Cbse 11th English poem childhood short summary
Answers
In the poem ‘Childhood’, Markus Natten depicts the reality of childhood innocence gradually transforming into adult rationality, hypocrisy and individuality. The poem begins with the poet wondering when did his childhood go – was it the day he ceased to be eleven; was it the day when he could distinguish between fantasy and reality by realizing that heaven and hell don’t exist since they are not found in geography books; was it the day when he could understand the hypocrisy of adults by realizing that people were not all that they pretended to be; or was it the day when he became conscious of his own growing individuality by realising that he had a mind of his own and that he was capable of producing thoughts and opinions that were different from other people.
In the final lines, the poet concludes the speculations in his mind regarding his lost childhood. He now tries to understand where his childhood has gone. Though he is not aware of the day he lost his childhood, he knows that it has gone to some forgotten place, that is, on the face of an infant. The poet believes that though his childhood has become a memory for him, it has become a reality for some other child. Childhood is a cyclic process, where it leaves one person and goes to another
Answer- The above question is from the poem 'Childhood' composed by the poet 'Markus Natten'.
Given question: Write a short summary of the poem 'Childhood'.
Answer: Summary of 'Childhood'
The poem 'Childhood' actually deals with the inquisitiveness of the poet to know when a person ends to be a child. There are various possibilities that are actually responsible for the end of childhood in one's life. The poet is curious to know if the childhood comes to a halt after one reaches the age of eleven or twelve. Upon reaching their adolescence and adulthood, the poet realizes that there is no place like Hell and Heaven in his Geography book and these are merely abstract ideas. This thought comes to his mind due to his newly built rational thinking. The poet realizes the hypocrisy in adults as they, who teach and advocate children about love, follows the path of violence and treachery. The poet has become assertive and becomes aware of his distinctive character and individuality. This has freed him from the prejudiced thoughts of others. Finally, he comprehends that innocence which is a cyclical process, is found in another infant. Childhood is now merely a memory for the poet but a sweet and innocent reality for the infant.