Question

BOY ON A SWING

Slowly he moves
to and fro, to and fro,
then faster and faster
he swishes up and down.

His blue shirt
billows in the breeze
like a tattered kite.

The world whirls by:
east becomes west,
north turns to south;
the four cardinal points
meet in his head.

Mother!
Where did I come from?
When will I wear long trousers?
Why was my father jailed?

Q.1
a. What's the boy's state of mind at the beginning of the poem Why do you say so?
b. What does the word 'tattered' convey to the reader?
c. What do the following lines signify?
east becomes west,
north turns to south
d. What is the state of the boy according to you?
e. The boy asks THREE questions to his mother. Which one of them do you think the mother would find most difficult to answer and why
f. As the poet is from South Africa, can you associate a reason for his father being jailed?

Q.2
a. What do you think the follow symbolize
(i) the blue shirt-
(ii) the swing-
b. What do the last three questions reveal?

Answer 1

Answer:

Q1. b.Very old and torn

e. Why is my father jailed

f. His father killed babies

Q2. B. He is adopted, he is a young boy and his dad is a terrorist.

I know I didn't answer all but I hope this helps