Multiple Choice Questions I! 1, Why did the flowers seem to be “made of light”? (a) They were beautiful but delicate (b) They were white but light (c) They were of different colours (d) They were shining in reflection Answer: (a) They were beautiful but delicate 2. What is a laburnum? (2) A tree with red flowers (b) A tree with clusters of white flowers (0) A tree with clusters of yellow flowers (d) A shrub with pink flowers Answer: (c) A tree with clusters of yellow flowers 3. The tree is still living. (@) and the poet's life is easy (©) and the poet likes trees (c) but the beauty of the poet's childhood is gone (A) but the poet dislikes trees ‘Answer: (c) but the beauty of the poet's childhood is gone4. The poet's spirit was when he was a child and now it is (heavy, light (©) light, light (heavy, heavy (4) light, heavy Answer: (d) light, heavy 5. What is the mood of the poem? (@) Cheerful (b) Regretful (c) Nostalgic (¢) Jolly ‘Answer: (c) Nostalgic 6. What contrast does the poet draw by talking about the swing and the pools? (2) The innocence of childhood and the worry-ridden life of an adult (b) The careless attitude of a child and the cautious attitude of an adult (€) The healthy life of a child and the woeful life of an adult (d) There is no contrast Answer: (a) The innocence of childhood and the worry-riclden life of an adult‘7. What shows that the poet was ignorant as a child? (a) He thought that alll trees were the same (b) He did not look at the trees () He thought that the trees could grow beyond the sky (@) He thought that the treetops were close to heaven Answer: (d) He thought that the treetops were close to heaven 8. The poet talks about (@) his childhood days and innocence (b) how he enjoys being an adult (6) his childhood friends (@) his childhood home Answer: (2) his childhood days and innocence 9. The poet thought that he was closer to heaven as a child because (@) he used to pray a lot (b) he was innocent and did not know the harsh realities of life (c) he was able to climb a huge tree (d) he was a responsible child ‘Answer: (b) he was innocent and did not know the harsh realities of life20. What Is the signiticance or summer pools could hardly coo! the fever on my Drow ¢ (2) The pool is warm and could net coo! him. (b) The poet does not like to swim (€) The things that relieved him can barely calm him now (2) The poet was unwell ‘Answer: (c) The things that relieved him can barely calm him now (2) he was innocent (b) he was reckless (c) he was joyful (d) he was silent Answer: (c) he was joyful 12. The poet wishes to go back to his childhood days because (@)his present is painful (b) he was happy when he was a child (c) he did not worry when he was a child (d) All of the above Answer: (d) All of the above13, Why did the poet wish that his life had ended when he was a child? (2) It was a difficult life as a child (b) Because his blissful childhood days would have continued (c) He did not wish to become an adult (d) He did not want to live now ‘Answer: (b) Because his blissful childhood days would have continued 14, The poet felt the need to make a contrast between the childhood days and adult life because: (2) childhood was a perfect time (b) he disliked his childhood days (©) he is happier as an adult (a) he was forced to do so ‘Answer: (a) childhood was a perfect time 15. Why is there a repetition of the words “I Remember, | Remember"? (@) To create a musical quality (b) To emphasise his childhood memories (©) To show poet's memory was short-lived (@) forno reason ‘Answer: (b) To emphasise his childhood memoriesExtract 1 | remember, | remember, ‘The house where | was born, ‘The little window where the sun Came peeping in at morn; He came a wink too soon, Nor brought too long a day, But now, | often wish the night Had borne my breath away! () When did the sun come “peeping”? Why? ‘Answer: The sun came “peeping” in the morning through the window, symbolising the start of a new day, often associated with warmth and life. (i) What do the lines “never came a wink too soon” imply? What is the poet trying to indicate? Answer: These lines suggest that, as a child, the poet never found the morning to come too early. The poet is implying that in childhood, days were perfectly balanced, never too long or too short, and filled with contentment. (ii) Why does the poet wish “the night had borne his breath away”? ‘Answer: The poet wishes that night had taken his life because adulthood has brought him more hardship. and he longs to escape from his present suffering and disillusionment. (iv) Describe in your own words the imagery portrayed in this extract. Answer: The imagery depicts a nostalgic and peaceful morning scene from the poet's childhood, with the sun gently peeking through the window. It contrasts with the later wish for death, showing a shift from innocence to despair,(V) Give the significance of the first line of this extract in the poem. ‘Answer: The first line, “I remember, | remember,” sets the tone for the entire poem, indicating that the poet is reflecting on past memories, contrasting the joy of childhood with the sorrow of adulthood. Extract 2 remember, | remember; ‘The roses, red and white, The violets, and the lily-cups, Those flowers made of light! The lilacs where the robin built, And where my brother set The laburnum on his birthday, The tree is living yet! (i) What does “flowers made of light” mean? Answer: “Flowers made of light” symbolises the beauty and purity of the flowers in the poet's childhood garden, possibly hinting at an ethereal or magical quality. What does the building of its nest by a robin in the lilacs suggest? How is the poet affected by its absence now? Answer: The robin building its nest suggests a sense of life and activity in the garden, representing a time of happiness and life. The absence of the robin now reflects the poet's feeling of loss and detachment from the simplicity and joy of childhood. ‘What memories does he have of his brother? Which tree is “living”? What does this signify?