Short Questions with Answers
1. Who is the speaker in the poem?
Answer : The speaker is an unborn girl child.
2. What does the doctor tell the mother?
Answer : The doctor tells the mother that her child will be a girl.
3. What happens to the girl child?
Answer : She is killed by an injection.
4. What does the speaker hear before she dies?
Answer : She hears traffic, monsoon slush, and wind outside.
5. What fruit is the speaker compared to after her death?
Answer : She is compared to a sliced pomegranate.
6. What does the speaker ask her mother to do?
Answer : She asks her mother to look for her.
7. What smell does the speaker mention in the poem?
Answer : She mentions the smell of formaldehyde.
8. What does the speaker say she will not become?
Answer : She will not become a flower, a butterfly, or part of a song.
9. Why does the speaker say “This is not God’s will” ?
Answer : She believes her death was caused by human actions, not divine will.
10. What does the poem criticize?
Answer : It criticizes the practice of female foeticide and gender discrimination.
Medium Questions with Answers
1. What does the speaker hear before her death, and how does it affect the mood?
Answer : The speaker hears the rush of traffic, monsoon slush, and wind outside. These sounds represent the life she will never experience. This contrast creates a mood of sadness and loss.
2. How does the speaker describe the treatment of her body after her death?
Answer : She describes her body as being cut apart and compared to a sliced pomegranate. This vivid imagery reflects the violence of her death. It emphasizes the lack of dignity given to her even after death.
3. Why does the speaker say she is not a part of “anyone’s song” ?
Answer : The speaker feels excluded from the joy and beauty of life, symbolized by songs and butterflies. This statement reflects her isolation and rejection. It highlights the loss of her potential due to societal discrimination.
4. What is the significance of the speaker being addressed as “unwanted”?
Answer : The term “unwanted” shows how society views girl children as burdens. This labeling dehumanizes her and justifies the cruel act of female foeticide. It underscores the deep-rooted gender bias in society.
5. How does the speaker’s death challenge the idea of “God’s will”?
Answer : The speaker firmly states that her death is not God’s will but a human decision. This challenges the use of divine justification for cruel actions. It places responsibility on the individuals and society involved in her death.
6. What does the poem reveal about the role of societal pressure in female foeticide?
Answer : The mother’s decision to abort the girl child reflects societal pressure to favor sons. This pressure leads her to value gender over life. The poem exposes how society’s expectations perpetuate this cycle of injustice.
7. Why does the speaker repeatedly ask her mother to “look”?
Answer : The repeated plea to “look” emphasizes the speaker’s need for acknowledgment and accountability. She wants her mother to confront her actions and the consequences. It also reflects the speaker’s lingering hope for love and acceptance.
8. How does the description of the mother’s attire reflect her emotions?
Answer : After the abortion, the mother dresses in a grass-green sari with orange blossoms in her hair. This casual, celebratory imagery contrasts with the seriousness of her actions. It reflects her indifference to the loss of her second daughter.
9. What does the speaker’s comparison to a “sliced pomegranate” symbolize?
Answer : The comparison to a sliced pomegranate symbolizes the violence and brutality of the speaker’s death. It also reflects the beauty and potential of life that was destroyed. The image evokes both pity and horror.
10. How does the poem encourage readers to reflect on gender discrimination?
Answer : By giving a voice to the unborn girl, the poem reveals the pain caused by female foeticide. It questions societal norms that prioritize boys and devalue girls. The speaker’s story forces readers to confront the harsh realities of gender inequality.
Long Questions with Answers
1. How does the poem show the emotional pain of the speaker?
Answer : The speaker expresses sorrow at being unwanted and killed for being a girl. She describes the sounds of life outside, which she will never experience. Her comparison to a sliced pomegranate shows the violence of her death. By pleading with her mother to “look,” she seeks acknowledgment of her existence. The poem captures the speaker’s pain and the tragedy of gender discrimination.
2. What role does the mother play in the speaker’s story?
Answer : The mother is portrayed as someone who chooses to abort her child due to societal pressure. She shows indifference by dressing up and continuing her life after the act. The speaker questions her mother’s conscience and asks her to reflect on her decision. This makes the mother both a victim and a participant in patriarchy. Her role highlights the cycle of gender bias in society.
3. What message does the poem give about female foeticide?
Answer : The poem strongly condemns female foeticide as an inhuman and unjust practice. It gives a voice to the unborn girl child, showing her pain and lost potential. By addressing the mother and society, it exposes the deep-rooted gender discrimination. It calls for an end to such practices and advocates for equality. The poem is a powerful plea for change and justice.
4. How does the imagery in the poem enhance its meaning?
Answer : The poem uses powerful imagery like the sliced pomegranate to depict the violence of the speaker’s death. The sounds of traffic and wind contrast with the silence of her existence. The smell of formaldehyde symbolizes her unnatural end. These images evoke both horror and pity, emphasizing the tragedy of female foeticide. The vivid descriptions make the poem emotionally impactful.
5. How does the poem address the theme of gender discrimination?
Answer : The poem shows how societal norms value boys over girls, leading to female foeticide. The speaker’s voice questions this unfair treatment and highlights its cruelty. The mother’s actions reflect societal pressure to prioritize sons. The speaker challenges these beliefs and demands equality. Through her story, the poem critiques the harmful effects of gender discrimination.
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