Class 12 : English (core) Compulsory – Lesson 9. Mother at Sixty-six
EXPLANATION & SUMMARY
🌟 Introduction to the Poem
“My Mother at Sixty-Six” by Kamala Das is a deeply emotional and personal poem that captures the universal fear of separation from loved ones, especially from one’s ageing parents. It reflects the poet’s tender bond with her mother and her silent confrontation with mortality.
📚 About the Poet
Kamala Das (1934–2009) was a celebrated Indian poet and writer known for her honesty, confessional style, and exploration of love, relationships, and human emotions. Her works often combine simplicity with profound depth.
💡 Setting and Context
The poem takes place during a car journey from the poet’s home to the Cochin airport. As she sits beside her mother, she notices the signs of age and is struck by a sudden wave of fear and sadness.
👩👧 Observation of the Mother
The poet describes her mother’s face as “ashen like that of a corpse” — pale, lifeless, and fragile. This simile underlines the nearness of death and the frailty of old age.
🛣 Distraction Through Outside Scenes
Unable to bear the thought of her mother’s mortality, the poet turns her gaze outside the window. She notices young trees sprinting, merry children spilling out of their homes — symbols of vitality, energy, and renewal in contrast to her mother’s stillness.
🛫 Emotional Conflict at Departure
At the airport, as the poet prepares to leave, the old familiar fear returns — the fear of losing her mother. Yet, instead of showing her anxiety, she smiles repeatedly, offering comfort and hope, masking her inner turmoil.
🌱 Themes
Mortality and Ageing: The poem reflects the inevitability of growing old.
Love and Bond: The silent understanding between mother and daughter speaks volumes.
Contrast: Youth and life outside versus stillness and ageing within the car.
Acceptance: Smiling despite fear symbolises acceptance of life’s cycle.
🎨 Poetic Devices
Simile: “Her face ashen like that of a corpse.”
Contrast: Youthful imagery of sprinting trees and children versus the still, aged mother.
Repetition: The word “smile” to emphasise forced optimism.
🕊 Tone and Mood
The tone is tender, affectionate, and tinged with melancholy. The mood shifts from quiet observation to deep emotional realisation, ending with a fragile sense of acceptance.
💠 Summary
In “My Mother at Sixty-Six”, Kamala Das shares a poignant moment while travelling to the airport with her ageing mother. Observing her mother’s pale, weak face, she feels the ache of impending separation and the inevitability of death. Looking outside, she contrasts her mother’s stillness with images of vitality — young trees and happy children. At the airport, though gripped by fear, she hides her sadness behind repeated smiles, symbolising acceptance and the enduring bond between mother and daughter.
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PASSAGE
“Her face ashen like that of a corpse 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.”
💠 (Short Answer – 30 words)
How does the poet contrast her mother’s image with the scene outside?
Answer: The poet contrasts her mother’s pale, lifeless face with the vitality of sprinting trees and cheerful children, highlighting the difference between ageing stillness and youthful energy.
💠 (Multiple Choice)
What emotion does the poet feel upon seeing her mother’s face?
A. Pride
B. Pain
C. Joy
D. Anger
Answer: B. Pain
💠 (Fill in the blank)
The poet compares her mother’s face to that of a __.
Answer: corpse
💠 (Fill in the blank)
The sight of merry children represents __ and renewal.
Answer: youth
💠 (Assertion and Reason)
Assertion (A): The poet looked out at young trees and children to avoid thinking about her mother’s old age.
Reason (R): She wanted to distract herself from the painful reality of mortality.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is false, but R is true.
D. Both A and R are false.
Answer: A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
💠 (Short Answer – 30 words)
What does the imagery of “young trees sprinting” symbolise in the poem?
Answer: It symbolises life, vitality, and the passage of time, serving as a stark contrast to the stillness and frailty of the poet’s ageing mother.
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OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR EXAMS
🔴 Q1. Who is the poet of ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six’?
🔵 Answer: Kamala Das, one of India’s most prominent contemporary poets.
🔴 Q2. Where was the poet going when the poem takes place?
🔵 Answer: She was on her way to Cochin airport to catch a flight.
🔴 Q3. How does the poet describe her mother’s face in the car?
🔵 Answer: She describes it as “ashen like that of a corpse,” pale and lifeless with signs of ageing.
🔴 Q4. Why does the poet look out of the window?
🔵 Answer: To divert her mind from the painful thought of her mother’s ageing and mortality.
🔴 Q5. What do the sprinting trees and merry children symbolise?
🔵 Answer: They symbolise youth, energy, life, and renewal, contrasting with her mother’s stillness and old age.
🔴 Q6. What is the “familiar ache” the poet refers to?
🔵 Answer: It is the recurring fear of losing her mother and the awareness of life’s impermanence.
🔴 Q7. How does the poet conceal her emotions at the airport?
🔵 Answer: She smiles repeatedly to hide her sadness and reassure her mother.
🔴 Q8. What universal theme does the poem explore?
🔵 Answer: The inevitability of ageing, separation, and the enduring bond between parent and child.
🔴 Q9. How does Kamala Das use contrast in the poem?
🔵 Answer: She contrasts the lifeless image of her mother with the vibrant scenes of trees and children outside.
🔴 Q10. What is the tone of the poem?
🔵 Answer: Tender, affectionate, and tinged with melancholy.
🔴 Q11. Describe the ending of the poem.
🔵 Answer: At the airport, the poet hides her inner fear with smiles, symbolising acceptance and a desire to comfort her mother despite the looming reality of separation.
🔴 Q12. What does the repeated use of the word “smile” signify?
🔵 Answer: It signifies the poet’s attempt to mask her anxiety and face the reality of parting with courage.
🔴 Q13. What is the central message of ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six’?
🔵 Answer: The poem reminds us of the inevitability of ageing and separation, and the need to cherish loved ones while they are with us.
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ONE PAGE REVISION SHEET
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