My Mother (Poem)
Summary: "I Cannot
Remember My Mother" is a poem written by Rabindranath Tagore. It reflects
the poet's longing and attempts to remember his mother, even though he cannot
recall her directly. The poem captures moments and sensations that evoke
memories of his mother's presence. The following is an analysis of the poem:
The poem begins with the speaker
expressing his inability to remember his mother. However, there are brief
moments when a tune from a song she used to hum while rocking the speaker's
cradle seems to resonate with his playthings. This indicates a sense of
connection to the mother's presence through the melody.
In the next stanza, the speaker
describes another trigger for memories of his mother. The smell of shiuli
flowers in the early autumn morning brings forth the scent of the morning
service in the temple, which reminds him of his mother. This suggests that
certain scents can evoke a strong association with her presence.
Finally, the speaker reveals that
he cannot recall his mother directly, but when he gazes out of his bedroom
window at the blue sky, he feels a stillness like to his mother's gaze
spreading across the entire sky. This signifies a deep emotional connection and
a sense of her watching over him.
Overall, "I Cannot Remember
My Mother" explores the theme of memory, longing, and the profound impact
a mother's presence has on a person's life. It highlights how certain sensory
experiences and moments can evoke memories and feelings associated with the
maternal bond.
Glossary:
- Cradle:
A small bed, often with curved sides, used for rocking a baby to sleep.
- Tune:
A sequence of musical notes or melody.
- Hover:
To linger or hang in the air.
- Playthings:
Toys or objects used for play.
- Hum:
To make a low, continuous sound.
- Autumn:
The season between summer and winter, characterized by cooler temperatures
and falling leaves.
- Shiuli:
A type of flower known for its fragrance, also known as the
night-flowering jasmine or the coral jasmine.
- Scent:
A distinctive smell or fragrance.
- Morning
service: A religious ritual or ceremony conducted in the morning,
often held in temples.
- Gaze:
A steady, fixed look or stare.
- Stillness:
A state of calm or absence of movement.
- Distant
sky: The expanse of the sky that appears far away.
- Presence:
The state of being present or existing
Antonyms:
- Remember
- Forget
- Play
- Work
- Hover
- Settle
- Hum
- Be silent
- Early
- Late
- Scent
- Odor
- Morning
- Evening
- Presence
- Absence
- Stillness
- Movement
- Bedroom
- Living room
- Gaze
- Look away
- Spread
- Contract
- Recall
- Dismiss
Synonyms:
- Recall
- Remember
- Play
- Recreation
- Hover
- Float
- Hum
- Sing
- Early
- Morning
- Scent
- Fragrance
- Presence
- Existence
- Stillness
- Silence
- Bedroom
- Chamber
- Gaze
- Stare
- Spread
- Extend
Comprehension Questions and Answers:
- What
does the speaker mean when they say, "I cannot remember my
mother"?
Ans: The speaker is expressing
their inability to recall specific memories of his mother.
- How
does the tune of a song connect the speaker to his mother?
Ans: The tune reminds the speaker
of a song their mother used to hum while rocking his cradle, creating a sense
of connection and familiarity.
- What
triggers memories of the speaker's mother in the autumn morning?
Ans: The scent of shiuli flowers
in the air reminds the speaker of the morning service in the temple, which
brings forth memories of his mother.
- How
does the speaker feel his mother's presence when looking out of his
bedroom window?
Ans: The stillness in the
speaker's mother's gaze is metaphorically reflected in the stillness they
perceive in the vast sky, creating a sense of connection.
- What
does the poem convey about the speaker's relationship with his mother?
Ans: The poem conveys a sense of
longing and deep emotional connection between the speaker and their mother,
even though direct memories may be elusive.
- How
does the speaker describe their mother's presence in relation to the sky?
Ans: The speaker feels that their
mother's presence and gaze have spread all over the sky, suggesting a vast and
all-encompassing love and care.
- What
sensory experiences trigger memories of the speaker's mother in the poem?
Ans: The tune of a song, the
scent of shiuli flowers, and the vastness of the sky evoke memories and
feelings associated with the speaker's mother.
- What
emotions and themes are conveyed in the poem?
Ans: Longing, memory, connection,
and the enduring presence of a mother's love are some of the emotions and
themes conveyed in the poem.
