AP State Syllabus AP Board 8th Class English Textbook Solutions Chapter 1B My Mother Textbook Questions and Answers.
AP State Syllabus 8th Class English Solutions Chapter 1B My Mother
8th Class English Chapter 1B My Mother Textbook Questions and Answers
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
Question 1.
How does the poet feel the presence of his mother?
Answer:
The poet feels the presence of his mother when he plays with his play things. When he plays with his play things, he seems to be able to hear a tune which reminds him his mother. He also feels the presence of his mother when he smells the fragrance of shiuli flowers in autumn and when he sees the blue sky through this bedroom window.
Question 2.
What do you understand from the statement – ‘I cannot remember my mother’?
Answer:
The poet’s mother passed away when he was still young. Hence, he can’t be able to recall his mother.
Question 3.
Does the poem convey sadness? If yes, pick out the suggestive expressions.
Answer:
Yes, this poem conveys some kind of sadness. The expression “I cannot remember my mother”, suggests this. The poet can’t remember his mother because she passed away when he was young.
Question 4.
What imagery do you find in each stanza? How does it appeal to you?
Answer:
| Stanza | Images | Sense it appeals to |
| 1 | Mother rocking the cradle and singing a song | ears (sound) |
| 2 | The poet smelling the scent of the shiuli flowers which is like the scent of his mother. | nose (smell) |
| 3 | The poet sending his eyes into the blue sky to feel mother’s gaze. | eyes (sight) |
Question 5.
Read the poem ‘My Mother’ again and complete the table.
Answer:
Question 6.
We all love our mother, don’t we? We love her because of certain qualities. Think and write about her qualities.
Answer:
We love mother as:
i) She gives birth to her children.
ii) She gives her children her love and care.
iii) She understands her children’s needs.
iv) She makes her children ready to live a happy life.
v) She defends her children.
vi) She supports her children’s dreams even when they seem impossible.
vii) She loves her children though they hurt and neglect her.
Question 7.
How would you choreograph the first stanza? (Group work)
(a) What settings do you arrange ?
Answer:
| Stanza | Settings |
| 1 | Swinging cradle |
| 2 | Garden, morning service in the temple |
| 3 | Bedroom – window – sky |
(b) What are the characters and their actions ?
Answer:
| Stanza | Characters | Actions |
| 1 | Child | The child plays with his playthings listening to the tune of the song sung by his mother. |
| Mother | She rocks the cradle humming a tune. | |
| 2 | Child | The child smells the fragrance of shiuli flowers. |
| Mother | The mother does the morning service in the temple. | |
| 3 | Child | The child gazes at her mother through the window. |
| Mother | The mother is spread all over the sky. |
(c) What is the sequence of actions ?
Answer:
| Stanza | Action of the main character | Action of the supporting team/characters |
| 1 | The child is playing with his play things. He is listening to the tune of some song. | The mother is rocking the cradle. She is humming a song. |
| 2 | The poet (child) is smelling the scent of shiuli flowers. | The mother is making morning service in the temple. |
| 3 | The poet (child) is looking at the blue distant sky through his bedroom. | The mother is standing outside the window in some distance. |
Each group may choreograph different stanzas of the song.
Figurative language: The use of words to express meaning beyond the literal meaning of the words themselves.
Imagery: Language which describes something in detail, using words to substitute for and create sensory stimulation, including visual imagery and sound imagery, e.g: Mother rocking the cradle. Here child senses with eyes and ears.
Metaphor: The comparison of two unlike things in which no words of comparison (like or as) are used.
e.g: Harry was a lion in the fight.
Simile: A figure of speech involving a comparison between unlike things using like, as, or as though.
e.g: as cool as a cucumber, as white as snow, life is just like an ice-cream. Personification: Giving non-human objects human characteristics, e.g: The moon danced mournfully over the water.
My Mother Summary in English
‘My Mother’ is a gentle nostalgic poem written by ‘Guru’ Rabindranath Tagore. He is one of the greatest poets of modern India. His mother passed away when he was young. In this poem, he expresses his inability to recall the face or the features of his mother. When he looks at his playthings, he seems to be able to hear a tune. Perhaps his mother often sang the same song when she moved his cradie gently. In autumn, the shiuli tree blossoms into fragrant tiny flowers. His mother would string the flowers for the morning service in the temple. When he smells the scent of shiuli flowers, he recalls his mother. When he sees from his bedroom window into the blue of the distant sky, he feels the stillness of his mother’s gaze. This poem eloquently reveals the emotional bonding between the poet and his mother. She has a great impact on the poet.
About the Poet
Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) is popularly known as Vishwa Kavi and Gurudev. He was the founder of Shantiniketan, an experimental school. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature for his ‘Gitanjali’, the Song of Offerings. Each of his poems reflects Indian vision and love towards his Mother Land. He is considered the Voice of Indian Heritage and Spiritualism.
My Mother Glossary
hover (v): remain in the air
shiuli (n): small, white or orange flowers that bloom in autumn
scent (n): perfume/good smell
rock (v): move gently
hum (v): sing with closed lips
gaze (v): look fixedly
morning service (n.phr): a religious service