‘Answer: The poet remembers his brother planting a laburnum tree on his birthday. The tree is still living, signifying the lasting nature of childhood memories, even as life moves on and changes. (iv) Briefly describe the garden of the poet's childhood. ‘Answer: The poet's childhood garden was filled with vibrant flowers like roses, violets, and lilies. There were lilacs where robins nested, and the laburnum tree planted by his brother. The garden seems full of life and innocence (v) Give the meaning of: (a) The roses, red and white Answer: The roses symbolise the beauty and contrast of life, with the red representing vitality or passion and the white symbolising purity or peace. (b) Where my brother set / The laburnum. Answer: This refers to the poet's brother planting the laburnum tree on his birthday, a symbolic act that connects. the poet's memories of family and childhood.Extract 3 | remember, | remember, Where | was used to swing, And thought the air must rush as fresh To swallows on the wing; My spirit flew in feathers then, That is so heavy now, And summer pools could hardly coo! The fever on my brow! () What does the poet think when he was swinging? Which figure of speech is used in line 3 of this extract? ‘Answer: When swinging, the poet felt as free as the swallows in the air. The figure of speech in line 3 is a simile, as it compares the fresh air rushing to him with the air that swallows experience during flight. (ii) What do you understand by swallows on the wing? Who are swallows? Why are they mentioned here? ‘Answer: Swallows are birds known for their graceful, high-speed flight. They are mentioned to evoke a sense of freedom and lightness that the poet associated with his own spirit in childhood, (ii) How did the poet's spirit fiy? What is the state of his spirits now? ‘Answer: In childhood, the poet's spirit felt light and carefree, symbolised by “flying in feathers.” Now, however, his spirit is heavy and burdened by the weight of life, reflecting his loss of joy and innocence. (iv) How does this extract show the theme of saudade? ‘Answer: This extract captures the theme of saudade, a deep emotional state of nostalgic longing for something that is lost. The poet yearns for the carefree spirit of his youth, which contrasts with the heaviness and weariness he feels now. —(v) "And summer pools could hardly cool / The fever on my brow!” Explain what the poet meant by these lines. Answer: These lines suggest that even the soothing elements of nature, like cool summer pools, are no longer ‘enough to bring the post relief or peace. The “fever” represents the emotional and mental anguish of adulthood Extract 4 | remember, I remember, ‘The fir trees dark and high; used to think their slender tops Were close against the sky: twas a childish ignorance, But now ‘ts litle joy ‘To know I'm farther off from heaven Than when | was a boy. (i) What did the poet think about the fir trees as a child? ‘Answer: As a child, the poet thought the tops of the fir trees reached the sky, reflecting the wonder and. imagination of childhood. (ii) Identify any two literary devices used in this extract. Answer: Two literary devices used are+ Imagery: The description of the tall fir trees evokes a vivid image of the poet's childhood perspective. + Metaphor: “Farther off from heaven” is a metaphor for the poet feeling more distant from joy, innocence, or spiritual closeness as an adult. (Gil) What does he refer to as “childish ignorance”? What is the “joy” referred to in the extract? Answer: “Childish ignorance” refers to the innocent beliefs and perceptions the poet had as a child, such as. thinking the fir trees touched the sky. The “joy” is the carefree happiness of childhood, which the poet now feels is lost. {iv) Why did the poet feel closer to heaven earlier? Why does he feel farther off heaven now? Answer: The poet felt closer to heaven as a child because he was filled with innocence, wonder, and joy. Now, he feels farther from heaven because adulthood has brought disillusionment and a loss of that purity and happiness (v) The last three lines suggest that the poet has lost his youthful joy and optimism. Do you agree? Elaborate with reference to the poem. ‘Answer: Yes, the last three lines suggest the poet has lost his youthful joy and optimism. He reflects on the contrast between his childhood, filed with hope and wonder, and his present state, marked by sorrow, heaviness, and a sense of disconnection from the innocence and happiness of his youth.