Question

14. The photograph was taken
(1) when the narrator was about twelve
(2) about twelve years ago
(3) when the narrator was a child
(4) when the narrator was not even born.​

Answer 1

The photograph was taken when the narrator was not even born.

Explanation:

• The poem ‘A Photograph’ is written by Shirley Toulson. In this poem, she recalls her mother and her memories while looking at a childhood photograph when her mother was twelve years old or so.

• She has been deceased twelve years ago and she cannot explain her grief on her mother’s loss.

• It is her mother when she was twelve years old or so. Beside her, on both sides are her two cousins, Betty and Dolly, who are holding her hands and are younger than her. They went for paddling on a beach holiday. Her uncle took the photograph then. The poet could not help but notice her mother’s sweet face. The sea touched her terribly transient feet which depicted that she changed over the years and the sea remained the same.