English Question and Answer Karnataka State Board Syllabus
Class 10 English Chapter 10
C.L.M
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Comprehension I. C.L.M.
Question 1:
The line “My mother’s life made me a man” implies:
(a) It simply states the natural event of birth.
(b) It suggests the poet’s birth cost his mother her life.
Answer:
(b) It suggests the poet’s birth cost his mother her life.
Question 2:
In line 4, “Her beauty” refers to:
(a) The physical appearance of his mother
(b) The pain and struggle she endured during childbirth
Answer:
(b) The pain and struggle she endured during childbirth.
Question 3:
Why does the poet use the present tense in lines 5 and 6?
(a) To emphasize that his existence is linked to his mother’s suffering
(b) To show that every movement in her womb caused her pain
(c) To highlight that his birth contributed to her decline
Answer:
(b) To show that every movement in her womb caused her pain.
Question 4:
What does ‘it’ refer to in line 10?
Answer:
‘It’ refers to the life his mother gave him.
Question 5:
In line 12, “Her beauty” signifies:
(a) His mother’s physical beauty
(b) The poet himself
Answer:
(b) The poet himself.
Question 6:
The phrase “dusty in the mind” in line 12 means:
(a) His fading memories of his mother
(b) The mental state of his deceased mother
Answer:
(a) His fading memories of his mother.
Question 7:
“I am so grown” in line 15 conveys:
(a) That he has physically changed beyond recognition
(b) That he has failed to live up to his mother’s sacrifices
(c) Both (a) and (b)
Answer:
(c) Both (a) and (b).
Question 8:
Which line in stanza 3 indicates the poet’s sense of unworthiness?
Answer:
“She would not know her little son; I am so grown.”
Question 9:
Which phrase in stanza 4 suggests the poet’s reflection extends beyond his own experiences?
Answer:
“What have I done to keep in mind my debt to her and womankind?”
Question 10:
Does the poet believe making his mother happy is enough to repay her sacrifices?
Answer:
The poet implies that true repayment involves improving the lives of all women, beyond just making his mother happy.
Question 11:
Stanza 4 contains strong imagery:
(a) What is compared to a leech?
Answer:
A baby in the mother’s womb.
(c) What is notable about the term ‘leech’d’?
Answer:
It likens the baby’s dependence to a parasite draining its host.
(d) Why is ‘Birth’ capitalized in line 24?
Answer:
To emphasize birth as a significant moment of separation and challenge.
(e) Who experiences ‘hell’ at birth?
(a) The mother, due to pain
(b) The child, feeling guilt for her suffering
(c) Both
Answer:
(c) Both.
Question 12:
Lines 19 to 26 contain rhetorical questions:
(a) Identify two examples.
Answer:
Lines 21-22: “What woman’s happier life repays/Her for those months of wretched days?”
Lines 25-26: “What have I done, or tried, or said / in thanks to that dear woman dead?”
(b) What do these questions imply?
Answer:
Lines 21-22: The poet acknowledges that he has not compensated for his mother’s struggles by bettering women’s lives.
Lines 25-26: He regrets not expressing gratitude to his mother.
Question 13:
The phrase “man’s lust” in line 29 refers to
(a) The physical desires of men
(b) Their dominance over women
(c) Both (a) and (b)
Answer:
(c) Both (a) and (b).
Question 14:
(a) What typographical variation is used in the last line?
Answer:
It is an isolated exclamatory sentence, distinct from the rest of the poem.
(b) Why was this change made?
Answer:
To serve as a conclusion to the poet’s reflections.
(c) What literary device is used?
Answer:
Hyperbole, to emphasize the poet’s deep shame.
(d) Why does the poet wish for the grave to remain closed?
Answer:
He fears his mother would be disappointed in him.
(e) How does the poem conclude?
Answer:
With a remorseful plea for the grave to stay shut.
Question 15:
What emotion dominates the poem?
(a) Guilt
(b) Ingratitude
(c) Shame
Answer:
(c) Shame.
