I Cannot Remember My Mother Class 9 Extra Questions and Answers English Poem 4

I Cannot Remember My Mother Poem Extra Question Answer

Question 1.

Why does the poet say he "cannot remember" his mother?

Answer:

The poet was likely very young when his mother passed away, so he lacks a concrete visual memory of her face or features.

Question 2.

What triggers the memory of a tune during the poet's playtime?

Answer:

While playing with his toys, a tune seems to hover over them, reminding him of the song his mother used to hum while rocking his cradle.

Question 3.

How is the scent of the morning service connected to his mother?

Answer:

The smell of shiuli flowers in the early autumn air reminds him of the temple's morning service, which he associates deeply with the scent of his mother.

I Cannot Remember My Mother Short Question Answer

Question 4.

What does the "blue of the distant sky" represent to the poet?

Answer:

The vast, still blue sky represents his mother's silent and protective gaze, which he feels has spread all over the world to watch over him.

Question 5.

Identify the three main senses the poet uses to experience his mother's presence.

Answer:

The poet uses the auditory sense (the humming tune), the olfactory sense (the scent of shiuli flowers), and the visual sense (the blue sky).

Question 6.

Why does the poet use the line "I cannot remember my mother" as a refrain?

Answer:

He uses it as a refrain to emphasize the irony that while he cannot visually recall her, her essence is perpetually present in his everyday surroundings.

Question 7.

What is the significance of the "shiuli flowers" in the poem?

Answer:

Shiuli flowers are symbols of early autumn and traditional morning prayers; their fragrance acts as a bridge to his subconscious memories of his mother.

Question 8.

How does the poet describe the "stillness" of his mother's gaze?

Answer:

He describes it as a silent, all-encompassing presence that fills the sky, suggesting that her love is now infinite and protective.

Question 9.

In which stanza does the poet transition from an indoor to an outdoor setting?

Answer:

The transition happens in the second stanza, moving from the cradle/playroom to the autumn morning air and the temple scent.

Question 10.

What is the overall tone of the poem?

Answer:

The tone is nostalgic, serene, and deeply emotional, as the poet seeks a connection with a parent he lost long ago.

Question 11.

In Tagore's poem, what specific childhood activity triggers the auditory memory of the mother?

Answer:

Playing with playthings triggers the memory of a tune she used to hum while rocking his cradle.

Question 12.

What is the significance of the "morning service in the temple" in the poem?

Answer:

The scent of the shiuli flowers during the autumn morning service spiritually connects the poet to the pure and comforting scent of his mother.

I Cannot Remember My Mother Class 9 Extra Question Answer

Question 13.

Why does Tagore use the blue sky as a symbol in the final stanza?

Answer:

The vast, still blue sky symbolizes the omnipresent, peaceful, and protective gaze of the mother looking down on him from heaven.

Question 14.

What connects the themes of Vitamin-M and I Cannot Remember My Mother?

Answer:

Both texts deal with deep family bonds. One uses humour to show the overlooked wisdom of an elder, while the other uses poignant imagery to show the enduring love of a lost parent.

I Cannot Remember My Mother Long Question Answer

Question 1.

Explain how Rabindranath Tagore uses nature to keep the memory of the mother alive.

Answer:

Tagore uses nature as a medium to connect with his mother's spirit. He associates the 'early autumn morning" and the "shiuli flowers" with her scent, and the "blue of the distant sky" with her protective gaze. By embedding her memory into the environment, he suggests that her presence is not gone but has become a part of the universe, providing him comfort even in her physical absence.

Question 2.

Analyze the mother-child relationship as depicted in the poem.

Answer:

The relationship is portrayed as spiritual and eternal rather than physical. Despite not remembering her face, the child feels an umbilical connection through music and scents. The mother is depicted as a nurturing figure whose influence-from humming at a cradle to watching from the skycontinues to guide the child's life and play.

Question 3.

Discuss the use of symbolism in "I Cannot Remember My Mother".

Answer:

Symbolism is central to the poem. The humming tune symbolizes early maternal comfort, the shiuli flowers symbolize purity and religious devotion associated with a mother's prayers, and the vast sky symbolizes her infinite, all-seeing love. These tangible objects allow the poet to express abstract feelings of loss and enduring love.

