Class 11. Eng.Hornbill. Poem 4 Childhood by Markus Natten Questions and answers

P-4 Hornbill

CHILDHOOD by Markus Natten

What is the theme of the childhood summary?

Childhood Summary – In the poem, the poet wonders when he lost his childhood and the innocence he had. He became conscious that he no longer sees the world as he did earlier and he can sense the hypocrisy in people. He recalled many instances in his life when he could have lost his childhood.

Q1. What, according to the poet, is involved in the process of growing up?

Ans. The process of growing up involves the realisation of the reality of heaven and hell and that the adult behaviour is not what it seems to be. Above all, he discovers the joys of independent thinking, and decision-making.

Q2. Why does the poet criticise the adults in the poem "Childhood"?

What does the child think about the adults in the poem "Childhood?

Ans. The poet is critical of adult behaviour because of their hypocricy. Though they talk of love and preach of love but they do not behave lo

vingly.

Q3. Why does the poet feel that heaven and hell are not real places?

Ans. The poet has begun to exercise his logic. He thinks heaven and hell are not real

places because Heaven and Hell are not found in geography books and in the Map of the world

Q4. How does the poet view the adult in contrast to the child? Ans. Adults are hypocrites. They do not act as they preach. The child is trusting and

looks up to adults.

Q5. What does the poet observe in the behaviour of adults? Does he approve of it? Ans. The poet observes hypocrisy in the behaviour of adults. They do not do what they say.

He neither approves nor disapproves of this. The understanding of adult behaviour is part of his growing up.

Q6. What did the poet notice about his mind? How important was this discovery?

Ans. The poet discovered that he could think independently. Intellectual independence is the sign of a grown-up person.

Q7. What is the poet trying to discover in the poem "Childhood"? What significant

occasions has he mentioned?

Ans. In the poem "Childhood', the poet is trying to discover when childhood ends. The realisation about Heaven and Hell, about the hypocrisy of adults and of his own independent thinking are the occasions that indicate intellectual growth and the development of his rational and critical faculties.

Q8. Where can the poet find his childhood? Is it lost irrevocably?

Ans. Though the poet has lost his childhood irrevocably, it can be seen in an infant. Independent thinking frees the child of adult dependence. His own identity starts to develop.

Q9. Of all the occasions mentioned in the poem, which do you think really shows that

the poet is no longer a child? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans. Throughout the poem, the poet appears in a dilemma whether he is a kid or a grown-up. He feels like a grown-up when he finds that his mind is his own and can be used the way he wants. He finds that he is also capable of producing thoughts independently.

Long Answer Questions

Q1. Justify the title of the poem "Childhood."

Ans. The title is absolutely justified as the poet describes his impressions of the childhood through his wonder, bafflement, doubts and, subsequently, a clear understanding emerges in the end. Childhood is an idyllic state of innocence and honest, blissful ignorance as to the harsh and crude reality of the world. This is the happiest phase of one's life. A child trusts everyone without questioning their intentions. The poet bemoans the loss of this naivete with time and gradually outgrows gullibility Markus Natten uses refrain to bring out the confusion and the loss of simplicity in the mind of the young child. He finally finds out the truth and reconciles with the fact that the loss will not be made good. It is incredibly interesting to note that every child goes through this muddled phase and tries to find the answers.

Q2. Why does the child refer to Heaven and Hell?

Ans. A child in his early teens begins to explore beliefs and questions them. As a rational approach develops, doubts start to creep in. Slowly, a child steps out of his make believe world. He drops his rose-tinted glasses while going through this transition The poct has used antithesis in a child questioning the existence of Heaven and Hell and wondering if they actually exist at all. Heaven and Hell belong to the world of imagination that fascinates small children. These are nothing but a product of our imaginative mind that helps a person escape from reality. When he fails to locate theses places in a geography book or atlas, he concludes that they are merely myths. This is the beginning of rational thoughts, critical thinking and developing an analytical point of view. It makes a person decide by virtue of reasoning and not accept hearsay as the truth.

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