Welcome back, dear students and future toppers, to Vishal Jihuli Academy! I am Vishal Sir. After completing the hilarious detective misadventures of Ravi in Chapter 7, we now move on to a deeply emotional and touching poem about love, loss, and memory.
Today, we are studying Chapter 8 of your Kaveri textbook, I Cannot Remember My Mother by the legendary Indian poet, Rabindranath Tagore. In this beautiful poem, the poet, who lost his mother when he was very young, searches for her presence not in photographs, but in the everyday sights, sounds, and smells of nature. I have solved every single question, literary device, vocabulary exercise, and listening task to ensure you are fully prepared for your exams. Let’s dive in! 🌸
Table of Contents
🗣️ Section I: Reflect and Respond
Q1. Discuss the memories from your childhood that you remember. List them.
Some fond memories from my childhood include:
1. Holding my father's finger while walking to the local fair.
2. The smell of hot jalebis my grandmother used to make on Sunday mornings.
3. The specific tune of the lullaby my mother used to sing to me before sleeping.
Q2. Discuss how children's relationship with their mother can influence their emotions and memories.
A mother is usually a child's first connection to the world. The warmth, love, and security provided by a mother deeply influence a child's emotional stability. Even if the mother is no longer physically present, the memories associated with her—like a specific scent, a song, or a gentle touch—become permanent emotional anchors that bring comfort to the child throughout their life.
Q3. Match the words given in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2.
| Words (Column 1) | Meanings (Column 2) |
|---|---|
| 1. hover | (v) linger or remain near a place |
| 2. hum | (i) sing a tune with your lips closed |
| 3. cradle | (vi) a small bed for a baby |
| 4. shiuli | (ii) a type of flower (coral jasmine) |
| 5. morning service | (iv) rituals conducted in a temple |
| 6. gaze | (iii) look steadily for a long time |
📖 Section II: Check Your Understanding
I. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.
Stanza 1
2. The poet remembers the tune of a song (lullaby) but not the face of his mother.
Setting: indoor (midst of play/rocking cradle).
Stanza 2
2. The poet remembers his mother by the smell of shiuli flowers and the morning service in the temple.
Setting: outdoor (temple/flowers floating in the air).
Stanza 3
Setting: indoor to outdoor (looking from bedroom window to the sky).
II. The senses of olfactory (smell), auditory (hearing), and visual (sight)... Complete the table given below.
| Stanza | Lines from the Poem | Senses |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "...the tune of some song that she used to hum while rocking my cradle" | auditory (hearing) |
| 2. | "...the smell of the shiuli flowers floats in the air" | olfactory (smell) |
| 3. | "...my eyes into the blue of the distant sky" / "mother's gaze on my face" | visual (sight) |
III. Read the poem silently once again and complete the following.
1. Two examples of alliteration from the poem are:
(i) smell of the shiuli
(ii) my mother
2. An example of onomatopoeia is:
3. The poem uses imagery extensively. Explain.
4. Although the poem does not have a rhyme scheme, it is enjoyable because:
5. What is the tone of the poet? Why do you say so?
6. What impact does the title of the poem have on the overall mood of the poem?
7. The poet uses 'I cannot remember my mother' as a refrain because:
8. The poet uses symbolism to indicate the memory of his mother's presence. Identify the symbols used in the poem.
• The hovering tune: Symbolizes her comforting voice and lullabies.
• Shiuli flowers / Temple scent: Symbolizes her purity, devotion, and daily morning rituals.
• The blue distant sky: Symbolizes her vast, all-encompassing, and protective gaze watching over him from heaven.
🔍 Section III: Critical Reflection
I. Extract-Based Questions
Extract 1
"I cannot remember my mother
only sometimes in the midst of my play
a tune seems to hover over my playthings,"
(i) The poet is reminded of his mother during his...
(ii) What is the primary emotion conveyed by the line 'a tune seems to hover over my playthings'?
(iii) In the context of the poem, what role does the hovering tune play during the speaker's playtime?
(iv) State whether the following sentence is true or false: The poet experiences the tune lingering over playthings only occasionally during playtime.
(v) How could the poet feel his mother's presence, even though she isn't there?
Extract 2
"I feel that the stillness of
my mother's gaze on my face
has spread all over the sky."
(i) What does the poet suggest about the stillness of his mother's gaze spreading over the sky?
(ii) What emotion does the poet associate with the 'stillness' of his mother's gaze?
(iii) State whether the following sentence is true or false: The poet suggests that the mother's gaze has a tangible and visual effect on the sky.
(iv) What is the purpose of likening the mother's gaze to the sky?
