I Cannot Remember My Mother Summary, Theme, Textual Analysis & Question Answers | Class 9 NCERT Kaveri English

📚 Table of Contents

👉 Summary of The Poem
👉 Themes of The Poem
👉 The Poem "I Cannot Remember My Mother" Analysis
👉 Textual Question Answers

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Summary of The Poem

The poem expresses the deep love and longing of a child who has lost his mother at a very young age. Although the speaker cannot clearly remember his mother or her face, her presence lives on in his memories through the sights, sounds, and fragrances of nature.

In the first stanza, the poet says that he cannot remember his mother directly. However, while playing, he sometimes hears a sweet tune that reminds him of the lullaby she used to hum while gently rocking his cradle. This melody brings back the warmth and comfort of his mother's love.

In the second stanza, the poet recalls the fragrance of shiuli flowers on an early autumn morning. The sweet scent reminds him of the morning prayers in a temple, which, in turn, reminds him of his mother. Through this comparison, the poet suggests that his mother's love was as pure, peaceful, and sacred as a prayer.

In the final stanza, the poet looks at the vast blue sky through his bedroom window. The calmness and silence of the sky remind him of the loving and gentle gaze of his mother as she looked at him. Although she is no longer with him, he feels that her love surrounds him through the beauty and serenity of nature.

Overall, the poem beautifully portrays the everlasting bond between a mother and her child. It conveys that even after a mother's death, her love continues to live in the child's heart through precious memories and the comforting presence of nature.

Theme Explanation

Everlasting Love of a Mother

The central theme of the poem is the everlasting love between a mother and her child. Although the poet cannot clearly remember his mother because he lost her at a young age, her love continues to live in his heart. Every memory of a lullaby, the fragrance of flowers, and the peaceful sky reminds him of her affection. The poem suggests that a mother's love never fades and remains with her child forever, even after her death.

Memories Preserved Through Nature

Nature plays an important role in keeping the mother's memory alive. The melody of a song, the fragrance of shiuli flowers, the peaceful atmosphere of the temple, and the vast blue sky all remind the poet of his mother. These natural images symbolize love, comfort, and purity. The poem beautifully shows that nature has the power to preserve precious memories and awaken deep emotions.

Longing and Emotional Bond

Another significant theme is the child's longing for his mother. Even though he cannot remember her face or voice clearly, he constantly feels her presence through the world around him. His emotional connection with his mother is so strong that ordinary experiences bring back memories of her love and care. The poem highlights that the bond between a mother and her child is eternal and cannot be broken by time or death.

Textual Analysis

Stanza1

I cannot remember my mother

only sometimes in the midst of my play

a tune seems to hover over my playthings,

the tune of some song that she used to

hum while rocking my cradle.

Word Meaning

Midst - The middle of something.
Hover - To remain or linger gently in the air or mind.
Hum - To sing softly with closed lips.
Rocking - Moving gently backwards and forwards.

Explanation

In the first stanza, the poet expresses that he cannot clearly remember his mother because he lost her at a very young age. However, while playing with his toys, he sometimes hears a sweet melody that reminds him of the lullaby his mother used to hum while gently rocking his cradle. Although her face has faded from his memory, the loving sound of her voice remains in his heart. This stanza beautifully portrays the lasting influence of a mother's love and the comforting memories of childhood.

Stanza 2

I cannot remember my mother

but when in the early autumn morning

the smell of the shiuli flowers floats in the air

the scent of the morning service in the temple

comes to me as the scent of my mother.

Word Meaning

Shiuli flowers - Small, fragrant white flowers that bloom in autumn.
Floats - Moves gently through the air.
Morning service - The prayers or worship performed in a temple in the morning.

Explanation

In this stanza, the poet associates the fragrance of shiuli flowers with the memory of his mother. During the peaceful autumn mornings, the sweet smell of these flowers and the sacred fragrance from the temple remind him of her gentle presence. The poet compares his mother's love to the purity and holiness of morning prayers. Although he cannot remember her physically, he continues to feel her presence through the beauty and serenity of nature.

Stanza 3

I cannot remember my mother

only when from my bedroom window I send

my eyes into the blue of the distant sky,

I feel that the stillness of

my mother’s gaze on my face

has spread all over the sky.

[Rabindranath Tagore]

Word Meaning

Stillness - Calmness; complete silence or peace.

