Here is My Mother at Sixty-Six, a detailed exploration and explanation of the figure of speech and its many facets.  In this post, we have explained various examples of figurative speech, providing a comprehensive understanding of My Mother at Sixty-Six in terms of all Poetic Device. We have also told the reason why a particular figure of speech occurs in a particular line. This is going to help the children of various classes Class XII. Dive in for figure of speech examples- 

Figure of Speech in My Mother at Sixty-Six Stanza 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 

1. Figure of Speech: Simile  
Exact Line: “her face ashen like that of a corpse”  
Reason: This line uses “like” to compare the mother’s pale, ashen face to that of a corpse, emphasizing the pallor associated with aging and frailty. It creates a stark image of the mother’s current state, contrasting with the vitality of life.

2. Figure of Speech: Assonance  
Exact Lines:  
i. “Home to Cochin last Friday morning”  
ii. “doze, open mouthed, her face ashen like that of a corpse”  
Reason: The prominent ‘o’ sound repeated in these lines creates a sonorous effect, contributing to the overall mood of the stanza. This assonance adds a layer of auditory imagery, enhancing the reflective and somber tone.

3. Figure of Speech: Imagery  
Exact Line: “doze, open mouthed, her face ashen”  
Reason: This description creates a detailed visual image of the mother as she sleeps, highlighting her vulnerability and the signs of ageing. It allows the reader to vividly picture the scene, adding to the emotional depth of the poem.

4. Figure of Speech: Enjambment  

Exact Lines:  
i. “Driving from my parent’s home to Cochin last Friday”  
ii. “morning, I saw my mother, beside me,”  
Reason: Enjambment occurs when a sentence in a poem continues beyond the end of a line without a pause, like from the first to the second line here. It creates a flowing, uninterrupted feeling that matches the ongoing drive and the narrator’s continuous thoughts, adding smoothness to the poem’s structure.

Also Read:

• My Mother at Sixty-Six Extra Question Answer English
• Hard Words : My Mother at Sixty-six
• My Mother at Sixty-Six Extract Based Questions
• My Mother at Sixty-Six Long Question Answers
• My Mother at Sixty Six About The Author

My Mother at Sixty-Six Poetic Device- Stanza- 2

And realised with pain
that she was as old as she looked but soon
put that thought away, and looked out at Young
Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling
out of their homes.

1. Figure of Speech: Consonance  
Exact Lines:  
i. “Put that thought away and looked out at young”  
ii. “That she was old as she looked but soon”  
Reason: The repeated ‘t’ sound in the first line and the ‘s’ sound in the second line exemplify consonance, creating a rhythmic and melodic quality. This technique enhances the emotional tone of the stanza.

2. Figure of Speech: Imagery  
Exact Line: “Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling out of their homes”  
Reason: This vivid imagery contrasts the static, aging figure of the mother with the dynamic, lively world outside. The description of trees and children in motion evokes a sense of vitality and joy.

3. Figure of Speech: Repetition  
Exact Line: “looked out at Young”  
Reason: The repetition of “looked” underscores the poet’s shift in attention from her mother to the outside world. It emphasizes the transition from introspection to observation.

4. Figure of Speech: Personification  
Exact Line: “Trees sprinting”  
Reason: The personification of trees as “sprinting” adds life and movement to the scene, contrasting with the mother’s stillness and age.

5. Figure of Speech: Contrast  
Exact Lines:  
– “she was as old as she looked”  
– “Young Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling”  
Reason: The contrast between the elderly mother and the youthful surroundings highlights the theme of aging and the passage of time. It brings into focus the cycle of life and the fleeting nature of youth.

6. Figure of Speech: Metaphor  
Exact Line: “Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling out of their homes”  
Reason: The poet uses metaphorical language to describe the trees and children, attributing human actions to them. This metaphor enhances the contrast between the stillness of age and the energy of youth.

7. Figure of Speech: Juxtaposition  
Exact Lines:  
– “that she was as old as she looked”  
– “looked out at Young Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling out of their homes”  
Reason: The juxtaposition of the aging mother with the energetic surroundings emphasizes the poet’s emotional realization and her attempt to find solace in the liveliness of the world around her.

8. Figure of Speech: Enjambment  
Exact Lines:  
– “And realised with pain / that she was as old as she looked but soon”  
– “put that thought away, and looked out at Young / Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling”  
Reason: The continuation of sentences across lines without pauses or end stops, particularly in these lines, creates enjambment. This technique allows the poem to flow smoothly, mirroring the continuous stream of the narrator’s thoughts and observations, and connecting different parts of the narrative seamlessly.

Also Read:

• My Mother at Sixty-Six MCQ with Answers
• My Mother at Sixty-Six Summary
• My Mother at Sixty-Six Theme
• My Mother at Sixty-Six Short Question Answers

Figures of Speech Poem – My Mother at Sixty-Six Stanza- 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. Figure of Speech: Simile  
Exact Line: “wan, pale as a late winter’s moon”  
Reason: The poet uses a simile to compare her mother’s pale face to a “late winter’s moon.” This comparison emphasizes the paleness and suggests a sense of fading beauty, akin to the waning phase of the moon in late winter.

