Question

Read the following extracts and solve the following.

… I saw my mother, beside me, doze, open mouthed, her face ashen like that of a corpse and realised with pain that she was as old as she looked but soon put that thought away, and looked out at Young Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling out of their homes …

I. What does the imagery of the ‘ashen face’ of the mother suggest about her physical condition?     (1)

II. Complete the following with the correct option.     (1)

The speaker’s use of the word ‘realised’ suggests that her awareness was ______ (delayed/expected/sudden).     

III. How does the phrase ‘merry children spilling out of their homes’ contribute to the tone of the passage?     (1)

IV. Complete the sentence by filling in the blank with a suitable phrase.     (1)

The primary theme highlighted in the extract is the ______, as the narrator reflects on her mother’s frailty and aging.

V. What can be inferred about the emotional state of the speaker in the extract?     (1)

1. Distracted by the liveliness of the surroundings
2. Concerned about her mother’s discomfort
3. Overwhelmed by a sense of anguish
4. Preoccupied with thoughts about life experiences

VI. All of the following are true for the extract EXCEPT -     (1)

1. The comparison to a ‘corpse’ highlights the speaker’s fear of losing her mother.
2. The poet makes exclusive use of melancholic imagery in the given lines.
3. The speaker’s internal conflict creates a relatable portrayal of human relationships.
4. The universality of themes makes the lines relevant to the readers.

Answer 1

I. She is frail, aged, in a declining physical condition, vulnerable, with weakening health, and lacks vitality.

II. The speaker’s use of the word ‘realised’ suggests that her awareness was sudden.

III. It introduces a contrast of vitality, joy, and exuberance against the sombre and reflective mood created by the imagery of the mother’s frailty.

IV. The primary theme highlighted in the extract is the certainty of mortality/inevitability of death/transient nature of life, as the narrator reflects on her mother’s frailty and aging.

V. Overwhelmed by a sense of anguish

VI. The poet makes exclusive use of melancholic imagery in the given lines.