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NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 1 Poemmy Mother At Sixty Six

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Class 12 English Chapter 1 - My Mother at Sixty-Six: Question and Answer (FREE PDF Download)

Class 12 students can access all the NCERT solutions for English Flamingo Poem 1, My Mother at Sixty Six by Kamala Das. Poetry is a complex subject that requires in-depth analysis and thinking ability. Many students usually find it hard to crack the hidden meaning behind this English poem. Students can download the FREE PDF created by Vedantu's NCERT subject experts for a complete and comprehensive understanding of the chapter, which is put into simple and easy terms to understand while still retaining the theme, tone, and message of the poem.

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Glance on NCERT Class 12 Chapter 1 - My Mother at Sixty-Six

  • The Class 12 English Flamingo textbook offers a wide array of poetry. These poems are often extracted from renowned and well-known authors and can sometimes be presented in language that might not be very easy to understand.

  • My Mother at Sixty-Six is a poem by Kamala Das that highlights the relationship and love between the author and her mother as she leaves her hometown.

  • She describes using various figures of speech, her mother’s dull and old look, almost as though she is a corpse.

  • While driving to the airport, she looks out the window to see trees and children playing. She is instantly reminded about her younger self and how her mother used to be young and beautiful.

  • Now, the author’s mother has grown quite old and will soon take her last breath as she grows older and older.

  • The poem highlights the circle of life, how people are born, followed by their adolescence and early years when they dream, and eventually grow old and die.


Access the NCERT Solutions to English Class 12 Chapter 1, My Mother at Sixty Six Questions and Answers here on Vedantu.

Access NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Poem - My Mother at Sixty-Six

Before You Read:

1. Ageing is a Natural Process; Have You Ever Thought About What Our Elderly Parents Expect from Us?

Ans: Old age is often considered parallel to loneliness. They lack the company of people of their age as well as young individuals along with the physical inabilities that old age has. They often end up developing pessimistic approaches towards life which can be shunned only if we provide them with love, care, importance, and empathy. Small moments of happiness will encourage them to live their lives enthusiastically.


Think it Out

1. What is the Kind of Pain and Ache That the Poet Feels?

Ans: While leaving her parent's home the poet's eyes fell on her mother's pallid face. For the poet, the 'ashen' face of her mother, which was also deprived of all its vitality and color, bore resemblance to a corpse. She realized that over the past decades her mother had grown old and was nearing her death. Such thoughts make her nostalgic and she starts recollecting fragments of her childhood memories from the underlying fear of losing her. The idea of staying away from her mother deeply distressed her. Even the smile on her face was an expression of her helplessness, which was inevitable.


2. Why are the Young Trees Described as 'Sprinting'?

Ans: While driving to the airport the poet was worried about her mother. She was worried that she was getting older and approaching her end. She looks out from the window of the cab, to distract herself from the thoughts, at the young trees which almost appear to be sprinting. Viewing the trees from the moving cab created an illusion of them almost running past them. The sprinting of the trees symbolizes the pace at which time passes. We start as infants and in no time, with happy and bitter memories harbored in our hearts, we reach old age. This image, which shows activity and strength, is contrasted with that of her old and weak mother who seems dormant and is sleeping in the car. The 'young' trees represent life in contrast to her mother's approaching death.


3. Why has the Poet Brought in the Image of the Merry Children 'Spilling Out of Their Homes?

Ans: The poem brings forth the contrasting image of life and death in various instances. The merry children symbolize liveliness, happiness, beauty, and vigor, characteristics we tend to lose during old age. The children are enjoying their youthful age playing outdoors while the mother is inside the taxi, fast asleep because of tiredness. She is nearing her death and has become weak and withered. The poet has juxtaposed the two and has made the sharp contrast between them evident. Childhood is the beginning of our life journey on earth while old age is the end chapter of it.


