds (e.g., “fingers fluttering,” “prancing,

proud”)

- **Symbolism**: Tigers symbolize power and freedom; wedding band represents

patriarchal dominance

- **Contrast**: Aunt Jennifer’s weakness vs. the tigers’ strength

### **6. Rhyming Scheme of the Poem**

The poem follows a **regular rhyming scheme (AABB)**, giving it a structured and rhythmic
flow.

### **7. All Poetic Devices with Sentences from the Poem**

- **Imagery**: “Bright topaz denizens of a world of green” (Vivid image of fearless tigers)

- **Metaphor**: “The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band” (Marriage as a burden)

- **Alliteration**: “Fingers fluttering” (Repetition of ‘f’ sound)

- **Symbolism**: “Tigers” (Symbolize freedom and strength), “Wedding band” (Represents

patriarchal dominance)

- **Contrast**: “They do not fear the men beneath the tree” (Tigers’ fearlessness vs. Aunt
Jennifer’s oppression)

### **8. Analysis of the Poem**

The poem portrays Aunt Jennifer as a woman trapped in an unhappy marriage, burdened by
patriarchal expectations. However, through her embroidery, she creates tigers that are
fearless, energetic, and free—qualities she longs for but lacks. Even in death, she remains
bound by societal constraints, while her tigers live on, representing her unfulfilled dreams.

### **9. Central Idea**

The poem explores gender oppression, portraying a woman’s struggle for self-expression in
a male-dominated society. Aunt Jennifer’s tigers symbolize her suppressed desires for
strength and independence.

Extract based questions from all the poems :-

Extract-Based Ques. from “My Mother at Sixty-Six”

**Extract 1:**

**”Driving from my parent’s home to Cochin last Friday morning,

I saw my mother, beside me,

Doze, open-mouthed, her face ashen like that

Of a corpse and realised with pain

That she was as old as she looked…”**

**Questions:**

1. Where was the poet driving to?

2. What did the poet notice about her mother?

3. Why was the poet’s mother’s face compared to a corpse?

4. What was the poet’s reaction to this realization?

5. Name the poetic device used in “her face ashen like that of a corpse.”
**Answers:**

1. The poet was driving from her parent’s home to Cochin airport.

2. The poet noticed that her mother was dozing with her mouth open, and her face was pale
and lifeless.

3. The mother’s face was compared to a corpse because it had turned pale, reflecting her
old age and fragility.

4. The poet felt deep pain and sadness upon realizing her mother’s old age and
approaching death.

5. The poetic device used is **simile** (“ashen like that of a corpse”).

#### **Extract 2:**

**”…and felt that old

Familiar ache, my childhood’s fear,

But all I said was, see you soon, Amma,

All I did was smile and smile and smile…”**

**Questions:**

1. What was the poet’s childhood fear?

2. Why did the poet feel that old, familiar ache?

3. Why did the poet only say “see you soon, Amma”?

4. What is the significance of the poet’s repeated use of “smile”?

5. Identify the poetic device in “smile and smile and smile.”

**Answers:**

1. The poet’s childhood fear was the loss of her mother.

2. The poet felt the ache because she was reminded of her mother’s aging and the
possibility of losing her.

3. The poet said “see you soon, Amma” to hide her emotions and not upset her mother.

4. The repetition of “smile” signifies the poet’s attempt to conceal her sadness and
maintain a hopeful outlook.

5. The poetic device used is **repetition** (“smile and smile and smile”).

#### **Extract 3:**

**”…but soon

Put that thought away, and

Looked out at young

Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling

Out of their homes…”**

**Questions:**

1. What thought did the poet put away?

2. What do “young trees sprinting” symbolize?

3. What contrast is presented in this extract?

4. What effect does the phrase “merry children spilling out of their homes” create?

5. Identify the poetic device in “trees sprinting.”

**Answers:**

1. The poet put away the thought of her mother’s old age and possible death.

2. “Young trees sprinting” symbolize energy, youth, and the continuity of life.

