English My Mother Extra Questions

DAV Public School, Dwarka

Class-VIII(2016-17)                  Subject-English                         Poem-My Mother

                                                            by A.P.J.Abdul Kalam

Extra Questions

Q1.What different images flash across the poet’s mind as he thinks of his mother?

Ans. Waves of the sea, the sea-shore, the street that he lived in and the faith that as a child, he saw among the pilgrims all reminded the poet of his mother.

Q2. What does the child feel about the protection that the mother gave him?

Ans. The child felt that there was something God like in the protection that his mother gave him. Her divine love infused strength and fearlessness in him.

Q3. Why did the child have to wake up hours before sunrise?

Ans. The child’s day started very early, when he covered a long distance to go to a saintly teacher. Walking a few more miles he went to attend the Arab school. After that he distributed newspapers to earn wages. Thus he had to get up very early to cope up with all these activities, before leaving for school.

Q4. How did the mother’s piety affect her children’s life?

Ans. The mother’s piety strengthened the children. It gave them fearlessness to face the world. They grew up strong enough to face the challenges of life.

Q5. What does the line ‘We will meet again on the great Judgement Day, My Mother!’ show?

Ans. The child has a longing to see the mother. Being a devout muslim, he believes that on the great day of Judgement he will get an opportunity to see her. This line shows his love for the mother as well as deep faith in his religion.

Q6. Give examples of literary devices used in the poem.

Ans. The following literary devices have been used in the poem:

a.    Simile

Example-‘You come to me like heaven’s caring arms’

b.    Repetition

Example- ‘your love, your care, your faith’

Questions for Practice:

Q1. How did the child feel during the war days?

Q2. What sort of feelings did the child have for his mother?

Q3. ‘Gave me strength’.What kind of strength is the poet talking about? How does the poet get his strength?

Q4. ‘I still remember the day when I was ten’. What incident is the poet reminded of?

Q5. The poet’s childhood days were full of struggle. What did he have to do to help his family?