My Mother at Sixty-six Summary, Complete Explanation Q&A Bonus

My Mother at Sixty-six Summary Class 12 English Flamingo Book English Poem 1 line-by-line Explanation. My Mother at Sixty Six Literary Devices, word meanings

Line-by-line Explanation of “My Mother at Sixty-six” by Kamala Das

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1. “Driving from my parent’s home to Cochin last Friday morning”
The poem begins with the poet on a journey from her ancestral home to the city of Cochin. The setting provides a backdrop for the emotional reflections that follow.

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2. “I saw my mother, beside me, doze, open mouthed, her face ashen like that of a corpse”
As the poet observes her mother sleeping, she notices how old and frail she looks. Her pale, lifeless appearance reminds the poet of a dead body, symbolizing the fear of losing her mother to old age.

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3. “and realised with pain that she was as old as she looked but soon put that thought away”
The poet feels a deep pain as she becomes aware of her mother’s aging. It’s a painful realization that her mother is nearing the end of her life. However, the poet tries to avoid dwelling on the thought, possibly as a way to escape the emotional burden.

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4. “and looked out at young trees sprinting, the merry children spilling out of their homes”
To distract herself from her painful thoughts, the poet shifts her attention to the scenery outside. She notices young trees rushing by, symbolizing energy, youth, and life in contrast to her aging mother. The children, full of joy, represent vitality and a carefree existence—further emphasizing the contrast between youth and old age.

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5. “but after the airport’s security check, standing a few yards away, I looked again at her, wan, pale as a late winter’s moon”
After reaching the airport, the poet looks at her mother again from a distance. Her mother looks pale and weak, just like the dim moon in the late winter sky, symbolizing the fading of life and the approach of death.

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6. “and felt that old familiar ache, my childhood’s fear”
The sight of her mother’s frailty brings back an old fear from the poet’s childhood—the fear of separation and losing her mother. This moment makes the poet realize that her childhood fear has now become more real as her mother ages.

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7. “but all I said was, see you soon, Amma, all I did was smile and smile and smile……”
Despite the fear and emotional turmoil, the poet does not express her feelings openly. Instead, she smiles repeatedly, hiding her sadness, and says goodbye with hope, trying to assure herself that they will meet again. The repetition of “smile” suggests the difficulty of masking her emotions.

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Essence of the Poem

In “My Mother at Sixty-six,” Kamala Das captures the theme of aging, separation, and the inevitable reality of death. Through simple yet evocative imagery, the poem reflects the deep bond between a daughter and her mother. The fleeting nature of life is contrasted with youthful energy and movement, emphasizing the emotional struggle of accepting her mother’s aging. The poet’s use of a single sentence across the entire poem mirrors the uninterrupted flow of her thoughts and feelings, oscillating between painful awareness and hopeful distraction.

Literary Devices used in the poem

1. Simile in the poem My Mother at Sixty-six
   • The poet uses similes to create vivid imagery and comparisons.
     • “Her face ashen like that of a corpse”: This compares her mother’s pale face to that of a dead body, symbolizing her frailty and the inevitability of death.
     • “Pale as a late winter’s moon”: The fading moon symbolizes the mother’s declining vitality and nearing end of life.
2. Metaphor in the poem My Mother at Sixty-six
   • The line “young trees sprinting” is a metaphor that reflects the energy and liveliness of youth in contrast to the poet’s mother’s stillness.
3. Imagery in the poem My Mother at Sixty-six
   • Visual imagery is used extensively to evoke emotions and convey themes. Examples include the description of the mother’s “ashen face,” the “young trees sprinting,” and the children “spilling out of their homes.” These images contrast life’s vibrancy with the stillness of old age.
4. Personification
   • The trees are described as “sprinting,” giving human qualities to non-human elements to emphasize movement and life outside.
5. Contrast
   • The poem juxtaposes youth and old age, liveliness and stillness—e.g., the joyful children versus the poet’s aged mother. This contrast highlights the inevitability of aging and death.
6. Symbolism in the poem My Mother at Sixty-six
   • The “winter’s moon” symbolizes old age, decay, and the passing of time, just as winter marks the end of the life cycle.
   • The airport symbolizes separation, indicating the emotional distance the poet feels from her mother as she grows older.
7. Alliteration
   • The repetition of consonant sounds creates rhythm.
     • “Smile and smile and smile” – the repetition of ‘s’ creates a flowing effect, emphasizing the forced, repeated smiles to conceal the poet’s emotions.
8. Enjambment
   • The poem flows in a single, continuous sentence, with thoughts running from one line to the next without punctuation. This reflects the poet’s unfiltered emotions and the stream of consciousness style of writing.
9. Repetition
   • The word “smile” is repeated to show the poet’s attempt to hide her sadness and fear behind a smile. This repetition also conveys the emotional weight of the moment.
10. Tone

• The tone of the poem is melancholic and reflective, as the poet grapples with her mother’s aging and the fear of separation.