(v) Complete the sentence appropriately: The tone of the poet in the given extract is ________ because ________.
II. Short Answer Questions
1. What is the emotional impact of the refrain, 'I cannot remember my mother'?
2. Interpret the connection between the poet's mother and the following: (i) shiuli flowers (ii) humming tune.
(i) Shiuli flowers: They bloom in autumn and are used in temple prayers. The poet connects this scent to his mother, suggesting she was devout and her presence was as pure and sweet as the flowers.
(ii) Humming tune: This connects to the lullabies she sang while rocking his cradle, representing the maternal warmth and comfort he felt as a baby.
3. What role does nature play in the poet's description of the memory of his mother?
4. What can be inferred about the poet's perception of the mother-child relationship?
Vishal Sir's Thought: "Tagore beautifully teaches us that people we love never truly leave us. They live on in the fragrance of flowers, the silence of the sky, and the deepest corners of our hearts."
Vishal Sir
🔤 Section IV: Vocabulary in Context
I. Classify the sensory words into Visual, Auditory, Olfactory, and Tactile.
| Visual (Sight) | Auditory (Hearing) | Olfactory (Smell) | Tactile (Touch) |
|---|---|---|---|
| glowing | hiss | aroma | sticky |
| gigantic | rustle | scent | rough |
| minuscule | sizzle | stinky | chilled |
| gloomy | deafening | pungent | fluffy |
| vibrant | squeaky | fragrant | smooth |
| crimson | ear-splitting | stale | slimy |
| - | - | - | hairy |
II. Fill in the blanks with sensory words in the box for the passage written by Sarojini Naidu.
Words provided: scarlet, shrill, sizzle, perfumes, flaming, scents, sweetness, essence, smooth.
III. Write numbers against each picture with the phrases that describe them.
Image 1 (Person picking flowers): 3. fragrant breeze of blooming buds
Image 2 (Mother rocking cradle): 4. gentle lullaby, a soft melody
Image 3 (Kites in the sky): 5. colourful sky, painting a lively sight
Image 4 (Sunset over water): 6. attractive canvas painting the horizon
Image 5 (Tabla instruments): 1. beats of music echo in air
Image 6 (Incense sticks / Agarbatti): 2. melody of soothing scent, dancing in the air
🎧 Section V: Listen and Respond
Match each statement 1-6 to each speaker (i)-(iv).
Speaker 1 ➞ 4. Childhood days are about freedom and ordinary pleasures in outdoor activities.
Speaker 2 ➞ 2. My grandfather's encouragement influences me in moments of difficulty.
Speaker 3 ➞ 5. Memories of school days are grandparents and my funny tales. (Note: This sentence is slightly grammatically broken in the text, but matches Speaker 3's usual context).
Speaker 4 ➞ 1. The precious memories by the seaside are not the same anymore.
(Statements 3 and 6 are the extra ones not needed).
📝 Section VI: Let's Write (Writing Skills)
Write a diary entry describing a memorable school trip to a scenic place.
Friday, 10th November
9:30 PM
Dear Diary,
I am writing to you with a heart full of joy! Today, our school took us on a trip to the Botanical Gardens in the hills, and it was easily the most memorable experience of my life. The moment we stepped out of the bus, the chilled mountain breeze hit my face, carrying the sweet, earthy aroma of wet soil and pine needles.
The visual beauty was staggering—a gigantic canvas of vibrant crimson and golden autumn leaves against a clear sapphire sky. We sat near a small waterfall, and the rustle of the leaves mixed with the musical gurgling of the water felt like a gentle lullaby. The most significant moment was when we all sat together sharing lunch, laughing until our stomachs hurt. Looking at the vast blue sky, I felt a deep sense of serenity and freedom away from city life.
This trip taught me how nature can heal and refresh our minds. I will cherish these sensory memories forever.
- Vishal
📺 Video Masterclass & Quick Revision
To understand the deep emotions, symbolism, and poetic devices used by Rabindranath Tagore, watch my complete video breakdown below!
▶️ Poem Explanation & Revision
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📋 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who wrote the poem 'I Cannot Remember My Mother'?
The poem is written by Rabindranath Tagore, the world-famous Indian poet and Nobel laureate.
What are Shiuli flowers?
Shiuli flowers (also known as Parijat or Night-flowering Jasmine) are white and orange flowers that bloom in autumn and have a very sweet fragrance. They are often used in temple rituals in Bengal.
Why does the poet look at the distant sky?
The poet looks at the distant sky because its vast stillness makes him feel that his mother is watching over him from heaven, showering him with her protective gaze.
author:
Vishal Sir