3. The contrast is between the poet’s aging mother (symbolizing old age and decay) and the
energetic young trees and children (symbolizing life and growth).
4. The phrase highlights liveliness and joy, in contrast to the poet’s gloomy thoughts about
her mother.

5. The poetic device used is **personification** (“trees sprinting”).

#### **Extract 4:**

**”She looked but soon

Put that thought away, and

Looked out at young

Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling

Out of their homes,

But after the airport’s

Security check, standing a few yards away,

I looked again at her, wan, pale…”**

**Questions:**

1. Why did the poet look away from her mother?

2. What does the phrase “wan, pale” suggest about the poet’s mother?

3. How does the security check serve as a turning point in the poem?

4. What emotions does the poet experience in this moment?

5. Identify the poetic device used in “merry children spilling out of their homes.”

**Answers:**

1. The poet looked away to distract herself from the painful thought of her mother’s old age.

2. It suggests her mother’s frailty, weakness, and approaching death.

3. It marks the moment of final separation, making the poet’s realization of her mother’s
mortality more intense.

4. The poet feels sorrow, helplessness, and nostalgia as she looks at her mother.

5. The poetic device used is **imagery** (creating a vivid picture of lively children).

#### **Extract 5:**

**”…I looked again at her, wan, pale

As a late winter’s moon and felt that old

Familiar ache, my childhood’s fear…”**

**Questions:**

1. Why is the mother compared to a “late winter’s moon”?

2. What is the poet’s “old familiar ache”?

3. What does the phrase “childhood’s fear” refer to?

4. How does this comparison enhance the poem’s theme?

5. Identify the poetic device in “pale as a late winter’s moon.”

**Answers:**

1. The mother is compared to a late winter’s moon because she appears weak, pale, and
lifeless, much like the moon in winter.

2. The “old familiar ache” is the pain of separation and the fear of losing her mother.

3. “Childhood’s fear” refers to the poet’s deep-rooted fear of losing her mother, which she
has felt since childhood.

4. This comparison reinforces the themes of aging, mortality, and the inevitable passage of
time.

5. The poetic device used is **simile** (“pale as a late winter’s moon”).

Extract-Based Questions from “Keeping Quiet”

#### **Extract 1:**

**”Now we will count to twelve

And we will all keep still.

For once on the face of the Earth

Let’s not speak in any language,

Let’s stop for one second,

And not move our arms so much.”**

**Questions:**

1. What does the poet mean by “count to twelve”?

2. Why does the poet ask everyone to keep still?

3. What is the significance of “not speak in any language”?

4. What does “not move our arms so much” symbolize?

5. Identify the poetic device in “we will all keep still.”

**Answers:**

1. “Count to twelve” symbolizes a brief pause for reflection, unity, and introspection.

2. The poet urges stillness to promote peace, self-awareness, and a break from the chaos
of daily life.

3. It signifies eliminating barriers created by language and fostering universal unity.

4. It symbolizes stopping unnecessary activity, violence, and conflicts that harm nature and
humanity.
5. The poetic device used is **alliteration** (“we will”).

#### **Extract 2:**

**”It would be an exotic moment

Without rush, without engines,

We would all be together

In a sudden strangeness.”**

**Questions:**

1. What does the poet mean by “exotic moment”?

2. How can stopping engines contribute to the poet’s vision?

3. What kind of “sudden strangeness” is referred to here?

4. How does this extract connect to the theme of the poem?

5. Identify the poetic device in “without rush, without engines.”

**Answers:**

1. “Exotic moment” refers to a unique and rare experience of peace, silence, and unity.

