Question 1 - Childhood - Hornbill - Poems (Literature) - English Class 11

Read the given extract and answer the questions

Extract:

When did my childhood go?

Was it the day I ceased to be eleven,

Was it the time I realised that Hell and Heaven,

Could not be found in Geography,

And therefore could not be,

Was that the day!

(Childhood)

Question (i)

What is the rhyme scheme of the extract?

Answer:

 As written by the student:

The rhyme scheme of the extract is ABABC.

Step-by-Step explanation of the answer:

•  A rhyme scheme is the pattern of sounds that repeats at the end of a line or stanza in a poem. 🎵
•  To identify the rhyme scheme, we assign a letter to each word that rhymes at the end of a line. For example, if two lines end with the words "go" and "know", we give them both the letter A. If the next line ends with a word that does not rhyme with them, such as "be", we give it a different letter, such as B. We continue this process until we have labeled all the lines in the poem. 🔤
•   In this extract, the first and third lines end with the words "go" and "Geography", which rhyme with each other. Therefore, we give them both the letter A. The second and fourth lines end with the words "eleven" and "Heaven", which rhyme with each other. Therefore, we give them both the letter B. The fifth line ends with the word "day", which does not rhyme with any of the previous words. Therefore, we give it a different letter, such as C. 🅰️🅱️🆎
•  The rhyme scheme of the extract is ABABC. ✅

Question (ii)

What does the use of the word "ceased" suggest? 

Answer:

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Answer written by the student: 

The use of the word "ceased" suggests that the poet's childhood ended abruptly and forcefully.

Step-by-Step explanation of the answer:

•  The word "ceased" means to stop or come to an end. 🛑
•  The poet uses this word to describe the day he stopped being eleven years old. This implies that he did not want to grow up or lose his childhood. 😢
•  The word "ceased" also has a negative connotation, as it is often used to refer to death or destruction. For example, we can say that someone's heartbeat ceased or that a war ceased. 💀
•  The use of this word suggests that the poet's childhood ended abruptly and forcefully, as if it was taken away from him by some external force. He did not have a choice or a gradual transition into adulthood. 😱

Question (iii)

Why did the poet realize that Hell and Heaven could not be found in Geography? 

Answer:

Answer written by the student: 

The poet realized that Hell and Heaven could not be found in Geography because he learned that they were not physical places on Earth, but spiritual concepts of good and evil.

Step-by-Step explanation of the answer:

•  To infer something means to make a logical guess based on evidence or clues. 🔎
•  In this question, we have to infer why the poet changed his mind about Hell and Heaven being located in Geography. Geography is the study of the physical features of the Earth and its atmosphere. 🌎
•  The poet says that he realised that Hell and Heaven could not be found in Geography, and therefore could not be. This means that he used to think that they were real places that could be seen on a map or a globe, but then he discovered that they were not. 🗺️
•  We can infer that the poet learned that Hell and Heaven were not physical places on Earth, but spiritual concepts of good and evil. He might have learned this from his religion, his parents, his teachers, or his own experience. 🙏
•  The poet's realisation shows that he lost his innocence and imagination as a child, and became more aware of the reality and complexity of the world as an adult. 😔

Question (iv)

How does the poet express his confusion and doubt in the last line of the extract? 

Answer:

Answer written by the student:

 The poet expresses his confusion and doubt in the last line of the extract by using an exclamation mark and repeating the word "day".

Step-by-Step explanation of the answer:

•  To analyse something means to examine it closely and explain its meaning or effect. 🔬
•  In this question, we have to analyse how the poet uses punctuation and repetition to convey his feelings in the last line of the extract. Punctuation and repetition are both literary devices that can enhance the tone and mood of a poem. 📚
•   The poet ends the extract with an exclamation mark, which is a punctuation mark that shows strong emotion or emphasis. The exclamation mark indicates that the poet is not just asking a question, but expressing his frustration and surprise. He is shocked that he cannot pinpoint when his childhood ended. 😲
•  The poet also repeats the word "day" twice in the last line of the extract. Repetition is when a word or phrase is used more than once for effect. The repetition of the word "day" shows that the poet is trying to remember or imagine the specific day when he lost his childhood. He is confused and doubtful about whether such a day even exists. 😕

Question (v)

Select the option that is NOT true about the lack of punctuation at the end of line 1 in the extract. 

• (a) It shows that the poet is asking a rhetorical question is true
• (b) It indicates that the poet is unsure about when his childhood ended is true
• (c) It creates a sense of continuity between the lines is true.
• (d) It implies that the poet is angry about losing his childhood.

Answer:

Answer written by the student: 

The option that is NOT true about the lack of punctuation at the end of line 1 in the extract is (d) It implies that the poet is angry about losing his childhood.

Step-by-Step explanation of the answer:

•  To interpret something means to explain its significance or meaning. 🧐
•  In this question, we have to interpret the effect of the lack of punctuation at the end of line 1 in the extract. Punctuation is the use of marks such as commas, periods, or question marks to separate sentences and clarify their meaning. 📍
•  The poet does not use any punctuation mark at the end of line 1 in the extract, which is unusual because he is asking a question. Normally, a question would end with a question mark, which shows curiosity or uncertainty. ❓
•  The lack of punctuation at the end of line 1 has several possible effects on the reader and the poem. We have to select the option that is NOT true among these effects. 🚫
•   Option A) It shows that the poet is asking a rhetorical question is true. A rhetorical question is a question that does not expect an answer, but is used to make a point or express an emotion. The poet is not really asking when his childhood went, but lamenting that it did. 😢
•  Option B) It indicates that the poet is unsure about when his childhood ended is true. The lack of punctuation creates a sense of ambiguity and confusion, as if the poet does not know how to end his sentence or his thought. He does not have a clear answer to his question. 😕
•  Option C) It creates a sense of continuity between the lines is true. The lack of punctuation also makes the lines flow into each other, without any pause or break. This creates a sense of continuity and connection between the different possible reasons for losing his childhood. 🔄
•  Option D) It implies that the poet is angry about losing his childhood is NOT true. The lack of punctuation does not convey any anger or resentment from the poet, but rather sadness and nostalgia. He does not blame anyone or anything for his loss, but wonders how it happened. 😔

Question (vi)

Do you agree or disagree with the poet's view that childhood is linked to innocence and ignorance? Give reasons for your answer. 

Answer:

Answer written by the student:

  I agree with the poet's view that childhood is linked to innocence and ignorance, because children are not exposed to the harsh realities and complexities of the world, and they have a simple and imaginative outlook on life.

Step-by-Step explanation of the answer:

•  To evaluate something means to judge its value or quality based on criteria or standards. 🏅
•  In this question, we have to evaluate the poet's view that childhood is linked to innocence and ignorance. Innocence means the state of being free from guilt or sin, and ignorance means the lack of knowledge or awareness. 🕊️
•  We have to give our opinion on whether we agree or disagree with this view, and support it with reasons. We can use examples from the poem, our own experience, or other sources to justify our opinion. 🗣️
•  I agree with the poet's view that childhood is linked to innocence and ignorance, because I think that children are not exposed to the harsh realities and complexities of the world, and they have a simple and imaginative outlook on life. For example, in the poem, the poet says that he used to think that Hell and Heaven were real places that could be found in Geography, but then he realised that they were not. This shows that he was innocent and ignorant as a child, but he lost that innocence and ignorance as he grew up and learned more about the world. I can relate to this experience, as I also had some naive and fanciful beliefs as a child, such as thinking that fairies existed or that I could fly if I wished hard enough. I think that childhood is a time of wonder and joy, where everything is possible and nothing is too complicated or scary. 😊

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