Why has the poetess brought in the image of the merry children spilling out of their homes?
The poetess presents a fine contrast of happy children with her old mother. They represent continuity, vigour, life, power, action and care-free life. They are coming out of their houses to school happily in the morning. On the other hand her mother is sick, pale, weak and like a corpse. The combination of old age with that of children is a perfect blend of past and future.
Write the Central Theme of the poem ‘My Mother At Sixty-Six’.
Kamala Das has presented the complex subtleties of human relationship in this poem. She realises the pain and anxiety of her old-aged mother at sixty-six. She feels that her mother may pass away and leave her all alone. She is conscious of her duty and provides her moral support to see her very soon.
What are the poetess’ fears about her mother?
Or
What were the fears of the poetess as a child? Why do they surface at this stage?
Or
What were the poet’s fears as she looked at her mother?
While driving towards the airport, she looked at her old mother sitting beside her. She was aged, weak, pale and wan. She looked like a corpse. She was afraid lest she should die soon. Separation from her was a troublesome and heart-felt thought. These fears surfaced at this stage because the mother was going to see the poetess off at the Cochin airport.
Point out different poetic devices used by Kamala Das in her poem ‘My mother At Sixty-Six’.
The poem ‘My mother as Sixty-Six’ is full of imagery, contrast and simile. She describes her face ‘ashen’ like a corpse. She compares her wan face with a late winter’s moon.” The dozing mother is contrasted with sprinting young trees and spilling children out of their homes. Thus their is a fine blend of activity, life, decay and happiness.
What do the parting words of the poet, Kamala Das to her mother signify?
Or
What is the significance of the parting words of the poet and her smile in ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six’?
Or
What do the poet’s parting words to her mother signify?
The poet’s parting words signify to her mother some sort of hope. These express some promise and expectation of seeing her mother again. On her return she might find her alive. So she scatters a smile on her face to pay her mother her lasting tribute. On the other hand she is troubled at heart to leave her mother alone.
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