Here are Extra Question Answers of the Chapter My Mother at Sixty-Six. This question bank includes everything you need to master My Mother at Sixty-Six .  This is updated as per 2024- 25 pattern. Go through to gain deep understanding and achieve a great score in exam of Class 12 English.

Here is the introduction for Chapter’ My Mother at Sixty-Six Class 12. (Extra Question)

The poem “My Mother at Sixty-Six” is written by Kamala Das and talks about her feelings as she notices her mother growing old. While traveling to the airport with her mother, she observes her looking pale, weak, and tired.

This sight brings back the poet’s childhood fear of losing her mother. To avoid thinking about her mother’s weakness, she looks outside the car window. She sees young trees moving fast and children playing. They are full of life and energy.

At the airport, after the security check, Kamala looks at her mother again and feels sad. However, she smiles to comfort both herself and her mother. The poem beautifully explores themes of aging, separation, and the bond between mother and daughter.

1. Theme-The main theme of the poem is aging and the fear of losing loved ones. It shows how time passes, and everyone grows old. The poet struggles with accepting this reality.

2. Moral-The poem teaches us to accept aging as a natural part of life and to cherish moments with loved ones, as separation is unavoidable.

3. Characters-The poem focuses on two characters: the poet, Kamala Das, and her mother. The mother is old and weak, while the poet feels worried and scared about losing her.

4. Progress of Thoughts-At first, Kamala notices her mother’s pale and weak appearance, which brings back her childhood fear of separation. To avoid sadness, she looks outside at the lively trees and children. Finally, at the airport, she hides her feelings with a smile to comfort her mother.

5. Message-The poem delivers the message that time moves fast, and we must accept the changes that come with aging. It reminds us to love and appreciate our family before it’s too late.

6. Imagery-The poet uses imagery like “young trees sprinting” and “late winter’s moon” to highlight the contrast between youth and aging.

7. Emotions-The poet feels sadness, fear, and worry but hides it behind a smile to protect her mother. This shows her deep love and care.

Main theme  of “My Mother at Sixty-Six ” in Short

The theme is the fear of losing a loved one.

Theme Justification

Let’s see how this theme is applicable to the Chapter“My Mother at Sixty-Six ”-

Theme Justification- The theme is clear when the poet sees her mother looking old and weak. This sight makes her feel scared and sad. She fears losing her mother. The poet tries to avoid this painful thought. However, she can’t escape the deep fear of loss. This reflects the theme well.

List of Themes

Let’s see some more themes appropriately applicable on the poem “My Mother at Sixty Six”

1. Fear of losing someone you love
2. Everyone gets old
3. Strong connection between mother and child

 Short Summary of ” My Mother at Sixty-Six ” (Extra Questions)

In the poem “My Mother at Sixty-Six,” Kamala Das talks about her feelings as she notices her mother growing old. While travelling to the airport, she sees her mother looking pale and weak, which reminds her of her childhood fear of losing her.

To avoid sadness, she looks outside at the lively world. Despite her fear, Kamala smiles at her mother to comfort both of them. The poem highlights the themes of ageing, time, and the fear of separation.

Word Meanings of ” My Mother at Sixty-Six -(Extra Questions)

Hard Words : My Mother at Sixty-six Page No.- 90

Driving = operating a car, steering (गाड़ी चलाना), Doze = nap, snooze (हल्की नींद), Open-mouthed = agape, gaping (मुँह खुला), Ashen = very pale, greyish (राख के रंग का), Corpse = dead body, remains (लाश), Realised = understood, grasped (समझना), Pain = ache, discomfort (दर्द),

Sprinting = dashing, rushing (तेज़ दौड़ना), Merry = joyful, happy (प्रसन्न), Children = kids, youngsters (बच्चे), Spilling out = emerging, overflowing (बाहर आना), Standing = upright, on feet (खड़ा होना), Yards = units of length, 3 feet (गज)