4. Why has the Mother Been Compared to the 'Late Winter's Moon'?

Ans: With age, we as human beings tend to lose all the vitality and youthfulness that we had during youthful age. The simile ‘late winter moon’ indicates the approaching death and old age of the mother. With age, her face is filled with freckles, marks, and wrinkles and looks like the surface of the moon. Winter is the last season of the year and is characteristic of dormancy, laziness, and lifelessness, like old age. All these natural elements resemble her mother who has lost all her strength and beauty and looks 'wan' and 'pale' to the poet. The poet’s mother is gradually progressing to her end after being in the last stage of her journey on earth.


5. What Do the Parting Words of the Poet and Her Smile Signify?

Ans: The poet's parting words, "see you soon, Amma," states her heart’s keen desire and wish to see her mother again when she returns. She wants her to live more but her physical state says otherwise. This also signifies the regret she has in her heart for leaving her mother alone at such a delicate time in her life. Her inability to be physically present for her pinches her heart and she suppressed it with her smile. We all are helpless before nature. It expresses her love and concern for her mother along with the underlying pain and struggles that she was undergoing while coming to terms with this bitter realization.


Benefits of Studying NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Flamingo - My Mother at Sixty-Six 

Check out the salient features of the NCERT Solutions of My Mother at Sixty Six (Flamingo CBSE Class 12):


  • The solutions provided in the study material resolve the problems students face while studying NCERT English Poem, My Mother at Sixty Six. Many students perceive the poem as difficult and difficult to understand. Vedantu offers solutions, summaries and more in easy and simple-to-read language, which helps the students easily grasp the chapter.

  • Students preparing for the 12th board exam can score well after referring to the NCERT solutions Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 1 poem.

  • The NCERT Solutions consist of all the very important questions from the examination point of view. 

  • The questions can be studied, and the answers can be referred to know how to answer during the exams. 

  • NCERT questions and answers are the guidebooks for the CBSE exam; thus, students can appropriately prepare from these notes. 

  • NCERT Solutions of this chapter will help the students practice more and more questions from this chapter, which will eventually help them score great marks on their English exams. 

  • NCERT Solutions will help the students to know which are the most important questions from this chapter. 

  • The solutions are provided by top professionals and subject matter experts here at Vedantu who have years of experience in dealing with the NCERT and CBSE syllabus.

  • NCERT Solutions for Class 12 My Mother at Sixty Six Question Answers are FREE to download in PDF format. This means you can study anywhere and anytime.


Conclusion

The NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 1 - My Mother at Sixty Six Question Answers offers comprehensive and complete answers to all the textbook NCERT questions. The solutions are offered and written by top experts at Vedantu who have years of experience dealing with the NCERT syllabus, ensuring the solutions' accuracy.


Related Links for Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 1 - My Mother at Sixty-Six (Poem)

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Important Links for Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 1 - My Mother at Sixty-Six (Poem)

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Chapter 1 - My Mother at Sixty-Six (Poem) Notes

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Chapter 1 - My Mother at Sixty-Six (Poem) Important Questions


Chapter-wise Links: NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo (Prose)



Chapter-wise NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English (Flamingo - Poem)



Important Related Links for CBSE Class 12 English

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FAQs on NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 1 Poemmy Mother At Sixty Six

1. What is the main theme explored in the NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 1, My Mother at Sixty Six?

The main theme of My Mother at Sixty Six NCERT Solutions is the feeling of separation and unspoken anxiety that a daughter experiences witnessing her mother's ageing. The solutions focus on interpreting emotions, the passage of time, and human mortality, as emphasized by CBSE for the 2025–26 syllabus.

2. How do the NCERT Solutions help in understanding the use of imagery and contrast in My Mother at Sixty Six?

In the NCERT Solutions for My Mother at Sixty Six, imagery and contrast are highlighted through examples like the mother’s face compared to a ‘late winter’s moon’ and the visual of ‘merry children spilling’. These stepwise solutions guide students to identify, explain, and connect these literary devices to the poem’s emotional tone, as expected in CBSE exams.

