NCERT Solutions- Class 11 English, Chapter “Childhood”
Chapter: Childhood
Think It Out
- What is the poet’s feeling towards childhood?
Answer: The poet feels a sense of nostalgia and a bit of sadness towards the loss of his childhood. He realizes that childhood is a phase of innocence and simplicity, which fades away as one grows up and faces the complexities of life.
- Which do you think are the most poetic lines? Why?
Answer: The lines:
“When did my childhood go?
Was it the day I ceased to be eleven,
Was it the time I realized that Hell and Heaven,
Could not be found in Geography,
And therefore could not be,
Was that the day!”
These lines are poetic because they capture the profound moment of realization when the poet begins to question the existence of abstract concepts like Heaven and Hell, marking a significant step in the loss of innocence.
- What according to the poem is involved in the process of growing up?
Answer: According to the poem, the process of growing up involves gaining a sense of rationality, questioning previously held beliefs, realizing the complexity of the adult world, and the loss of innocence. It also involves a growing self-awareness and an understanding that the world is not as simple as it seemed during childhood.
- What are the poet’s thoughts about his lost childhood?
Answer: The poet reflects on his lost childhood with a sense of wistfulness. He acknowledges the inevitability of growing up and losing the innocence and simplicity of childhood. He seems to long for the uncomplicated nature of those early years.
- When did my childhood go? Was it when I found out that my mind was really mine?
Answer: The poet suggests that childhood might have ended when he became aware of his own individuality and independence of thought. This realization marks a departure from the collective beliefs and simplicity of childhood.
Additional Questions
- Identify the stanza that talks about the rationalism of the poet.
Answer: The stanza that talks about the rationalism of the poet is:
“Was it the time I realized that Hell and Heaven,
Could not be found in Geography,
And therefore could not be,
Was that the day!”
This stanza reflects the poet’s growing rationalism and the questioning of metaphysical concepts.
- What does the poet mean by saying ‘my mind was really mine’?
Answer: By saying “my mind was really mine,” the poet means that he began to think independently and developed his own opinions and thoughts. He realized that he had the capability to think critically and make his own decisions, separate from the influence of others.
- Discuss the central idea of the poem “Childhood.”
Answer: The central idea of the poem “Childhood” is the exploration of the transition from childhood to adulthood. The poet reflects on the loss of innocence, the development of individual thought, and the realization of the complexities of life. The poem captures the bittersweet nature of growing up and the inevitable changes that come with it.
These answers should help you understand the poem “Childhood” better and provide a comprehensive guide to the textbook questions.