My Mother (Poem)
Summary: "I Cannot
Remember My Mother" is a poem written by Rabindranath Tagore. It reflects
the poet's longing and attempts to remember his mother, even though he cannot
recall her directly. The poem captures moments and sensations that evoke
memories of his mother's presence. The following is an analysis of the poem:
The poem begins with the speaker
expressing his inability to remember his mother. However, there are brief
moments when a tune from a song she used to hum while rocking the speaker's
cradle seems to resonate with his playthings. This indicates a sense of
connection to the mother's presence through the melody.
In the next stanza, the speaker
describes another trigger for memories of his mother. The smell of shiuli
flowers in the early autumn morning brings forth the scent of the morning
service in the temple, which reminds him of his mother. This suggests that
certain scents can evoke a strong association with her presence.
Finally, the speaker reveals that
he cannot recall his mother directly, but when he gazes out of his bedroom
window at the blue sky, he feels a stillness like to his mother's gaze
spreading across the entire sky. This signifies a deep emotional connection and
a sense of her watching over him.
Overall, "I Cannot Remember
My Mother" explores the theme of memory, longing, and the profound impact
a mother's presence has on a person's life. It highlights how certain sensory
experiences and moments can evoke memories and feelings associated with the
maternal bond.
Glossary:
- Cradle:
A small bed, often with curved sides, used for rocking a baby to sleep.
- Tune:
A sequence of musical notes or melody.
- Hover:
To linger or hang in the air.
- Playthings:
Toys or objects used for play.
- Hum:
To make a low, continuous sound.
- Autumn:
The season between summer and winter, characterized by cooler temperatures
and falling leaves.
- Shiuli:
A type of flower known for its fragrance, also known as the
night-flowering jasmine or the coral jasmine.
- Scent:
A distinctive smell or fragrance.
- Morning
service: A religious ritual or ceremony conducted in the morning,
often held in temples.
- Gaze:
A steady, fixed look or stare.
- Stillness:
A state of calm or absence of movement.
- Distant
sky: The expanse of the sky that appears far away.
- Presence:
The state of being present or existing
Antonyms:
- Remember
- Forget
- Play
- Work
- Hover
- Settle
- Hum
- Be silent
- Early
- Late
- Scent
- Odor
- Morning
- Evening
- Presence
- Absence
- Stillness
- Movement
- Bedroom
- Living room
- Gaze
- Look away
- Spread
- Contract
- Recall
- Dismiss
Synonyms:
- Recall
- Remember
- Play
- Recreation
- Hover
- Float
- Hum
- Sing
- Early
- Morning
- Scent
- Fragrance
- Presence
- Existence
- Stillness
- Silence
- Bedroom
- Chamber
- Gaze
- Stare
- Spread
- Extend
Comprehension Questions and Answers:
- What
does the speaker mean when they say, "I cannot remember my
mother"?
Ans: The speaker is expressing
their inability to recall specific memories of his mother.
- How
does the tune of a song connect the speaker to his mother?
Ans: The tune reminds the speaker
of a song their mother used to hum while rocking his cradle, creating a sense
of connection and familiarity.
- What
triggers memories of the speaker's mother in the autumn morning?
Ans: The scent of shiuli flowers
in the air reminds the speaker of the morning service in the temple, which
brings forth memories of his mother.
- How
does the speaker feel his mother's presence when looking out of his
bedroom window?
Ans: The stillness in the
speaker's mother's gaze is metaphorically reflected in the stillness they
perceive in the vast sky, creating a sense of connection.
- What
does the poem convey about the speaker's relationship with his mother?
Ans: The poem conveys a sense of
longing and deep emotional connection between the speaker and their mother,
even though direct memories may be elusive.
- How
does the speaker describe their mother's presence in relation to the sky?
Ans: The speaker feels that their
mother's presence and gaze have spread all over the sky, suggesting a vast and
all-encompassing love and care.
- What
sensory experiences trigger memories of the speaker's mother in the poem?
Ans: The tune of a song, the
scent of shiuli flowers, and the vastness of the sky evoke memories and
feelings associated with the speaker's mother.
- What
emotions and themes are conveyed in the poem?
Ans: Longing, memory, connection,
and the enduring presence of a mother's love are some of the emotions and
themes conveyed in the poem.