Gaze - A steady, loving look.

Bedroom window - The window of the poet's room through which he looks outside.

Explanation

In the final stanza, the poet looks at the vast blue sky through his bedroom window. The calmness and endless beauty of the sky remind him of the peaceful and affectionate gaze of his mother. He imagines that her loving eyes have spread across the entire sky and continue to watch over him. Although his mother is no longer physically present, he feels her love and protection surrounding him. The stanza emphasizes that a mother's affection is eternal and continues to comfort her child even after she is gone.

Textual Question Answers

Critical Reflection

I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

1. "I cannot remember my mother

Only sometimes in the midst of my play
A tune seems to hover over my playthings,"

(i) Complete the following sentence appropriately. The poet is reminded of his mother during his ________________.

Answer: The poet is reminded of his mother during his playtime.

(ii) What is the primary emotion conveyed by the line ‘a tune seems to hover over my playthings’?

A. It enhances the joy of play.

B. It disrupts the playtime atmosphere.

C. It activates memories of the mother.

D. It symbolises the carefree nature of childhood.

Answer: C. It activates memories of the mother.

(iii) In the context of the poem, what role does the hovering tune play during the speaker’s playtime?

Answer: The hovering tune reminds the poet of the lullaby his mother used to hum while rocking his cradle. It keeps her loving memory alive and makes him feel her presence even though he cannot clearly remember her.

(iv) State whether the following sentence is true or false. The poet experiences the tune lingering over playthings only occasionally during playtime.

Answer: True

(v) How could the poet feel his mother’s presence, even though she isn’t there?

Answer: The poet feels his mother's presence through the familiar lullaby, the fragrance of shiuli flowers, the peaceful atmosphere of the temple, and the calm blue sky. These memories remind him of her love and affection.

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?

A. The mother’s gaze is physically present in the sky.

B. The sky is a symbolic extension of the mother’s presence.

C. The sky mirrors the mother’s emotions.

D. The stillness is fleeting and unrelated to the mother.

Answer: B. The sky is a symbolic extension of the mother’s presence.

(ii) What emotion does the poet associate with the ‘stillness’ of his mother’s gaze?

A. a sense of grief

B. a sense of anticipation

C. a sense of nostalgia

D. a sense of serenity

Answer: D. A sense of serenity

(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.

Answer: False

(iv) What is the purpose of likening the mother’s gaze to the sky?

Answer: The poet compares his mother's gaze to the vast blue sky to show that her love is everlasting, peaceful, protective, and always surrounds him, even though she is no longer physically present.

(v) Complete the sentence appropriately.

The tone of the poet in the given extract is _____________ because _____________.

Answer: The tone of the poet in the given extract is nostalgic and peaceful because he lovingly remembers his mother through the calmness and beauty of the sky.

II Answer the following questions.

1. What is the emotional impact of the refrain, ‘I cannot remember my mother’?

Answer: The repeated line, "I cannot remember my mother," expresses the poet's deep sense of loss and longing. It emphasizes that although he cannot clearly remember her face or voice, her love continues to live in his memories. The refrain creates a mood of sadness, nostalgia, and emotional warmth throughout the poem.

2. Interpret the connection between the poet’s mother and the following:

(i) shiuli flowers (ii) humming tune

Answer:

(i) Shiuli flowers: The sweet fragrance of the shiuli flowers reminds the poet of his mother's pure, gentle, and loving presence. Their pleasant scent symbolizes her affection and care.

(ii) Humming tune: The humming tune reminds the poet of the lullaby his mother used to sing while rocking his cradle. It represents her love, warmth, comfort, and the happy moments of his early childhood.

3. What role does nature play in the poet’s description of the memory of his mother?

Answer: Nature acts as a bridge between the poet and his mother's memory. The fragrance of flowers, the peaceful temple atmosphere, and the vast blue sky all remind him of her love. Through these natural images, the poet feels that his mother's presence continues to surround and comfort him.

4. What can be inferred about the poet’s perception of the mother–child relationship?

Answer: The poet believes that the bond between a mother and her child is eternal and cannot be broken by time or death. Although he cannot remember his mother clearly, her love remains alive in his heart through memories, emotions, and the beauty of nature. The poem suggests that a mother's affection continues to guide and protect her child forever.