These literary devices enhance the emotional depth of the poem and convey the poet’s fear, love, and acceptance in a subtle yet powerful way.

Glossary of Difficult Words and Expressions in “My Mother at Sixty-six”

Word/Expression	Meaning
Doze	A light sleep or nap.
Ashen	Extremely pale, like ash; suggesting sickness or lifelessness.
Corpse	A dead body.
Put that thought away	To try to stop thinking about something unpleasant or disturbing.
Sprinting	Running at full speed; here, it refers to the trees appearing to move fast as the car drives by.
Merry children	Happy and joyful children.
Spilling out	Coming out in large numbers; suggests carefree movement.
Wan	Pale and weak, indicating tiredness or illness.
Late winter’s moon	A moon seen in late winter, which appears dim and faded, symbolizing old age and nearing death.
Old familiar ache	A deep emotional pain the poet has felt before, referring to her childhood fear of losing her mother.
Childhood’s fear	The fear the poet had as a child—being separated from or losing her mother.
Smile and smile and smile	Repeated smiling to hide true emotions, like sadness and fear.

Think It Out – Questions and Answers of My Mother at Sixty-six

1. What is the kind of pain and ache that the poet feels?
   • The poet feels an emotional pain and a sense of deep sorrow as she realizes her mother is aging and approaching the end of her life. It also revives her childhood fear of separation from her mother, making her confront the painful reality of losing her one day.
2. Why are the young trees described as ‘sprinting’?
   • The trees appear to be sprinting because the poet’s car is moving fast. Metaphorically, the sprinting trees symbolize the vitality and energy of youth, which contrasts with the stillness and frailty of her aging mother.
3. Why has the poet brought in the image of the merry children ‘spilling out of their homes’?
   • The image of merry children symbolizes youth, joy, and the carefree nature of childhood. This vibrant image is used to contrast with the poet’s somber thoughts about her mother’s old age and the inevitability of death.
4. Why has the mother been compared to the ‘late winter’s moon’?
   • The mother is compared to the late winter’s moon because, just like the moon at the end of winter appears dim, pale, and waning, the mother too looks lifeless and frail, symbolizing her declining health and approaching death.
5. What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?
   • The poet’s parting words, “see you soon, Amma,” reflect her attempt to reassure both herself and her mother that they will meet again, even though she is filled with the fear of losing her. Her repeated smiles mask her sadness and fear, as she tries to put on a brave face to hide her true emotions.

Extract-based MCQs from “My Mother at Sixty-six”

These MCQs focus on key themes, literary devices, and the emotions expressed in the poem.

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Extract 1:

“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”

1. What does the expression ‘ashen like that of a corpse’ indicate about the poet’s mother?
   a) She is tired.
   b) She is angry.
   c) She is lifeless and pale.
   d) She is cheerful.
   Answer: c) She is lifeless and pale.
2. What emotion does the poet feel upon seeing her mother?
   a) Joy
   b) Excitement
   c) Pain and sorrow
   d) Pride
   Answer: c) Pain and sorrow
3. What does the phrase ‘as old as she looked’ imply?
   a) The mother looks younger than her age.
   b) The mother’s appearance matches her old age.
   c) The poet feels her mother is healthy.
   d) The poet thinks her mother is not old.
   Answer: b) The mother’s appearance matches her old age.

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Extract 2:

“but soon
put that thought away, and
looked out at young
trees sprinting, the merry children spilling
out of their homes”

1. Why does the poet try to ‘put that thought away’?
   a) She wants to focus on the scenery outside.
   b) She wants to avoid the painful thought of her mother’s old age.
   c) She feels it is unimportant.
   d) She gets distracted by her phone.
   Answer: b) She wants to avoid the painful thought of her mother’s old age.
2. What do the ‘young trees sprinting’ symbolize?
   a) Movement of the car
   b) The energy and vitality of life
   c) The poet’s feelings of sadness
   d) The beauty of nature
   Answer: b) The energy and vitality of life
3. What is the significance of the ‘merry children spilling out of their homes’?
   a) It symbolizes youth and joy.
   b) It represents discipline.
   c) It hints at the poet’s childhood memories.
   d) It shows the poet’s dislike of children.
   Answer: a) It symbolizes youth and joy.

