12 Questions
What is the poet's main concern in the text?
Her mother's advancing age and imminent death
How does the poet distract herself from the painful thoughts of her mother's impending death?
By looking at the young trees outside
What do the young trees symbolize in the text?
Freshness of life
Why does the poet mention the merry children running out of their homes?
To highlight the contrast between youthful energy and old age
How does the poet describe her mother's appearance during the drive?
Cold and lifeless
What is the poet's emotional state while driving her mother to the airport?
Pained and worried about her mother's condition
What was the poet's reaction upon seeing her mother's appearance at the airport?
She felt a familiar ache and fear of losing her mother
Why does the speaker compare the mother to the 'late winter’s moon'?
Because the mother has lost her brightness and strength like the moon
What do Aunt Jennifer's tigers symbolize in Adrienne Rich's poem?
Strength, confidence, and fearlessness
Why did Aunt Jennifer create tigers that were proud and unafraid in her embroidery?
To depict her aspirations for strength and freedom
What emotion does the poet try to convey by saying 'See you soon, Amma' to her mother?
Sadness and longing
What impact does Aunt Jennifer's heavy wedding ring have on her movements according to the text?
It affects her movements due to its weight and symbolism
Study Notes
The Poem "y-Six" by Kamala Das
- The poet, Kamala Das, is driving from her parent's home to the airport at Cochin with her old mother sitting beside her.
- The mother is sixty-six, inactive, cold, and lifeless, which fills the poet with the pain and fear of separation and death.
- The poet tries to distract herself from her mother's old age by looking out of the car window and seeing young trees and merry children.
- The young trees and children symbolize the freshness of life, contrasting with the old mother's passive life, ageing, and death.
- Even the joyful scene of children playing outside does not help the poet drive away the painful thought from her mind.
The Poem's Themes
- The poem explores the theme of the fear of separation and death, particularly the poet's fear of losing her mother.
- The poet contrasts the vibrant, active life of children and young trees with the dull, lifeless existence of her old mother.
- The poem highlights the poet's pain and ache as she comes to terms with her mother's impending death.
The Poem's Imagery
- The mother is compared to the 'late winter's moon', symbolizing her lost brightness and strength.
- The young trees are described as 'sprinting', emphasizing their vitality and energy.
The Poem "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" by Adrienne Rich
- Aunt Jennifer's tigers are symbolic of the power, strength, and confidence she aspires to have.
- The tigers are proud, confident, and fearless, moving with dignity and honour.
- In contrast, Aunt Jennifer is oppressed by her husband's dominance and domestic life, which has crushed her confidence and aspirations.
The Poem's Themes
- The poem explores the theme of oppression and the constraints of married life.
- The poem highlights the conflict between Aunt Jennifer's aspirations and the realities of her life.
- The poem shows how Aunt Jennifer's creative expression, the tigers, represents her desire for freedom and independence.
The Poem's Imagery
- The tigers in the panel are described as 'prancing, proud, and unafraid', symbolizing Aunt Jennifer's aspirations for freedom and confidence.
- The heavy wedding ring and embroidered tigers are symbolic of the ordeals of Aunt Jennifer's married life.
This quiz analyzes the poem 'y-Six' by the poet Kamala Das. It explores the themes of separation, death, and the poet's emotional journey as she reflects on her mother's aging and imminent passing.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
