Class 12 English - RAJASTHAN
Poetry: My Mother at Sixty-Six
My Mother at Sixty-Six by Kamala Das is a deeply emotional poem prescribed for Class 12 English in Rajasthan Board (RBSE). The poem captures the complex relationship between a mother and her daughter, highlighting the universal fear of aging, mortality, and the impending dread of losing a parent. The poet describes a car journey from her parents' home to Cochin airport, observing her sleeping, pale mother who looks like a corpse. To distract herself from this painful realization, the poet looks outside at young trees and merry children sprinting. The poem concludes with a poignant parting smile, masking her deep interior pain.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Aging and Mortality
The poem explores the inevitable process of aging and the bitter truth of death through the imagery of the mother's pale, corpse-like face.
Fear of Separation
Kamala Das highlights her childhood fear of losing her mother, a childhood insecurity that resurfaces strongly as she prepares to leave for the airport.
Poetic Devices (Simile)
The poet uses a striking simile comparing her mother's pale, ashen face to a 'corpse' and later to a 'late winter's moon' to signify the loss of vitality.
Contrast and Imagery
The contrast between the aging, lifeless mother inside the car and the energetic, sprinting trees and joyful children outside represents youth versus decay.
The Parting Smile
The repetition of 'smile, smile and smile' serves as a defense mechanism for the poet to hide her underlying emotional turmoil and give false reassurance to her mother.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In Rajasthan Board (RBSE) Class 12 English exams, this chapter typically carries around 4 to 6 marks. Common question types include reference to context (stanza comprehension), short answer questions based on central ideas, and questions exploring poetic devices or the significance of the parting smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central theme of 'My Mother at Sixty-Six'?
The central theme is aging, the fear of losing a loved parent, and the unavoidable reality of human mortality.
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.
What is the significance of the 'late winter's moon' in the poem?
Just as a winter moon lacks lustre and appears hazy due to fog, the mother has lost her youthful glow, energy, and vitality due to old age.
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