Flamingo (Poem): My Mother at Sixty-six · Class 12 · CBSE · Science English

Explain how the poem presents the poet's fear of separation from her mother while also showing her attempt to remain emotionally strong.

Practice question from Flamingo (Poem): My Mother at Sixty-six (Class 12 · CBSE · Science English), with the correct answer and a step-by-step solution.

medium · Subjective · Q-7E97CE

Explain how the poem presents the poet's fear of separation from her mother while also showing her attempt to remain emotionally strong.

Answer: The poet is deeply afraid of losing her ageing mother, whose pale and lifeless appearance reminds her of death and separation. However, she controls her anguish by avoiding an open display of grief and repeatedly smiling and promising to meet her mother again. Her outward composure therefore hides an intense inner pain.

Solution

The poem contrasts the poet's private fear with her controlled public behaviour. The ageing imagery creates anxiety, while the repeated smile and farewell promise show her effort to remain strong and reassure her mother.

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