2. Stopping engines would reduce noise, pollution, and destruction, allowing humans to
connect with nature.

3. The “sudden strangeness” refers to the unfamiliar experience of complete silence and
stillness in the world.

4. It highlights the poet’s message of self-reflection and the need to slow down from our
mechanical lives.

5. The poetic device used is **repetition** (“without rush, without engines”).

#### **Extract 3:**

**”Fishermen in the cold sea

Would not harm whales

And the man gathering salt

Would look at his hurt hands.”**

**Questions:**

1. What is the poet’s view on fishermen and their actions?

2. How does the phrase “not harm whales” contribute to the theme of the poem?

3. What does “the man gathering salt” symbolize?

4. What is the significance of “look at his hurt hands”?

5. Identify the poetic device used in “man gathering salt would look at his hurt hands.”

**Answers:**

1. The poet suggests that fishermen should pause their activities and stop harming marine
life.

2. It emphasizes the importance of coexistence and the need to protect nature.

3. The “man gathering salt” symbolizes hard-working laborers and their daily struggles.

4. It signifies self-reflection, as people often ignore their suffering in the pursuit of survival.

5. The poetic device used is **imagery** (vivid description of the fisherman and the
laborer).

#### **Extract 4:**

**”Those who prepare green wars,

Wars with gas, wars with fire,

Victory with no survivors,

Would put on clean clothes

And walk about with their brothers

In the shade, doing nothing.”**

**Questions:**

1. What are “green wars” and “wars with gas and fire”?

2. Explain the meaning of “victory with no survivors.”

3. What does the poet want people to do instead of engaging in wars?

4. What is the symbolic meaning of “put on clean clothes”?

5. Identify the poetic device used in “victory with no survivors.”

**Answers:**

1. “Green wars” refer to environmental destruction, while “wars with gas and fire” refer to
armed conflicts and chemical warfare.

2. It means that wars lead to destruction where nobody truly wins.

3. The poet urges people to abandon violence and embrace peace and brotherhood.

4. “Put on clean clothes” symbolizes a fresh start, free from violence and bloodshed.

5. The poetic device used is **paradox** (“victory with no survivors”).

#### **Extract 5:**

**”If we were not so single-minded

About keeping our lives moving,

And for once could do nothing,

Perhaps a huge silence

Might interrupt this sadness

Of never understanding ourselves

And of threatening ourselves with death.”**

**Questions:**

1. What does the poet mean by “single-minded about keeping our lives moving”?

2. How can “doing nothing” help people, according to the poet?

3. What is the “huge silence” referred to in this extract?

4. How does the poet link sadness with self-awareness?

5. Identify the poetic device used in “threatening ourselves with death.”

**Answers:**

1. It means that people are too focused on material progress and forget self-reflection.

2. “Doing nothing” allows people to pause, reflect, and understand themselves better.

3. The “huge silence” symbolizes inner peace and clarity that comes from self-
introspection.

4. The poet suggests that by always being busy, people fail to understand themselves,
leading to sadness.

5. The poetic device used is **personification** (“silence might interrupt sadness”).

Extract-Based Questions from “A Thing of Beauty”

#### **Extract 1:**

**”A thing of beauty is a joy forever:

Its loveliness increases, it will never

Pass into nothingness; but will keep

A bower quiet for us, and a sleep

Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.”**

**Questions:**

1. What does the poet mean by “A thing of beauty is a joy forever”?

2. How does a beautiful thing give joy forever?

3. What does the poet mean by “It will never pass into nothingness”?

4. What is a “bower,” and how does it help us?

5. Identify the poetic device in “A bower quiet for us, and a sleep full of sweet dreams.”

**Answers:**

1. The poet means that beautiful things always bring happiness and remain a source of joy
forever.

2. A beautiful thing’s impact never fades; it continues to inspire and provide comfort over
time.

3. It means that true beauty never dies or fades away; its effect lasts eternally.

4. A “bower” is a shady, peaceful place that provides rest and relaxation, shielding people
from sorrow.

5. The poetic device used is **imagery** (describing beauty as a restful, dream-filled

experience).

