MY MOTHER BY A.P.J. KALAM

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Class 8 English Literature

“My Mother” — A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

Enhanced Printable Worksheet • Each stanza on its own page • Varied Questions (Comprehension, Vocabulary, Figures of Speech, Imagery, Theme, etc.) • Separate Answer Key

Prepared by: M. R. K. Murty Naidu

School: DAV Centenary Public School, Ukkunagaram

© Prepared by M. R. K. Murty Naidu • @englishwithmrk • WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6GKgALtOjFD063XI40

Stanza 1

Sea waves, golden sand, pilgrims' faith,
Rameswaram Mosque Street, all merge into one,
My Mother!
You come to me like heaven's caring arms.

Summary: (The poet associates natural and spiritual elements of his hometown with his mother's comforting presence.) Meaning: Memories of Rameswaram blend with the nurturing love of his mother, evoking a sense of divine protection and home. Difficult words: (pilgrims = travelers to holy places; merge = blend; heaven's = divine)

1. What elements are mentioned in the stanza? (Comprehension)
2. How do they "merge into one"? (Inference)
3. Identify the simile used. (Figures of Speech)
4. What does "pilgrims' faith" suggest? (Symbolism)
5. Define "merge." (Vocabulary)
6. What image of the mother is created? (Imagery)
7. Explain the rhyme scheme. (Sound Devices)
8. What is the central theme here? (Theme)
9. How does the setting evoke emotion? (Tone/Mood)
10. Relate to your hometown memories. (Personal Response)
11. Why repeat "My Mother!"? (Literary Device)
12. What does "heaven's caring arms" symbolize? (Symbolism)
13. How does nature imagery enhance the poem? (Imagery)
14. Identify a metaphor if any. (Figures of Speech)
15. Summarize the emotional impact. (Comprehension)

Prepared by M. R. K. Murty Naidu • @englishwithmrk

Stanza 2

I remember the war days when life was challenge and toil—
Miles to walk, hours before sunrise,
Walking to take lessons from the saintly teacher near the temple.
Again miles to the Arab teaching school,
Climb sandy hills to Railway Station Road,
Collect, distribute newspapers to temple city citizens,
Few hours after sunrise, going to school.
Evening, business time before study at night.

Summary: (The poet recalls his arduous daily routine during wartime hardships.) Meaning: The stanza depicts the physical and mental struggles of young Kalam in pursuing education and work amidst poverty and war. Difficult words: (toil = hard work; saintly = holy; Arab teaching school = traditional Islamic school)

1. What time period is recalled? (Comprehension)
2. Describe the daily challenges. (Inference)
3. Identify repetition for effect. (Figures of Speech)
4. What does "war days" imply? (Context)
5. Synonym for "toil." (Vocabulary)
6. What vivid image of effort? (Imagery)
7. Explain the structure of the day. (Comprehension)
8. What theme of perseverance emerges? (Theme)
9. How does the tone convey hardship? (Tone/Mood)
10. Have you faced similar routines? (Personal Response)
11. Spot alliteration (e.g., "sandy hills"). (Sound Devices)
12. Why mention specific locations? (Symbolism)
13. How does this build the poet's character? (Character)
14. Find an example of enjambment. (Literary Device)
15. Summarize the stanza's focus. (Comprehension)

Prepared by M. R. K. Murty Naidu • @englishwithmrk

Stanza 3

All this pain of a young boy,
My Mother you transformed into pious strength
With kneeling and bowing five times
For the Grace of the Almighty only, My Mother.
Your strong piety is your children's strength,
You always shared your best with whoever needed the most,
You always gave, and gave with faith in Him.

Summary: (The mother turns the boy's sufferings into spiritual resilience through prayer and selfless giving.) Meaning: Mother's faith and generosity provide the foundation for the child's inner strength and moral values. Difficult words: (pious = religious; kneeling = bending in prayer; piety = devotion)

1. What does the mother transform? (Comprehension)
2. How does she do it? (Inference)
3. Identify the repetition in "gave." (Figures of Speech)
4. What is "kneeling and bowing five times"? (Cultural Context)
5. Define "piety." (Vocabulary)
6. What metaphor for strength? (Figures of Speech)
7. Explain her sharing habit. (Comprehension)
8. What theme of sacrifice? (Theme)
9. How is the tone reverent? (Tone/Mood)
10. Describe your mother's influence. (Personal Response)
11. Find parallelism in lines. (Literary Device)
12. What does "Grace of the Almighty" symbolize? (Symbolism)
13. How does faith imagery uplift? (Imagery)
14. Why "only, My Mother"? (Emphasis)
15. Summarize the transformation. (Comprehension)