Question 16:
Rhyme scheme analysis:
1st Stanza : aa bb cc
2nd Stanza : dd ee ff
3rd Stanza : gg hh ii
4th Stanza : jj kk ll
5th Stanza : mm nn oo
Comprehension II. C.L.M.
Question 1.
Despite all her love, she cannot know whether I cherish it or let it go.
(a) Who do ‘I’ and ‘she’ represent?
Answer:
‘I’ symbolises the poet, the son, and ‘she’ stands for his mother.
(b) What does ‘it’ refer to in the second line?
Answer:
‘It’ signifies the life and love the mother bestowed upon her son.
(c) Why is she unable to know?
Answer:
Since she is no longer alive, she cannot see how he has lived his life.
Question 2.
If fate allowed our paths to cross, she’d walk by me without a loss, unless my soul reflected true the weight of all she’d borne me through.
(a) Is it possible for the mother and son to meet again?
Answer:
No, as the mother has passed away while the son remains in the living world, their meeting is impossible.
(b) Which literary device is used in ‘soul’s face’?
Answer:
Personification.
(c) What would his soul reveal?
(a) His deep appreciation for his mother’s sacrifices
(b) His failure to acknowledge her suffering
Answer:
(b) His failure to acknowledge her suffering.
Comprehension III. C.L.M.
Question 1:
The poem describes the poet’s personal experience. Does it stop at that?
Answer:
• The poem begins by describing how the mother gave her beauty to her child, losing a bit with each birth.
• The poet feels deep guilt for not having honoured her gift.
• Reflecting on how he has contributed to improving any woman’s life, he realizes he has not done enough.
• Women globally continue to face exploitation, torment, and oppression by men.
However, the poet doesn’t stop at his personal experience. The poem strongly advocates for women’s rights, highlighting a mother’s role, the powerlessness women often face, and their struggles for equality. It suggests that men who force women into such situations should feel ashamed.
Question 2:
Do you like the poem? Why?
Answer:
The poet addresses a common event in an extraordinarily unique way.
• While everyone feels indebted to their mother for their birth, the poet’s intense emotions make it a deeply moving experience.
• His perception of his mother’s sacrifices in giving birth is uncommon.
• In return for her sacrifices, the poet expresses a desire to improve another woman’s life. This thought is truly wonderful.
IV. Activities. Pair Work C.L.M.
(a) List three examples of discrimination against women in your family or society.
Answer:
1. Women are often restricted from choosing their own attire.
2. They face curfews and are discouraged from staying out late.
3. At workplaces, they are frequently overlooked for leadership roles or high-ranking positions.
(b) Provide three instances where men violate women’s rights.
Answer:
1. If a woman earns more than her husband, he may control and decide how her money is spent.
2. In political institutions like local councils and legislative bodies, women’s voices are often ignored or undervalued.
3. Women are frequently denied decision-making power in important family and social matters.
4. Highest Common Factor (HCF) Calculation:
Find the HCF of 69, 80, 365, and 838.
C.L.M. Poem Summary
This poem conveys deep emotions of love and remorse distinctively. It is evident that the poem is either dedicated to the poet’s mother or heavily influenced by memories of her.
The poem begins by acknowledging how the mother gave him life but passed away, leaving him to reflect on the fact that she can no longer witness the person he has become. As the poem progresses, the poet mourns that his mother cannot see how he has lived his life, emphasizing his sorrow and longing.
In the third stanza, the poet introduces the thought that even if his mother were to return, their reunion would be meaningless since they would no longer recognize each other.
The fourth stanza shifts the focus to a broader perspective, where the poet contemplates his responsibility not just to his mother but to all women. He acknowledges the pain and sacrifice women endure during childbirth and realizes that he owes them gratitude.
The poem concludes with an overwhelming sense of guilt, as the poet feels he has failed to repay his mother’s sacrifices. He extends this feeling to society, believing that his inaction has contributed to the ongoing inequality between men and women. The poem also highlights his regret for not challenging the perception of male dominance.
Although this poem expresses deep love, it differs significantly from traditional love poetry. Its tone is much more introspective, focusing on themes of sacrifice, guilt, and social inequality rather than admiration or romantic devotion.