#### **Extract 2:**

**”Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing

A flowery band to bind us to the Earth,

Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth

Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,

Of all the unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways

Made for our searching.”**

**Questions:**

1. What do we do every morning, according to the poet?

2. What does “a flowery band” symbolize?

3. What difficulties does the poet mention in this extract?

4. How does beauty help us overcome these difficulties?

5. Identify the poetic device in “A flowery band to bind us to the Earth.”

**Answers:**

1. The poet says that every morning, we renew our connection with the beauty of nature.

2. “A flowery band” symbolizes the bond between humans and nature, which brings
happiness and peace.

3. The poet talks about sadness, lack of noble people, suffering, and the dark paths of life.

4. Beauty helps by providing hope, joy, and a sense of peace amid life’s struggles.

5. The poetic device used is **metaphor** (“a flowery band” as a symbol of nature’s
positive influence).

#### **Extract 3:**

**”Yes, in spite of all,

Some shape of beauty moves away the pall

From our dark spirits.”**

**Questions:**

1. What does “in spite of all” refer to?

2. How does beauty help to remove “the pall from our dark spirits”?

3. What does “pall” mean in this context?

4. What is the significance of “some shape of beauty”?

5. Identify the poetic device in “moves away the pall from our dark spirits.”

**Answers:**

1. “In spite of all” refers to the sadness, suffering, and negativity in the world.

2. Beauty removes sadness and brings hope, lifting our spirits.

3. “Pall” refers to the feeling of gloom and sorrow that covers our minds like a cloth over a
coffin.

4. “Some shape of beauty” means that beauty exists in many forms, such as nature, art, or
noble deeds, and always uplifts us.

5. The poetic device used is **metaphor** (beauty “moving away the pall” symbolizes
removing sorrow).

#### **Extract 4:**

**”Such the sun, the moon,

Trees old and young, sprouting a shady boon

For simple sheep; and such are daffodils

With the green world they live in.”**

**Questions:**

1. What are the examples of beauty mentioned in this extract?

2. What does “sprouting a shady boon” mean?

3. What does the phrase “simple sheep” symbolize?

4. How do natural elements contribute to beauty?

5. Identify the poetic device in “Trees old and young, sprouting a shady boon.”

**Answers:**

1. The poet mentions the sun, moon, trees, daffodils, and greenery as examples of beauty.

2. “Sprouting a shady boon” means providing cool shade as a blessing to living beings.

3. “Simple sheep” symbolizes innocence, purity, and the common people who benefit from
nature’s gifts.

4. Natural elements provide comfort, joy, and peace, making life more beautiful.

5. The poetic device used is **alliteration** (“shady boon, simple sheep”).

#### **Extract 5:**

**”And clear rills

That for themselves a cooling covert make

‘Gainst the hot season; the mid forest brake,

Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms.”**

**Questions:**

1. What are “clear rills,” and what do they do?

2. How do the rills provide relief during the hot season?

3. What is a “mid forest brake”?

4. What is the significance of “musk-rose blooms” in the poem?

5. Identify the poetic device in “Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms.”
**Answers:**

1. “Clear rills” are small streams that flow through the forest, providing fresh water.

2. They make a cool, shady place, offering relief from the summer heat.

3. A “mid forest brake” refers to a thick area of the forest with dense plants and flowers.

4. “Musk-rose blooms” symbolize nature’s eternal beauty and fragrance, adding to the
charm of life.

5. The poetic device used is **imagery** (describing the refreshing and beautiful scene in
the forest).

Extract-Based Questions from “A Roadside Stand”

#### **Extract 1:**

**”The little old house was out with a little new shed

In front at the edge of the road where the traffic sped,

A roadside stand that too pathetically pled,

It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread,

But for some of the money, the cash, whose flow supports

The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint.”**

**Questions:**

1. What is being described in these lines?

2. Why is the roadside stand said to “plead pathetically”?

3. What does the phrase “not for a dole of bread” suggest?

4. How does the poet contrast the roadside stand with the city’s economy?
5. Identify the poetic device used in “pathetically pled.”

