Class 12 English - GUJARAT
Poetry: My Mother at Sixty-Six
My Mother at Sixty-Six by Kamala Das is an emotional poem prescribed for Class 12 Gujarat (GSEB) students that explores the themes of aging, the fear of loss, and mortality. The poet captures a poignant moment while driving to the Cochin airport with her elderly mother. Observing her mother dozing off with an ashen, corpse-like face triggers a deep childhood dread of separation and death. To divert her mind, the poet looks outside at young trees sprinting and merry children spilling out. The poem is written in a single sentence using free verse, making it a crucial text for board exam comprehension and appreciation.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Aging and Mortality
The poem highlights the inevitable reality of growing old and the physical decay that comes with it, symbolized by the mother's pale, ashen face resembling a corpse.
Fear of Separation
Kamala Das expresses her deep-seated childhood fear of losing her mother, a universal anxiety that every child experiences as their parents grow older.
Use of Poetic Devices (Simile and Metaphor)
The poet uses striking comparisons, such as comparing her mother's face to a 'corpse' and a 'late winter's moon', to vividly convey dullness, lifelessness, and fading youth.
Contrasting Imagery
The poem contrasts the static, lifeless image of the aging mother inside the car with the dynamic, energetic imagery of 'trees sprinting' and 'children spilling' outside.
Emotional Masking
At the end of the poem, the poet smiles continuously to hide her inner pain and anxiety, bidding her mother a hopeful farewell with the words 'See you soon, Amma'.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Gujarat (GSEB) Class 12 English board exam, this chapter typically carries around 3 to 5 marks. Questions commonly include reference to context (RTC) based on stanza lines, short answer questions testing comprehension of the mother-daughter relationship, and questions explaining poetic devices and central themes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the 'late winter's moon' in the poem?
The late winter's moon represents aging, fading vitality, and the approaching end of life, just as winter marks the end of the annual cycle and the moon lacks its bright luster.
Why does the poet look out of the car window?
The poet looks outside to distract herself from the painful and frightening thought of her mother's aging and impending death, finding temporary relief in the energetic images of young trees and children.
Why did the poet smile repeatedly at the airport?
The poet smiled repeatedly to hide her deep fear, anxiety, and sorrow of separation, and to reassure her mother that they would meet again.
Learn Poetry: My Mother at Sixty-Six with Your AI Tutor
10 different ways to study this chapter. Free for 3 chapters per day.
Lecture
Key Points
Interactive
Quiz
Flashcards