Question

Q1. What does the word ‘cardboard’ denote in the poem? Why has this word been used?
Q2. What has not changed over the years? Does this suggest something to you?

Answer 1

Ans 1.

‘Cardboard’ refers to the photograph only. In the past photographs used to be fixed on a cardboard and hung from the wall for everyone to see it.

Ans 2.

The sea has not changed over the years. It suggests the immortality of sea as compared to the mortal human beings whose life comes to an end finally.

Answer 2

Answer:

1. In the poem, the word 'cardboard' stands for the frame that supports and borders the photograph. The photograph shows the poet's mother as a twelve year old girl with two of her cousins, Betty and Dolly. The word 'cardboard' has been used to depict that the photograph is many years old.
2. The sea has not changed over the years. It suggests that the prominent features of nature do not change much. Human beings come and go, but nature always remains.