My Mother at Sixty-six Difficult Words in English Page No.- 91

Wan = pale, weak (पीला), Pale = light in color, not dark (फीका), Late = not on time, delayed (देर से), Old = not young, aged (बुढ़ा), Familiar = known, recognized (परिचित), Ache = pain, discomfort (दर्द)

Extract Based Questions of ” My Mother at Sixty-Six -(Extra Questions)

My Mother at Sixty-Six Extract Based MCQ questions – 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 pai
that she was as old as she looked but soon 
put that thought away,… 

1. Question: What does the speaker realise about his mother during the drive to Cochin?answer within 40 words.

Answer: The speaker realises that his mother looks very old as he sees her dozing off with an ashen face, and this sudden recognition of her age brings him a deep sense of sadness during their drive.

2. Question: State True or False.  

None of the terms (a)-(d) can be applied to the statement — “I saw my mother, beside me, doze, open mouthed”

(a) Metaphor – compares without “like” or “as.”

(b) Description – explains how something looks or acts.

(c) Simile – compares using “like” or “as.”

(d) Literal observation – states exactly what is seen.

Answer: False.  

The statement can be applied as (c) A simile,compared using “like”or “as”.

3. Question: The passage hints that the speaker’s feeling about his mother could be one of _____.

 Answers: Worry / Sadness / Fear / Realisation / Concern / Helplessness

Question: What might the speaker be feeling when he sees his mother?

Answer: The speaker might be feeling fear of losing her soon.

Short Answer Type Important Questions

1. Question: What emotions does Kamala Das experience when she sees her mother dozing beside her in the poem “My Mother at Sixty Six”?

Answer: Kamala Das feels a deep sense of fear and sadness when she sees her mother dozing with an ashen face. She realises that her mother has aged, which brings a familiar ache of losing her loved one.

2. Question: In the poem My Mother at Sixty-Six, why does the poet compare her mother’s face to a “late winter’s moon”?  

Answer: The poet compares her mother’s face to a “late winter’s moon” because it looks pale and weak. Like the moon in winter, her mother seems faded and distant, which shows that she is growing old and fragile.

3. Question: In the poem My Mother at Sixty-Six, how does the sight of young trees and children contrast with the poet’s feelings?  

Answer: The young trees and children are full of life and joy. They show energy and movement. This is very different from the poet’s feelings of fear and sadness. She worries about her mother’s ageing. The lively scene highlights the difference between youth and old age.

4.Question: In the poem My Mother at Sixty-Six, what does the poet’s repeated smile at the end signify?  

Answer: The poet’s repeated smile shows her effort to hide her true feelings. She feels sad and worried but smiles to comfort her mother and herself. The smile helps her mask the fear of losing her mother and pretend that everything is fine.

5.Question: In the poem My Mother at Sixty-Six, how does Kamala Das deal with the pain of seeing her mother’s ageing?  

Answer: Kamala Das distracts herself by looking outside at the young trees and children. She tries to push away the painful thoughts of her mother’s ageing, but the fear and sadness stay with her. This helps her avoid facing the harsh reality for a moment.

6.Question: In the poem My Mother at Sixty-Six, what message does it convey about the relationship between a mother and daughter?  

Answer: The poem shows the strong emotional bond between a mother and daughter. It highlights the daughter’s fear of losing her mother and the deep pain of watching a loved one grow old. The poem emphasises love, care, and the sadness of inevitable separation.

7.Question: How does the poem My Mother at Sixty-Six reflect the passage of time?  

Answer: The poem reflects the passage of time by contrasting the poet’s ageing mother with the lively young trees and children outside. It highlights how time quickly passes, turning youth into old age, and shows the inevitable process of growing older.

8.Question: In the poem My Mother at Sixty-Six, what role does imagination play in the poet’s reaction to her mother’s ageing?  

Answer: Imagination makes the poet’s fears stronger. She imagines her mother’s face as lifeless, like a corpse. This thought deepens her fear of losing her mother and makes the pain of seeing her age feel even more intense.

9.Question: In the poem My Mother at Sixty-Six, why does the poet feel a “familiar ache” when she looks at her mother?  