**Answers:**

1. The poem describes a small roadside shop set up by poor villagers near the highway.

2. The stand “pleads pathetically” because the poor owners desperately hope for
customers to buy from them.

3. It suggests that the villagers are not begging but seeking fair payment for their goods.

4. The poet contrasts the rural poor, struggling for money, with the urban wealthy, who
control the flow of wealth.

5. The poetic device used is **alliteration** (“pathetically pled”).

#### **Extract 2:**

**”The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,

Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts

At having the landscape marred with the artless paint

Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong

Offered for sale wild berries in wooden quarts.”**

**Questions:**

1. Why does the “polished traffic” not stop at the roadside stand?

2. How do the passersby react to the roadside stand?

3. What does “artless paint” imply about the stand’s condition?

4. What does the incorrect placement of letters on the sign indicate?

5. Identify the poetic device in “The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead.”
**Answers:**

1. The travelers are in a hurry and do not care about the poor villagers selling their goods.

2. They feel annoyed or irritated, seeing the roadside stand as an eyesore.

3. It implies that the stand is poorly decorated, showing the villagers’ lack of resources and
skills.

4. It suggests the villagers’ lack of formal education and their struggle to attract customers.

5. The poetic device used is **personification** (giving “traffic” human qualities like having
a “mind ahead”).

#### **Extract 3:**

**”It is in the news that all these pitiful kin

Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in

To live in villages next to the theatre and the store,

Where they won’t have to think for themselves anymore,

While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey,

Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits.”**

**Questions:**

1. Who are the “pitiful kin” mentioned in the extract?

2. What is the promise given to them about their future?

3. Why does the poet call the so-called helpers “greedy good-doers”?

4. What does “enforcing benefits” suggest about the treatment of the rural poor?

5. Identify the poetic device in “greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey.”

**Answers:**
1. The “pitiful kin” refers to poor rural people who struggle to survive.

2. They are promised relocation to new villages near cities with better amenities.

3. The poet calls them “greedy good-doers” because they pretend to help but actually
exploit the poor for personal gain.

4. It suggests that the poor are forced to accept “help” that only benefits the rich and
powerful.

5. The poetic device used is **oxymoron** (“greedy good-doers” contrasts greed and
goodness).

#### **Extract 4:**

**”Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear

The thought of so much childish longing in vain,

The sadness that lurks near the open window there,

That waits all day in almost open prayer

For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car.”**

**Questions:**

1. What is the “childish longing” mentioned in the extract?

2. Why does the poet say that the longing is “in vain”?

3. What does “lurks near the open window” signify?

4. How does the imagery of “the squeal of brakes” add to the poem’s theme?

5. Identify the poetic device used in “The sadness that lurks near the open window there.”

**Answers:**

1. The “childish longing” refers to the poor villagers’ desperate hope that travelers will stop
to buy from them.
2. It is in vain because most travelers never stop at the roadside stand.

3. It signifies the villagers’ silent hope and sadness as they wait for customers.

4. The sound of brakes symbolizes their anticipation, but it rarely happens, emphasizing
their disappointment.

5. The poetic device used is **personification** (“sadness that lurks near the open
window”).

#### **Extract 5:**

**”The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint

So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid:

Here far from the city we make our roadside stand

And ask for some city money to feel in hand

To try if it will not make our being expand,

And give us the life of the moving-pictures’ promise.”**

**Questions:**

1. What does the poet mean by “hurt to the scenery”?

2. What is the “trusting sorrow of what is unsaid”?

3. What do the villagers hope for by selling their goods?

4. How does the phrase “life of the moving-pictures’ promise” reflect their dreams?

5. Identify the poetic device used in “the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid.”

**Answers:**

1. The poet means that the roadside stands may spoil the view for travelers, but this is not
his main concern.

2. It refers to the silent pain of the villagers, who hope for a better life but remain unheard.
3. They hope to earn some money from city travelers to improve their living conditions.

4. It suggests that the villagers dream of a life shown in movies—one of comfort,

happiness, and prosperity.

5. The poetic device used is **oxymoron** (“trusting sorrow” combines hope and
sadness).

Extract- Adrienne Rich’s “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers”:

Extract 1:

> Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,

> Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.

