Class 11 English - RAJASTHAN
Poetry: A Photograph
The chapter 'A Photograph' by Shirley Toulson is a poignant poem from the Class 11 English Hornbill textbook prescribed by the Rajasthan Board (RBSE). The poem explores the themes of mortality, the passage of time, and the deep grief of loss. It revolves around an old cardboard photograph of the poet's mother enjoying a sea holiday with her two young cousins. Through vivid imagery like 'the transient feet' and the contrast between enduring nature and human mortality, the poet reflects on her mother's death and the heavy silence it has left behind. This chapter is very important for board exams as it tests students' comprehension of poetic devices and emotional subtext.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
The Cardboard Photograph
A fragile piece of cardboard holding a pasted photograph that captures a past moment of the poet's mother smiling at the beach.
The Sea Holiday
A happy childhood memory of the mother with her cousins Betty and Dolly, wading in the sea, which highlights a time of carefree innocence.
Transience of Human Life
The contrast between the short, fragile span of human life and the eternal, unchanging nature of the sea, which washes the 'terribly transient feet'.
The Silence of Grief
The concluding lines emphasize the profound silence left by the mother's death, noting that silence has nothing left to say.
Poetic Devices
The poem uses figures of speech such as alliteration ('terribly transient'), oxymoron ('laboured ease of loss'), and epithet.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Rajasthan (RBSE) Class 11 English board examinations, poetry chapters typically carry around 4 to 6 marks. Questions usually include reference to context (RTC) based on stanzas, short answer questions testing the theme or imagery, and questions identifying poetic devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the cardboard represent in the poem?
The cardboard represents the old photograph pasted on it, which preserves a childhood memory of the poet's mother.
Why is the camera referred to as capturing 'terribly transient feet'?
It highlights the mortality of human beings whose lives are short-lived compared to the permanent and unchanging sea.
What does 'silence silences' mean in the last line?
It refers to the absolute silence and deep void created by the death of the poet's mother, leaving the poet speechless with grief.
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