3. What CBSE exam approach is followed in answering the question on the poet’s childhood fears in My Mother at Sixty Six?

The NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 1 employ a CBSE marking-friendly structure, explaining the poet's childhood fear of separation and how it resurfaces as she observes her aging mother. The answer models include underlying emotional logic and expected exam keywords.

4. Why do the NCERT Solutions compare the poet’s mother to the ‘late winter’s moon’?

The Class 12 NCERT Solutions clarify that the simile ‘late winter's moon’ signifies fading vitality and impending mortality, mirroring the mother’s wan and pale appearance due to old age. The solution steps guide students to analyze CBSE-standard literary comparisons.

5. How does the NCERT Solutions' stepwise approach align with CBSE 2025–26 pattern for English?

NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English use a stepwise breakdown: identification of question type, referencing lines or keywords, and clear explanation. This method prepares students for CBSE board marking by ensuring clarity, logical flow, and inclusion of reference to the text.

6. What are the key exam-oriented takeaways from the NCERT Solutions of My Mother at Sixty Six?

The solutions emphasize:

  • Explanation of poetic devices with examples
  • Concise analysis of the poet’s emotions
  • Comparison of imagery, e.g., ‘sprinting trees’ vs. aging mother
  • Inclusion of CBSE-expected themes and structure

7. How do the NCERT Solutions address common misconceptions in interpreting My Mother at Sixty Six?

NCERT Solutions for this poem clarify that not all references are about literal death; rather, many signify emotional distance and the natural process of ageing. Misconceptions about metaphors and symbols are corrected through guided examples in the answers.

8. What is the significance of the poet’s parting words and smile in the NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 1?

The NCERT answer explains that the parting words (‘see you soon, Amma’) express the poet’s desire for hope while the smile conceals pain and helplessness over the inevitable, as expected in higher-order CBSE responses.

9. How do NCERT Solutions for My Mother at Sixty Six guide students to answer why the poet mentions ‘sprinting trees’ and ‘merry children’?

The solutions lead students to describe these as symbols of youth and the rapid passage of time, providing a CBSE-aligned approach to contrast questions in Literature section answers.

10. In what ways do the NCERT Solutions ensure accuracy and adherence to the CBSE 2025–26 syllabus for English?

The solutions are structured strictly as per the latest CBSE guidelines for 2025–26, ensuring that students’ answers include relevant references, comprehensive analysis, and precise language, all peer-reviewed by experienced subject experts.

11. Can the NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 1 help in answering HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills) questions?

Yes, the NCERT Solutions include model answers and approaches that foster analysis, interpretation, and evaluation – skills demanded by HOTS questions in CBSE board exams, especially when dealing with themes like ageing and emotional duality.

12. What method do NCERT Solutions suggest for answering extract-based questions from My Mother at Sixty Six?

The stepwise method includes:

  • Identifying the speaker/context
  • Explaining thematic significance
  • Relating extract to poem’s central message
  • Referencing specific literary devices
All these align with the CBSE board best practices for 2025–26.

13. How do NCERT Solutions recommend tackling answer presentation for Class 12 English Board exam?

The Solutions suggest:

  • Starting with a direct answer phrase
  • Following up with two to three explanatory sentences
  • Using poem references in support
  • Wrapping up with overall message as per CBSE English answer format

14. What is the benefit of referring to NCERT Solutions by Vedantu for My Mother at Sixty Six?

The Vedantu NCERT Solutions offer meticulously crafted, CBSE-pattern answers, detailed explanations, and clarity on poetic devices. These not only help score better but also boost conceptual understanding as per the updated CBSE 2025–26 standards.

15. What is a common error students make while answering My Mother at Sixty Six based on NCERT Solutions?

A frequent error is giving a summary instead of focusing on analytic points like poetic devices or emotional contrasts. The NCERT Solutions direct students to answer as per CBSE expectations by emphasizing key phrases, devices, and exam-relevant analysis.