My Mother at Sixty Six Quiz - CBSE Class 12 English

Free practice quiz: My Mother at Sixty Six (CBSE Class 12 English). 10 multiple-choice questions with answers and explanations. Play online, no sign-up needed.

This CBSE Class 12 English practice quiz has 10 multiple-choice questions on My Mother at Sixty Six, and 10 of them come with an explanation. Try the 5 sample questions below (tap an option to check yourself), then play the full quiz online. No sign-up needed.

Sample questions

1. What is the primary emotion conveyed in the opening lines of Kamala Das's poem, "My Mother at Sixty-Six"?

   1. Joy and excitement
   2. Fear and anxiety
   3. Calm acceptance
   4. Anger and resentment
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Fear and anxiety

   The description of the mother's aging appearance and the simile comparing her to "an old photograph" immediately establishes a sense of fear and anxiety about her aging and mortality.

2. What is the significance of the 'dozing' image in the poem?

   1. It symbolizes the mother's peaceful acceptance of death.
   2. It signifies the poet's own weariness and exhaustion.
   3. It represents the mother's vibrant and active life.
   4. It highlights the mother's youthful energy.
   Show answer

   Answer: A. It symbolizes the mother's peaceful acceptance of death.

   The mother's dozing suggests a transition to sleep, mirroring the transition to death. The poem hints at acceptance of this inevitable event.

3. How does the setting of the poem (airport) contribute to the overall theme?

   1. It emphasizes the mother's joy at traveling.
   2. It contrasts the mother's stillness with the airport's dynamism.
   3. It depicts a festive family gathering.
   4. It shows the vibrant life of the airport.
   Show answer

   Answer: B. It contrasts the mother's stillness with the airport's dynamism.

   The bustling airport, a place of movement and change, starkly contrasts with the mother's stillness and impending mortality, emphasizing the transient nature of life.

4. What is the significance of the recurring image of 'coughing'? How does this image contribute to the poem's central theme?

   1. It symbolizes the mother's robust health.
   2. It illustrates the joyful atmosphere of their journey.
   3. It adds to the lively description of the airport.
   4. It subtly hints at the mother's failing health and mortality.
   Show answer

   Answer: D. It subtly hints at the mother's failing health and mortality.

   The recurring cough subtly underscores the mother's physical decline, acting as a reminder of her vulnerability and the poem's central theme of mortality.

5. How does the poem's ending contribute to its overall emotional impact? Analyze the final lines and their significance.

   1. The ending provides a sense of closure and resolution.
   2. The ending leaves the reader feeling cheerful and optimistic.
   3. The ending leaves the reader with a sense of profound sadness and unresolved anxiety.
   4. The ending depicts the poet's celebration of her mother's life.
   Show answer

   Answer: C. The ending leaves the reader with a sense of profound sadness and unresolved anxiety.

   The ambiguous and slightly unsettling ending leaves the reader with a lingering sense of anxiety and unresolved grief, underlining the complexities of the poet's emotions.

More questions in this quiz

Answers and explanations are in the full quiz.

1. How does the poet use imagery to depict her mother's physical state in the poem?
2. Explain the metaphor 'My Mother's face/asleep/ beside me' and its significance.
3. Analyze the use of the simile "like an old photograph" and its effect on the reader.
4. Discuss the poem's use of contrasting images to highlight the mother's condition.
5. Explore the multifaceted nature of the poet's emotions towards her mother in the poem. Consider the interplay of love, fear, and acceptance.

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