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Extract 3:

“but after the airport’s
security check, standing a few yards
away, I looked again at her, wan,
pale as a late winter’s moon”

1. What does ‘wan’ mean?
   a) Happy and bright
   b) Pale and weak
   c) Angry
   d) Cheerful
   Answer: b) Pale and weak
2. Why is the mother compared to a ‘late winter’s moon’?
   a) To highlight her energy and enthusiasm
   b) To suggest that she looks dull and lifeless
   c) To compare her with the night sky
   d) To emphasize the beauty of old age
   Answer: b) To suggest that she looks dull and lifeless
3. What does the distance between the poet and her mother symbolize?
   a) Physical and emotional separation
   b) The poet’s independence
   c) The mother’s happiness
   d) The poet’s confusion
   Answer: a) Physical and emotional separation

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Extract 4:

“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……”

1. What is the ‘old familiar ache’ the poet refers to?
   a) A fear of traveling
   b) A childhood fear of losing her mother
   c) A memory of a physical injury
   d) The poet’s dislike of parting
   Answer: b) A childhood fear of losing her mother
2. Why does the poet smile repeatedly?
   a) To show excitement
   b) To hide her sadness and fear
   c) To confuse her mother
   d) To make her mother laugh
   Answer: b) To hide her sadness and fear
3. What do the poet’s parting words, “see you soon, Amma,” convey?
   a) A sense of certainty
   b) A sense of reassurance and hope
   c) A hint of anger
   d) A lack of interest in her mother
   Answer: b) A sense of reassurance and hope

Important Questions with Answers on “My Mother at Sixty-six”

Find below ten additional subjective questions on My Mother at Sixty-six by Kamala Das, covering various aspects of poetry comprehension. Each answer is in simple language and is limited to 40-50 words.

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1. What does the poet’s comparison of her mother’s face to a corpse suggest?
   • The comparison suggests that the poet’s mother is visibly aging and fragile. Her pale, lifeless appearance reminds the poet of mortality and the inevitability of death, evoking a deep sense of sadness and fear in the poet.
2. How does the poet use contrast in the poem to highlight her emotions?
   • The poet contrasts her mother’s still, lifeless appearance with the vibrant images of sprinting trees and joyful children. This contrast reflects her inner conflict between the despair of her mother’s aging and the vitality of the world around her.
3. What does the poet mean by “childhood’s fear” in the poem?
   • “Childhood’s fear” refers to the poet’s fear of losing her mother. This is a primal, deeply rooted fear she has carried since childhood, which resurfaces as she realizes her mother’s old age and frailty.
4. How does Kamala Das portray the theme of separation in the poem?
   • Separation is portrayed through the poet’s realization of her mother’s aging and their eventual parting. The physical distance as the poet leaves for the airport symbolizes the emotional and eventual permanent separation from her mother.
5. What is the significance of the poet’s repeated use of “smile” in the last line?
   • The repeated “smile” indicates the poet’s attempt to mask her inner pain. She tries to reassure her mother and herself, suppressing her fear and sadness with a comforting, yet forced, expression of happiness.
6. Why does the poet choose to focus on children “spilling out of their homes”?
   • The image of children spilling out represents innocence, energy, and the beginning of life. This image starkly contrasts with her mother’s aging, underscoring the natural cycle of life from childhood to old age.
7. What emotions does the poet experience upon observing her mother closely?
   • Observing her mother closely, the poet feels sadness, fear, and helplessness. Her mother’s frailty makes her confront the reality of aging and mortality, which deeply distresses her.
8. Explain the symbolism of the “late winter’s moon” in the poem.
   • The “late winter’s moon” symbolizes the mother’s faded vitality and nearing end, as winter often represents decline or death. Just as the moon loses its brightness in winter, the mother has lost her youthful vigor.
9. How does the poet’s use of imagery enhance the theme of aging in the poem?
   • The poet uses vivid imagery, such as “corpse” and “late winter’s moon,” to illustrate her mother’s aging and frailty. These images emphasize the unavoidable effects of time and the physical decline that accompanies aging.
10. In what way does the poem reflect the universal theme of mortality?
    • The poem reflects mortality through the poet’s realization of her mother’s impending death. It conveys the universal experience of witnessing loved ones age and the inevitability of death, a reality that everyone must face.