A Photograph Important Short and Long Question Class 11 Poem-1 Book-1

1. What is the significance of the "cardboard" in the poem?

Answer: 

The "cardboard" refers to the old photograph that the poet is looking at. It holds memories of her mother’s childhood and reminds her of the passage of time. The use of "cardboard" suggests fragility, symbolizing how memories and life itself are delicate and fleeting.

2. Who are the people in the photograph?

Answer: 

The photograph shows the poet’s mother as a twelve-year-old girl with her two cousins, Betty and Dolly. They are holding hands and smiling while their uncle takes their picture at the beach.

3. What does the phrase "terribly transient feet" mean?

Answer: 

The phrase "terribly transient feet" highlights the temporary nature of human life. While the sea remains unchanged over time, human life is short and constantly changing. The poet uses this contrast to emphasize the fleeting nature of life.

4. How does the poet’s mother react to the photograph later in life?

Answer: 

Many years later, the poet’s mother would look at the photograph and laugh, remembering the beach holiday with nostalgia. She would comment on how they were dressed for the beach, showing both amusement and a sense of loss for her childhood days.

5. What does the poet mean by "Both wry with the laboured ease of loss"?

Answer: 

This phrase suggests that both the poet and her mother feel a bittersweet sense of loss. The mother misses her childhood, and the poet now misses her mother. The "laboured ease" reflects how people try to accept loss, but it is never easy.

6. How does the poet express grief in the final stanza?

Answer: 

The poet reflects on the death of her mother and realizes that she has been dead for nearly as many years as she lived in the photograph. The silence that follows her mother’s death is overwhelming, making her feel speechless and empty.

7. What is the central theme of the poem?

Answer: 

The poem explores themes of loss, memory, and the passage of time. It shows how photographs capture moments that never return, emphasizing the contrast between the permanence of nature and the temporary nature of human life.

8. How does the sea serve as a symbol in the poem?

Answer: 

The sea symbolizes permanence and continuity. While people grow older and eventually pass away, the sea remains unchanged. This contrast highlights the fleeting nature of human life.

9. What does the poet mean by "Its silence silences"?

Answer: 

This phrase conveys the poet’s deep sorrow and inability to express her emotions. The loss of her mother has left her in profound silence, where words are insufficient to describe her grief.

10. How does the poem portray the impact of time?

Answer: 

The poem shows how time changes everything—childhood turns into adulthood, laughter turns into memories, and eventually, life turns into death. It emphasizes that while human life is temporary, memories and photographs help preserve the past.

These questions and answers cover the key aspects of the poem and help in understanding its deeper meaning.