2. Figure of Speech: Consonance  
Exact Line: “Security check, standing a few yards”  
Reason: The repeated ‘s’ sound in these words creates consonance, adding a melodic quality to the stanza. This sound pattern enhances the reflective and somber tone of the poem.

3. Figure of Speech: Symbolism
Exact Line: “wan, pale as a late winter’s moon”  
Reason: The “late winter’s moon” symbolizes decay and the end of a cycle. It mirrors the mother’s aging process, portraying it as a natural and inevitable part of life’s cycle.

4. Figure of Speech: Imagery  
Exact Line: “wan, pale as a late winter’s moon”  
Reason: This line paints a vivid picture of the mother’s appearance, invoking the subdued, pale light of a winter moon. The imagery underscores the quiet resignation and the sense of an approaching end.

5. Figure of Speech: Alliteration  
Exact Line: “Security check, standing a few yards”  
Reason: The repetition of the ‘s’ sound in “Security” and “standing” creates a soft alliteration, adding to the stanza’s contemplative tone.

6. Figure of Speech: Juxtaposition  
Exact Lines:  
– “But after the airport’s Security check”  
– “wan, pale as a late winter’s moon”  
Reason: The poet juxtaposes the setting of an airport security check with the still, pale image of her mother. This contrast emphasizes the difference between the busy activities of life and the profound realization of her mother’s aging.

7. Figure of Speech: Enjambment  
Exact Lines:  
– “But after the airport’s Security check, standing a few yards”  
– “Away, I looked again at her, wan, pale”  
Reason: The sentence flows over multiple lines without a pause, reflecting the smooth transition of the narrator’s thoughts and gaze. This enjambment adds to the poem’s introspective and continuous narrative flow.

My Mother at Sixty-Six Poetic Device- Stanza- 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. Figure of Speech: Repetition  
Exact Line: “All I did was smile and smile and smile……”  
Reason: The thrice-repeated word “smile” emphasizes the poet’s continuous effort to maintain a façade of happiness and reassurance in front of her mother, despite her deep-seated fears and sadness.

2. Figure of Speech: Alliteration  
Exact Line: “But all I said was, see you soon, Amma,”  
Reason: The repetition of the ‘s’ sound in this line creates alliteration, adding a melodic quality to the words. This alliteration underlines the tenderness and affection in the poet’s parting words to her mother.

3. Figure of Speech: Allusion (conditional)  
Exact Line: “And felt that old Familiar ache, my childhood’s fear,”  
Reason: If “my childhood’s fear” references a specific, universally recognized or previously mentioned fear, it would constitute an allusion. This would imply a deeper connection to a broader theme or story, enriching the line’s meaning within that context.

4. Figure of Speech: Contrast  
Exact Lines:  
– “Familiar ache, my childhood’s fear,”  
– “All I did was smile and smile and smile……”  
Reason: There is a stark contrast between the poet’s internal turmoil and her external expression of smiling. This highlights the dichotomy between one’s true emotions and the façade presented to the world, especially in protecting loved ones from worry.

5. Figure of Speech: Ellipsis  
Exact Line: “All I did was smile and smile and smile……”  
Reason: The use of ellipsis suggests the continuation of the action or emotion, indicating the ongoing nature of the poet’s efforts to appear cheerful, masking her true feelings.

6. Figure of Speech: Repetition  
– Exact Line: “All I did was smile and smile and smile……”  
– Reason: The repeated use of the word “smile” in this line is an example of repetition. It emphasizes the poet’s persistent effort to maintain a positive front, concealing her true emotions of concern and sadness about her mother’s aging. This repetition effectively conveys the depth of the poet’s internal struggle.

7. Figure of Speech: Juxtaposition  
Exact Lines:  
– “Familiar ache, my childhood’s fear,”  
– “All I did was smile and smile and smile……”  
Reason: The juxtaposition of the poet’s internal feelings of fear and her outward action of smiling underscores the tension between her emotional reality and the façade she presents to protect her mother.

8. Figure of Speech: Irony  
Exact Line: “All I did was smile and smile and smile……”  
Reason: There is a sense of irony in this line. The poet’s repeated smiling, an action typically associated with happiness, contrasts sharply with her actual feelings of fear and sadness. This irony highlights the disparity between the outward expression of joy and the internal experience of emotional pain, underscoring the complex emotions involved in the poet’s interaction with her mother.

9. Figure of Speech: Enjambment  
Exact Lines:  
– “And felt that old Familiar ache, my childhood’s fear,”  
– “but all I said was, see you soon, Amma,”  
Reason: The flow of the narrative from one line to the next without a syntactical break, particularly from “Familiar ache, my childhood’s fear,” to “but all I said was, see you soon, Amma,” exemplifies enjambment. This technique allows the poem to maintain a continuous and natural rhythm, reflecting the uninterrupted flow of the narrator’s thoughts and emotions.