Class 12 English - BIHAR
Poetry: My Mother at Sixty-Six
My Mother at Sixty-Six by Kamala Das is an emotionally charged poem prescribed for Class 12 Bihar Board students. It captures the complex feelings of a daughter who suddenly realizes her mother is aging and frail, reflecting the fear of permanent separation and loss. The poem is written in a single sentence using free verse, highlighting the seamless flow of human thoughts. For Bihar Board exams, this chapter is crucial for testing reading comprehension, poetic devices like similes, and critical analysis of parental bonds, frequently appearing in both objective and subjective sections.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Aging and Mortality
The poem highlights the harsh reality of aging through the poet's mother's pale, corpse-like face, reminding readers of the inevitable approach of death.
Fear of Separation
Kamala Das expresses her deep-rooted childhood fear of losing her mother, a panic that resurfaces as she looks at her mother's declining health.
Contrasting Imagery (Life vs. Decay)
The poet uses images of young trees 'sprinting' and merry children 'spilling out of their homes' to contrast youth and vitality with her mother's old age and passivity.
Simile Usage
The mother's face is compared to a 'corpse' and a 'late winter's moon' using similes to emphasize her pale, lifeless appearance and waning energy.
Parting Smile
At the airport, the poet masks her inner pain and fear by smiling continuously and bidding farewell with 'See you soon, Amma', showing emotional strength.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Bihar Board (BSEB) Class 12 English examination, this chapter typically carries around 4 to 8 marks. Questions usually include reference-to-context (stanza comprehension), short answer type questions about the central theme or imagery, and objective multiple-choice questions regarding the poet's name and poetic devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the poet look out of the car window?
The poet looks out of the window to distract herself from the painful and frightening thought of her mother's aging and impending death.
What is the significance of the 'late winter's moon' in the poem?
The late winter's moon represents the mother's old age, fading energy, and the nearing end of her life, symbolizing a lack of vitality.
Why does the poet smile repeatedly at the end of the poem?
The poet smiles to hide her deep inner fear, anxiety, and sorrow of separation, reassuring both her mother and herself.
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