My Grandmother’s House
Short Questions with Answers
1. Who is the poet of My Grandmother’s House?
- The poet of My Grandmother’s House is Kamala Das.
2. Where did the poet once receive love?
- The poet once received love in her grandmother’s house.
3. Why is the house now silent?
- The house is silent because the poet’s grandmother has passed away.
4. What creatures are mentioned as moving among the books?
- Snakes are mentioned as moving among the books in the house.
5. Why couldn’t the poet read the books in her grandmother’s house?
- The poet couldn’t read the books because she was too young at the time.
6. What does the poet want to do at her grandmother’s house now?
- The poet wants to peer through the windows and listen to the silence of the house.
7. What does the poet mean by ‘pick an armful of darkness’?
- By ‘pick an armful of darkness,’ the poet refers to taking the memories and emotions of the house back with her.
8. How does the poet describe the condition of her grandmother’s house?
- The poet describes the house as silent, with snakes moving among books, and filled with frozen air.
9. What emotions does the poet feel when thinking about her grandmother’s house?
- The poet feels longing, sadness, and despair when thinking about her grandmother’s house.
10. Why does the poet say her blood turned cold like the moon?
- The poet’s blood turned cold like the moon because of the loneliness and sadness she felt.
11. What does the poet beg for at strangers’ doors?
- The poet begs for love, even in small amounts, at strangers’ doors.
12. What does the poet imply by saying she has lost her way?
- The poet implies that she feels disconnected and lonely after losing the love she once had.
13. Why was the poet proud of living in her grandmother’s house?
- The poet was proud because the house was filled with love and warmth when her grandmother was alive.
14. What is the central theme of the poem?
- The central theme of the poem is the poet’s longing for the love and warmth she experienced in her grandmother’s house.
15. What does the poet compare the frozen air to?
- The poet compares the frozen air to the lifelessness and silence of the house after her grandmother’s death.
Medium Questions with Answers
1. What changes have occurred in the grandmother’s house after her death?
- After the grandmother’s death, the house has become silent and lifeless. Snakes now move among the books, and the warmth it once had is gone. The poet feels a sense of emptiness when thinking about the house.
2. Why does the poet wish to go back to her grandmother’s house?
- The poet wishes to go back to the house to relive the memories of love and warmth. She wants to feel the connection and solace she once had. The house represents her lost happiness and security.
3. What is the significance of ‘blind eyes of windows’ in the poem?
- The ‘blind eyes of windows’ symbolize the desolation and abandonment of the house. They reflect the lifeless state of the house after her grandmother’s death. It also conveys the poet’s deep longing to see through those windows again.
4. What does the poet mean by begging for love at strangers’ doors?
- The poet means that she now seeks love and affection from strangers, which she once received abundantly in her grandmother’s house. It reflects her loneliness and emotional dependence. This statement highlights her yearning for genuine love.
5. How does the poet describe the house’s silence?
- The poet describes the house’s silence as frozen air and darkness. This silence contrasts with the love and warmth it once had. It symbolizes loss and the absence of life in the house.
6. What is the significance of snakes in the poem?
- The snakes moving among books symbolize the neglect and desolation of the house. They highlight how the house has become a place of emptiness and decay. The snakes also add a sense of eeriness to the abandoned home.
7. How does the poet express her longing for the past?
- The poet expresses her longing through her wish to visit the house, pick an armful of darkness, and relive the memories. Her words convey deep sadness and nostalgia. The past represents love and comfort that she no longer has.
8. Why does the poet compare the house to a brooding dog?
- The poet compares the house to a brooding dog to emphasize its forlorn and contemplative state. Like a dog guarding a memory, the house holds the remnants of her past love and warmth. This metaphor reflects her sorrow and attachment.
Long Questions with Answers
1. How does the poet describe her emotional connection with her grandmother’s house?
- The poet describes her grandmother’s house as a place filled with love and warmth. It was a refuge where she felt cherished and secure. After her grandmother’s death, the house became silent and lifeless. The poet’s longing for the house symbolizes her yearning for lost love.
2. What is the significance of darkness in the poem?
- Darkness in the poem symbolizes the poet’s feelings of loss, despair, and longing. It represents the emptiness left behind after her grandmother’s death. The poet wishes to take this darkness back with her as a memory. It highlights the contrast between the warmth of the past and the coldness of the present.
3. Why does the poet feel lost in her present life?
- The poet feels lost because she no longer has the love and warmth she received in her grandmother’s house. Her present life is filled with loneliness and emotional detachment. She begs for love from strangers, reflecting her desperate longing. This sense of loss defines her emotional state.
4. How does Kamala Das use imagery to evoke emotions in the poem?
- Kamala Das uses imagery like “blind eyes of windows” and “armful of darkness” to evoke loneliness and longing. She describes the frozen air and snakes moving among books to highlight desolation. These images create a vivid contrast between the vibrant past and the lifeless present. The imagery deepens the emotional impact of the poem.
5. What does the poem reveal about the poet’s attitude toward love and loss?
- The poem reveals the poet’s deep yearning for the love she once had and her struggle with the loss of it. She cherishes the memories of her grandmother’s house, where she felt secure and loved. Her present loneliness and emotional dependence on strangers show the void left by that loss. This reflects her sensitivity to love and its absence.
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