> They do not fear the men beneath the tree;

> They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.

>

Question 1:

* a) What does the phrase “bright topaz denizens” suggest about the tigers?

* b) What contrast is established between the tigers and “the men beneath the tree”?

* c) Explain the significance of “sleek chivalric certainty.”

Solution 1:

* a) “Bright topaz denizens” suggests that the tigers are radiant, precious, and natural
inhabitants of their green world. “Topaz” emphasizes their golden color and value, while
“denizens” reinforces their rightful place in their environment.

* b) The contrast is one of fearlessness versus potential threat. The tigers are depicted as
confident and unafraid, while the “men beneath the tree” are implicitly a source of
potential danger or oppression, which the tigers disregard.

* c) “Sleek chivalric certainty” implies that the tigers move with graceful, noble confidence.
“Chivalric” suggests a sense of dignity and bravery, while “certainty” highlights their
unwavering self-assurance.

Extract 2:
> Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool

> Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.

> The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band

> Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.

>

Question 2:

* a) What does the “fluttering” of Aunt Jennifer’s fingers reveal?

* b) What is the symbolic significance of “the ivory needle hard to pull”?

* c) How does the “massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band” contribute to the poem’s
theme?

Solution 2:

* a) The “fluttering” reveals Aunt Jennifer’s nervousness, weakness, and perhaps fear or
anxiety. It suggests that she is struggling and lacks strength.

* b) The “ivory needle hard to pull” symbolizes the difficulty and strain Aunt Jennifer
experiences in her life. It represents the oppressive burden she carries, making even simple
tasks challenging. The ivory needle also represents her art, and the difficulty to use it,
shows the difficulty she has in expressing herself.

* c) The “massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band” symbolizes the oppressive weight of her
marriage. It represents the control and burden imposed upon her, highlighting the theme of
patriarchal dominance and the lack of freedom.

Extract 3:

> When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie

> Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.

> The tigers in the panel that she made

> Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.

>

Question 3:

* a) What does “terrified hands” suggest about Aunt Jennifer’s life?

* b) What are the “ordeals she was mastered by”?

* c) What is the significance of the tigers “prancing, proud and unafraid” even after Aunt
Jennifer’s death?

Solution 3:

* a) “Terrified hands” suggests that Aunt Jennifer lived a life filled with fear and anxiety,
likely due to her oppressive marriage.

* b) The “ordeals she was mastered by” refer to the hardships and oppressive experiences
she endured in her marriage, particularly the control exerted by her husband.

* c) The tigers’ continued “prancing, proud and unafraid” symbolizes the enduring power of
art and the freedom Aunt Jennifer could only achieve through her creations. It also
represents the contrast between her constrained reality and the liberated world she
created, and the fact that her art will outlive her oppression.

Extract 4:

> Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.

>

Question 4:

* a) What literary device is used in the phrase “bright topaz denizens”?

* b) What does “world of green” represent?

Solution 4:

* a) The phrase uses a combination of imagery and metaphor. “Bright topaz” is a visual
image, and “denizens” suggests that the tigers are natural inhabitants. The entire phrase is
a metaphor for the natural habitat of the tigers.

* b) The “world of green” represents the natural, free, and untamed environment where the
tigers belong. It contrasts with the confined and oppressive world in which Aunt Jennifer
lives. It also represents freedom, and nature.

Extract 5:

> They do not fear the men beneath the tree;

>

Question 5:
* a) Who are “the men beneath the tree”?

* b) What does the phrase “they do not fear” reveal about the tigers?

Solution 5:

* a) “The men beneath the tree” are symbolic of the patriarchal figures who represent
oppression and control, particularly her husband, or men in general.

* b) “They do not fear” reveals the tigers’ inherent strength, confidence, and freedom from
fear. It highlights the contrast between the tigers’ fearless nature and Aunt Jennifer’s fearful
existence. It shows the freedom that Aunt Jennifer craves.