Question 4.

How does the poet's mood shift through the three stanzas?

Answer:

The mood moves from personal nostalgia in the first stanza, where he is among his playthings, to a broader cultural and seasonal connection in the second stanza. By the third stanza, the mood reaches a state of serene transcendence as he looks at the sky and feels a sense of peace and protection. The poem effectively travels from the small cradle to the infinite heavens.

Question 5.

"I Cannot Remember My Mother" is a poem about the presence of absence.Justify this statement.

Answer:

The statement is justified because the poem focuses entirely on a person who is physically absent. Each stanza begins with the admission of a lack of memory ("I cannot remember"), yet proceeds to describe a vivid sensation of her "being". The absence of a visual face is replaced by the presence of a tune, a scent, and a gaze, proving that the mother's essence remains a constant part of the poet's reality.

Question 6.

How does Rabindranath Tagore use the five senses to immortalize the memory of his mother?

Answer:

Tagore relies on sensory imagery because he lacks visual memory (I cannot remember my mother). He uses the auditory sense (a humming lullaby over playthings), the olfactory sense (the distinct, sweet smell of shiuli flowers and temple incense), and the visual sense (the vastness of the blue sky). These senses bridge the gap between physical absence and spiritual presence.

I Cannot Remember My Mother Extract Based Questions and Answers

Extract 1.

I cannot remember my mother

only sometimes in the midst of my play

a tune seems to hover over my playthings,

the tune of some song that she used to

hum while rocking my cradle.

Question 1.

When does the poet feel the "tune" hovering over him?

Answer:

He feels it during his playtime.

Question 2.

What was the original purpose of the song mentioned?

Answer:

The mother used to hum it while rocking his cradle to soothe him to sleep.

Question 3.

Identify the poetic device in "I cannot remember my mother."

Answer:

It is a refrain, as it is repeated throughout the poem.

Extract 2

I cannot remember my mother

only when from my bedroom window I send

my eyes into the blue of the distant sky,

I feel that the stillness of

my mother's gaze on my face

has spread all over the sky.

Question 1.

Where is the poet when he experiences this memory?

Answer:

He is in his bedroom, looking out of the window.

Question 2.

How does the poet describe his mother's gaze?

Answer:

He describes it as "stillness" that has spread across the entire sky.

Question 3.

What sense is primarily being addressed in this extract?

Answer:

The visual sense (sight).

Vocabulary and Senses

The poet uses sensory associations to connect with his mother. Match the lines from the poem to the correct sense.

Question 1.

Match the following:

Answer:

Question 2.

Define the following words as used in the poem:

Hover: ............

Answer:

Hover: To linger or remain near a place.

Shiuli: ............

Answer:

Shiuli: A type of flower (coral jasmine).

Refrain: ............

Answer:

Refrain: A line or group of lines repeated at regular intervals in a poem.

Literary Devices

Identify the tools the poet uses to create the mood of the poem.

Question 1.

Alliteration: Find and write down two examples of alliteration from the poem.

Example 1: ............

Example 2: ............

Answer:

Alliteration: Examples include "midst of my play" and "bedroom blue" (or similar consonant repetitions).

Question 2.

Symbolism: What does the "blue of the distant sky" symbolize in the final stanza

(a) The poet's desire to travel.

(b) The mother's all-encompassing and protective gaze.

(c) The arrival of a storm.

Answer:

(b) The mother's all-encompassing and protective gaze.

Comprehension and Reflection

Answer the following based on your reading.

Question 1.

Where is the poet located in the first stanza and what is he doing?

Answer:

The poet is indoors, in the midst of playing with his playthings.

Question 2.

The poet uses "I cannot remember my mother" at the start of each stanza. This is called a:

(a) Metaphor

(b) Refrain

(c) Onomatopoeia

Answer:

(b) Refrain.

Question 3.

How does nature help the poet feel his mother's presence?

Answer:

Nature provides the "trigger" for his memories; the autumn air, the scent of flowers, and the vast sky act as physical extensions of his mother's spiritual presence.

Question.

Imagine you are the poet. After being reminded of your mother through nature, write a diary entry expressing your emotions and memories.

Class 9 English Extra Questions