Class 12 English - MP
Poetry: My Mother at Sixty-Six
My Mother at Sixty-Six by Kamala Das is a deeply emotional poem prescribed for Class 12 Madhya Pradesh (MPBSE) students. The poem captures the complex relationship between a daughter and her ageing mother. While driving to the Cochin airport, the poet suddenly realizes that her mother has grown old, pale, and fragile like a corpse. Overcome by the familiar childhood fear of losing her mother, she hides her pain with a smile and bids goodbye. The chapter is very important for board exams as it tests reading comprehension, poetic devices, and analytical writing skills through reference-to-context and short-answer questions.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
The Agony of Ageing
The poem highlights the inevitable process of human ageing and the emotional pain it brings to children who fear losing their parents.
Childhood Fear
The familiar ache refers to the deep-seated insecurity and fear of separation and death that the poet felt as a child and experiences again.
Imagery of Contrast
The poet uses striking contrasts, such as her dull, sleeping mother juxtaposed with 'merry children spilling out of their homes' and 'young trees sprinting', to emphasize youth versus old age.
Simile and Metaphor
Kamala Das uses powerful comparisons like 'her face ashen like that of a corpse' and 'late winter's moon' to depict the mother's fading vitality.
Mask of a Smile
The parting words 'See you soon, Amma' and the continuous smiling symbolize the poet's attempt to hide her deep grief and offer reassurance to her mother.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the MPBSE Class 12 English exam, this chapter typically carries around 4 to 6 marks. Questions usually include Extract-based Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Reference to Context (RTC) stanza comprehension, and 2-mark short-answer questions focusing on the central theme, poetic devices, and the significance of the smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'familiar ache' that the poet feels?
The familiar ache is the childhood fear and insecurity of losing her mother to death and permanent separation.
Why does the poet look at young trees and merry children?
To divert her mind from the painful thoughts of her mother's ageing and impending death, and to contrast old age with the energy of youth.
Why is the mother compared to the late winter's moon?
Just as the late winter's moon lacks brightness and clarity due to mist, the mother's face is pale, lifeless, and lacks the glow of youth.
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