Answer: The poet feels a “familiar ache” because seeing her mother’s ageing reminds her of the childhood fear of losing her. This ache reflects the deep emotional bond she shares with her mother and the pain of facing her mother’s fragility.

10.Question: In the poem My Mother at Sixty-Six, how does the poet use the imagery of “sprinting trees” to convey her emotions?  

Answer: The imagery of “sprinting trees” shows how fast life and time move. It contrasts with the poet’s fear and sadness about her mother’s ageing. While everything outside is full of energy, the poet feels emotional turmoil, reflecting the tension between youth and old age.

Long Answer Type Important Questions

1.Question: How does Kamala Das’s description of her mother in “My Mother at Sixty-Six” reflect the theme of ageing? Answer in around 120 to 150 words.

Answer: Kamala Das’s description of her mother shows the theme of ageing in a clear way. She uses simple but strong images, like saying her mother’s face is “ashen like that of a corpse”. She also compares her to the “late winter’s moon.” This shows how weak and old her mother has become.

The poet feels sad and scared because ageing is something no one can stop. The lively world outside, with young trees and happy children, is very different from her mother’s tired look.

This contrast shows how time changes everything. The poet’s feelings about her mother getting older remind us that ageing affects not just the person growing old, but also their family, who have to face the fact that things won’t stay the same forever.

2. Question: How does the poem “My Mother at Sixty-Six” make you think about the importance of family relationships? Answer in around 120 to 150 words.

Answer: The poem shows how important family relationships are by highlighting the deep bond between Kamala Das and her mother. The poet is afraid of losing her mother and feels great pain as she watches her grow older. This makes us think about how precious our family relationships are.

The poem encourages us to cherish the time we have with our loved ones. It reminds us to express love and gratitude to them and be present, especially as they age. The emotional support we give and receive from our family helps us deal with the difficulties of life.

By focusing on our relationships with family, we can create lasting memories. We can also ensure that our loved ones feel valued, cared for, and appreciated throughout their lives.

3. Question: What role does the imagery of “sprinting trees” and “merry children” play in the poem, and how does it contrast with the poet’s emotions? Answer in around 120 to 150 words.

Answer: The images of “sprinting trees” and “merry children” in the poem create a lively and active scene. This is very different from the poet’s sadness and fear. While the world outside the car is full of energy and movement, the poet is thinking about her mother’s weakness and her fear of losing her.

This contrast shows the difference between the joy and energy of youth and the reality of growing old. The images remind us that time keeps moving forward, even when we feel scared of change and loss. The busy and happy scene outside makes the poet’s feelings seem even more serious. It helps the reader feel the poet’s inner struggle more strongly, as she deals with the pain of her mother’s ageing.

4. Question: How does the poem “My Mother at Sixty-Six” explore the idea of separation and the emotions that come with it? Answer in around 120 to 150 words.

Answer: The poem explores the idea of separation through Kamala Das’s emotions as she prepares to leave her mother. The poet’s “familiar ache” shows her fear and pain of being apart from her mother.

She knows her mother may not have much time left. The repeated smile at the end is the poet’s way of hiding her true feelings. It shows how hard it is to face separation. Many people can relate to this feeling. Being apart from loved ones often brings fear, sadness, and uncertainty.

The poem tells us that separation is a part of life. But the strong bond between mother and daughter remains. This bond can still bring comfort, even when they are far apart or facing loss.

5. Question: In what ways does the poem “My Mother at Sixty-Six” challenge our understanding of time and its effects on life? Answer in around 120 to 150 words.

Answer:The poem challenges our understanding of time by showing how it affects life and relationships. Kamala Das sees how time has aged her mother, turning her into someone frail and delicate.

The “sprinting trees” and “merry children” serve as reminders of how quickly time passes, contrasting with the poet’s wish to hold on to the present. This contrast highlights how time creates a sense of urgency.

It not only changes us physically but also impacts our relationships. The poem urges us to think about how we spend our time with loved ones. It encourages us to cherish these moments before they slip away. Time is constant, but it has a profound effect on our lives, and we must be mindful of how we use it.