“When did my childhood go?
Was it when I found my mind was really mine,
To use whichever way I choose,
Producing thoughts that were not those of other people But my own, and mine alone Was that the day!”
(i)Describe the poet’s thoughts in the above stanza.
(ii)Explain the phrase “producing thoughts.”
(iii) Which phase of life does this stanza show?
Answers
Explanation:
1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
When did my childhood go?
Was it the day I ceased to be eleven.
Was it the time I realised that Hell and Heaven,
Could not be found in Geography,
And therefore could not be,
Was that the day!
Q1. When does poet realise that his childhood has gone?
Ans. Poet realises at the age of eleven.
Q2. Why is the age of eleven so important for the poet?
Ans. Because at the age of eleven, he can differentiate between fact and fiction.
Q3. What is the quality acquired by the poet at this stage of his life?
Ans. The poet has become rational at this stage.
Q4. When did the poet know that ‘hell’ and ‘heaven’ are imaginary concepts?
Ans. When he could not locate these places in geography books.
Q5. Why is the poet worried?
Ans. The poet is worried because he has lost his purity of thoughts and innocence.
Q6. Where has the poet’s childhood gone?
Ans. His childhood has gone to some forgotten place.
Q7. What is a child’s perception of an adult?
Ans. As the childhood goes, the child can differentiate between fact and fiction.
2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
When did my childhood go?
Was it the time I realised that adults were not
All they seemed to be,
They talked of love and preached of love,
But did not act so lovingly,
Was that the day!
Q1. Why does the poet not talk great of grown up people?
Ans. Poet feels that grown up people do not act on what they preach.
Q2.Why is the poet confused?
Ans. Poet cannot understand whether he is a child or an adult.
Q3.How does the poet find the people in this world?
Ans. Poet finds the people as hypocrites.
Q4.Choose word from the passage which means ‘sermonized’.
Ans. Preached
3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
When did my childhood go?
Was it when I found my mind was really mine,
To use whichever way I choose,
Producing thoughts that were not those of other people
But my own and mine alone
Was that the day!
Q1. Explain ‘My mind was really mine’?
Ans. It means that poet was completely in control of himself.
Q2. ‘Producing thoughts that were not these of other people’s means:
Ans. The poet has gained confidence to express his views independently.
Q3. Which stage of life has been under consideration above?
Ans. Poet is passing through adulthood.
Q4. What thoughts of the poet are revealed in these lines?
Ans. His individuality is expressed here.
4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Where did my childhood go?
It went to some forgotten place,
That is hidden in an infant’s face,
That’s all I know.
Q1. Why is the poet eager to know the lost place of his childhood?
Ans. (i) The poet cherishes childhood the most.
(ii) The poet once again wishes to lead the innocent life of a child.
(iii) The poet is eager to know where his childhood is hidden.
Q2.Where is poet able to find his lost childhood?
Ans. In the innocent face of the infant.
Q3. Choose a word from the passage which is synonymous to ‘concealed.
Ans. Hidden
Q4. What is the rhyming scheme of the above lines?
Ans. a b b a.
Answer:
(i) Poet realised that in early age his way of thinking is becoming rational.
(ii) The phrase "producing thoughts" refers as poet realisation that now he is thinking his own thoughts instead of someone else's.
He also believes that this realisation becomes the day when he loses his childhood.
(iii) Above stanza discuss about the very early age of puberty, when mind starts producing hormones leading to perspective and rational thinking.