NCERT solutions for English Kaveri Class 9 chapter * - I Cannot Remember My Mother [Latest edition]

Work in pairs. Discuss the memories from your childhood that you remember. List them and share with your classmates and teacher.

Discuss how children’s relationship with their mother can influence their emotions and memories.

Match the words given in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2.

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

Stanza 1:

1. The poet remembers his mother while he ______.
2. The poet remembers the ______ but not the ______.
   Setting: ______ (outdoor/indoor)

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

Stanza 2:

1. The poet remembers his mother in the ______ season.
2. The poet remembers his mother by the smell of ______.
   Setting: ______ (outdoor/indoor)

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

The poet feels that his mother ______ at him from the ______.

Setting: ______ (outdoor/indoor)

The senses of olfactory (smell), auditory (hearing), and visual (sight), are three of the five basic senses in humans. Give examples of references to senses from the poem. Complete the table given below.

Two examples of alliteration from the poem are (i) ______ and (ii) ______.

An example of onomatopoeia is ______.

The poem uses imagery extensively. Explain.

Although the poem does not have a rhyme scheme, it is enjoyable because.....

What is the tone of the poet? Why do you say so?

What impact does the title of the poem have on the overall mood of the poem?

The poet uses ‘I cannot remember my mother’ as a refrain because.....

The poet uses symbolism to indicate the memory of his mother’s presence. Identify the symbols used in the poem.

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

(i) Complete the following sentence appropriately.

The poet is reminded of his mother during his ______.

(ii) What is the primary emotion conveyed by the line ‘a tune seems to hover over my playthings’?

1. It enhances the joy of play.
2. It disrupts the playtime atmosphere.
3. It activates memories of the mother.
4. It symbolises the carefree nature of childhood.

(iii) In the context of the poem, what role does the hovering tune play during the speaker’s playtime?

(iv) State whether the following sentence is true or false.

The poet experiences the tune lingering over playthings only occasionally during playtime.

(v) How could the poet feel his mother’s presence, even though she isn’t there?

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

(i) What does the poet suggest about the stillness of his mother’s gaze spreading over the sky?

1. The mother’s gaze is physically present in the sky.
2. The sky is a symbolic extension of the mother’s presence.
3. The sky mirrors the mother’s emotions.
4. The stillness is fleeting and unrelated to the mother.

(ii) What emotion does the poet associate with the ‘stillness’ of his mother’s gaze?

1. a sense of grief
2. a sense of anticipation
3. a sense of nostalgia
4. a sense of serenity

(iii) State whether the following sentence is true or false.

The poet suggests that the mother’s gaze has a tangible and visual effect on the sky.

(iv) What is the purpose of likening the mother’s gaze to the sky?

(v) Complete the sentence appropriately.

The tone of the poet in the given extract is ______ because ______.

What is the emotional impact of the refrain, ‘I cannot remember my mother’?

Interpret the connection between the poet’s mother and the following:

shiuli flowers

Interpret the connection between the poet’s mother and the following:

humming tune

What role does nature play in the poet’s description of the memory of his mother?

What can be inferred about the poet’s perception of the mother–child relationship?

Work in pairs to classify the sensory words given in the box below. One example has been done for you.

Fill in the blanks with sensory words in the box for the following passage written by Sarojini Naidu. There are two extra words.

Come and share my exquisite March morning with me: this sumptuous blaze of gold and sapphire sky; these 1. ______ lilies that adorn the sunshine; the voluptuous 2. ______ of neem and champak and serisha that beat upon the languid air with their implacable 3. ______; the thousand little gold and blue and silver breasted birds bursting with the 4. ______ ecstasy of life in nesting time. And, do you know that the scarlet lilies are woven petal by petal from my heart’s blood, these little quivering birds are my soul made incarnate music, these heavy 5. ______ are my emotions dissolved into aerial 6. ______, this 7. ______ blue and gold sky is the ‘very me’...

Write numbers against each picture with the phrases that describe them with their sensorial associations. One example has been done for you.

1. beats of music echo in air
2. melody of soothing scent, dancing in the air
3. fragrant breeze of blooming buds
4. gentle lullaby, a soft melody
5. colourful sky, painting a lively sight
6. attractive canvas painting the horizon

	1.

You will listen to four short extracts of people expressing their childhood memories. As you listen, match each statement 1–6 to each speaker (i)–(iv). There are two statements that you do not need.

Work in pairs. Think of an object, song, or a place that is memorable for you. Take turns to speak about it using the prompts given below.

• Introduce it briefly
• Describe it in detail including sensory details
• Narrate the specific memory associated with it
• Explain how it has impacted your life
• Summarise why this memory is meaningful to you even now

You may use the following phrases.

• During my childhood...
• Growing up, I fondly remember...
• Recalling those early years, I can’t forget...
• In my younger days, I used to...
• I have a clear memory of...
• A routine activity in my childhood involved...
• A cherished part of my childhood includes...
• As a child, I was fond of...
• One of my favourite childhood moments is...
• Thinking about my early years, I recall...
• A common occurrence during my youth was...

Imagine you had been on a school trip to a scenic place which appealed to all your senses. Write a diary entry describing the place and why it was a memorable experience.

Contents of the diary entry:

• begin with day, date, and time
• use only first person (I, my)
• capture sensory details
• express emotions
• focus on significant moments and experiences
• conclude with reflection

You read about the shiuli flowers from the poem. Gather more information on unique flowers of India,where they are found, how they look, what smell they emit, and what the historical significance is, if any. [For example, Kurinji or Neelakurinji that blooms once in twelve years.] Add more flowers to this list.

Shiuli Flowers:

• known as Parijat, Parijata, and Harsingar
• revered and used for various ceremonial purposes
• release a sweet fragrance
• associated with numerous Indian legends
• bloom exclusively during the night

You must have read poems and songs related to the theme of family, friends and their reminiscences, in English and also in your own language. Collect these poems and songs, and share with your classmates and teacher. Now, read and enjoy the poem given below.