Prepared by M. R. K. Murty Naidu • @englishwithmrk

Stanza 4

I still remember the day when I was ten,
Sleeping on your lap to the envy of my elder brothers and sisters
It was full moon night, my world only you knew
Mother! My Mother!
When at midnight I woke with tears falling on my knee
You knew the pain of your child, My Mother.
Your caring hands, tenderly removing the pain
Your love, your care, your faith gave me strength
To face the world without fear and with His strength.
We will meet again on the great Judgement Day,
My Mother!

Summary: (A cherished memory of comfort from mother during a vulnerable moment, promising eternal reunion.) Meaning: The stanza captures intimate maternal love that instills courage, ending with hope for afterlife meeting. Difficult words: (envy = jealousy; tenderly = gently; Judgement Day = afterlife reckoning)

1. What specific memory is shared? (Comprehension)
2. Why the envy from siblings? (Inference)
3. Identify exclamation for emotion. (Figures of Speech)
4. What does "full moon night" evoke? (Imagery)
5. Synonym for "tenderly." (Vocabulary)
6. What action removes pain? (Comprehension)
7. Explain the source of strength. (Theme)
8. How does the tone shift to hopeful? (Tone/Mood)
9. Share a comforting memory. (Personal Response)
10. Spot personification in tears. (Figures of Speech)
11. What is the rhyme scheme? (Sound Devices)
12. Why "His strength" at the end? (Symbolism)
13. How does this conclude the poem? (Structure)
14. Find repetition of "My Mother." (Literary Device)
15. Summarize the emotional core. (Comprehension)

Prepared by M. R. K. Murty Naidu • @englishwithmrk

Answer Key

(For teacher reference. Print the full document to include this section.)

Stanza 1 Answers

1. Sea waves, golden sand, pilgrims' faith, Rameswaram Mosque Street.
2. They blend to form the image of his mother.
3. You come to me like heaven's caring arms.
4. Spiritual devotion in the holy town.
5. Blend/combine.
6. Nurturing and protective.
7. ABCB (loose rhyme).
8. Mother as symbol of home and faith.
9. Nostalgic and warm.
10. Similar comforting associations.
11. For emotional emphasis.
12. Divine maternal love.
13. Creates vivid, sensory nostalgia.
14. Mother as heaven's arms (metaphor).
15. Blending of memories with love.

Stanza 2 Answers

1. War days/childhood.
2. Long walks, early rises, multiple jobs/school.
3. "Miles to walk," "Again miles."
4. Hardships and scarcity.
5. Hard labor.
6. Climbing sandy hills, distributing papers.
7. Pre-dawn lessons, school, work, evening business, night study.
8. Hard work and determination.
9. Strenuous and relentless.
10. Yes, busy schedules build character.
11. Sandy hills, station road.
12. Evoke roots and struggles.
13. Shows resilience.
14. Lines running into next.
15. Daily grind of young Kalam.

Stanza 3 Answers

1. Pain of young boy.
2. Through prayer and faith.
3. You always gave, and gave.
4. Namaz (Islamic prayers).
5. Religious devotion.
6. Piety as strength.
7. Shared best with needy.
8. Maternal sacrifice and faith.
9. Admiring and grateful.
10. Guides and strengthens.
11. Strength...shared...gave.
12. Divine help.
13. Spiritual elevation.
14. Highlights her unique role.
15. Pain to strength via faith.

Stanza 4 Answers

1. Sleeping on lap at ten, waking in tears.
2. Special affection shown.
3. Mother! My Mother!
4. Serene, intimate night.
5. Gently.
6. Caring hands removing pain.
7. Mother's love, care, faith.
8. From tender to eternal hope.
9. Similar maternal comfort.
10. Tears falling (as if purposeful).
11. ABABCC (varied).
12. God's power.
13. Provides closure with reunion.
14. Emotional invocation.
15. Mother's enduring love and hope.

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