Bihar Board Class 9 English Book Solutions Poem 1 The Grandmother
A. Answer the following questions orally:
Question 1.
What do you call your mother’s mother or father’s mother?
Answer:
I call my mother’s mother my maternal grandmother and my father’s mother my grandmother.
Question 2.
How do you behave with your grandmother?
Answer:
I behave with my grandmother with great respect and love.
Question 3.
What is the role of a grandmother in a family?
Answer:
A grandmother is respected by everyone in the family. She guides the family members, tells stories to children, and sometimes looks after and feeds them.
Question 4.
Is your grandmother alive? How much are you attached to her?
Answer:
Yes, my grandmother is alive. I am deeply attached to her because she always guides me and encourages me to do good deeds.
B.1. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statements:
Answers:
– F
– F
– F
– T
– F
– T
– T
B.2. Fill in the blanks on the basis of your reading of the poem:
Answers:
were, shape
would, quickly, would
felt, head
would, were, hands
heard, from
would, would
B.3. Answer the following questions very briefly:
Question 1.
From what distance does the poet recognise his grandmother?
Answer:
The poet recognises his grandmother from a mile away.
Question 2.
What is the colour of the grandmother’s scarf?
Answer:
The colour of the grandmother’s scarf is purple.
Question 3.
What material is the shopping bag made of?
Answer:
The shopping bag is made of plastic.
Question 4.
What are the two things in the first eight lines which the speaker associates with his grandmother?
Answer:
The speaker associates his grandmother with her purple scarf and plastic shopping bag.
Question 5.
In the poem, the poet feels the tender touch of his grandmother. Explain the lines.
Answer:
The poet feels the tender touch of his grandmother on his head. Her hands are warm and damp and carry the smell of roots, showing her love and care.
Question 6.
From where was the voice coming?
Answer:
The voice was coming from a rock.
Question 7.
Where do the words of the grandmother flow in the poet?
Answer:
The words of the grandmother flow inside the poet’s heart and mind.
C.1. Long Answer Type Questions:
Question 1.
‘The purple scarf’ and ‘the plastic shopping bag’ suggest the social position of the speaker. Explain.
Answer:
The purple scarf and the plastic shopping bag suggest that the grandmother belongs to a middle-class family. These objects show her simple lifestyle and daily routine, such as going to the market for shopping. They reflect the modest and practical living standard of the family.
Question 2.
How does the poet express a close and emotional relationship with his grandmother?
Answer:
Although the poet and his grandmother are separated by a mile, he strongly feels her presence. He imagines her scarf, shopping bag, touch, and voice. This shows the deep emotional bond and close relationship between them.
Question 3.
Explain the expression: ‘With the smell of roots’.
Answer:
The expression suggests that the grandmother used to work in the garden or deal with plants. The smell of roots on her hands symbolizes her closeness to nature and her hardworking nature.
Question 4.
Why does the speaker say ‘a voice coming from a rock’? When does a voice come from a rock? Have you ever experienced your sound coming back to you?
Answer:
The speaker hears his grandmother’s voice like an echo, which suggests that she may no longer be alive. When sound hits a mountain or rock, it comes back as an echo. Yes, I have experienced my voice returning while shouting near hills or mountains.
Question 5.
What does ‘Sleeping fire’ suggest in the poem? Explain.
Answer:
‘Sleeping fire’ suggests hidden energy or emotions inside the poet. The memories and words of his grandmother awaken his inner strength and emotions.
Question 6.
What are ‘Stirring ashes’ in the poem? Explain.
Answer:
‘Stirring ashes’ suggests old memories that still remain alive in the poet’s heart. Though calm on the outside, the poet’s emotions are deeply connected to his grandmother.
Question 7.
‘Her words would flow inside me’ shows the poet’s intense closeness with his grandmother. Comment on their relationship.
Answer:
This expression shows the deep emotional bond between the poet and his grandmother. Even in her absence, her words continue to guide and inspire him.
Question 8.
The speaker has shown his intimate relation with his grandmother using all his senses. How? Explain.
Answer:
The poet uses sight (scarf and bag), touch (hands on head), sound (voice from a rock), and smell (smell of roots) to express his deep and intimate relationship with his grandmother.
C.2. Group Discussion:
Question 1.
Distance does not affect intimate relationships. Do you agree?
Answer:
Yes, I agree. Emotional relationships are based on love and feelings, not physical distance. Even after death or separation, love and memories keep relationships alive, as shown in the poem.
Comprehension Based Questions with Answers
Passage 1
Answers:
The poem is The Grandmother and the poet is Ray Young Bear.
The poet recognises his grandmother from a mile away by her purple scarf and plastic shopping bag.
The poet feels deep love and emotional attachment towards his grandmother.
Passage 2
Answers:
‘Warm and damp’ symbolizes the loving and caring hands of the grandmother.
‘I’ stands for the poet.
The grandmother’s words flow inside the poet’s heart.
The word is “stirring”.