CBSE Most Important Poetry Reading Comprehension Class 12 English

Stanza.1. Driving from my parent’s home to Cochin last Friday morning, 1 saw my mother, beside me,
doze, open-mouthed, her face ashen like that of a corpse and realised with pain
that she was as old as she looked but soon
Questions:

1. What is the name of the poem?
2. What is the name of the poet?
3. Where was the poet driving to?
4. Who was sitting beside her?
5. What did the poet notice about her mother?
6. Why was her mother’s face looked like that of a corpse?
7. Find words from the passage which mean : (i)no healthy sleep(ii) dead body (iii) no remains.

Answers:

1. The name of the poem is “My Mother at Sixty-six”.
2. The name of the poet is Kamla das.
3. The poet was driving to Cochin Airport.
4. Her mother was sitting beside her.
5. She noticed that her mother’s face was open and like ash.
6. Her mother’s face was like a corpse as there was no shining on her face.
7. 1. dazed 2. corpse 3. ash.

Stanza 2. She looked but soon
put that thought away, and
looked out at Young
Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling
out of their homes,
Questions:

1. Why did the poet put her thoughts away?
2. What do the phrases convey, ‘Trees sprinting’ and ‘Merry children’?
3. What did the poet realise?
4. What did she do then?
5. What did she notice in the world outside?
6. “Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling” symbilises….

Answers:

1. She wanted to divert her attention from old age to young age.
2. The phrases coney the young age, young trees, and happy children.
3. She missed her childhood.
4. She looked outside to see young children and young trees.
5. The children were happy while coming from their homes.
6. The phrase symbolises young age.

Stanza 3.  I looked again at her, wan, pale
as a late winter’s moon, and felt that old
familiar ache, my childhood’s fear, but all I said was, see you soon,
Amma, all I did was smile and smile and smile…
Questions:

1. Why did she compare her mother’s face with the winter moon?
2. What was her old familiar ache?
3. What was her childhood fear?
4. Why did she smile at the end?
5. What is the synonym of “ache”?
6. “wan, pale as a late winter’s moon,” these words represent…..

Answers:

1. There was one shining on her face like a winter’s moon.
2. She was afraid of losing her mother one day.
3. She didn’t want to be separated from her mother.
4. She wanted to divert her attention from losing her mother.
5. Pain
6. These words represent sign of old age.

CBSE Sure-Shot Poetry Reading Comprehension of An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum Class 12 English

1. Read the stanza given below and answer the questions that follow :

At the back of the dim class (2020 B)
One unnoted, sweet and young.
His eyes live in a dream of squirrel’s game,
in the tree room, other than this.
Questions :
(i) Why do you think the class was dim?

There was no natural light.
(ii) Who was sitting at the back of the class?

A little boy was sitting at the back of the class.
(iii) What was the little one dreaming of?

He wanted live like a squirrel in an open area.
(iv) What comparison does the poet make in the words: “other than this”?

The poet contrasts school life and squirrel life, or open versus crowded life.
(v) Name the poem and the poet.

In an Elementary School Classroom in a Slum, The name of the poet is Stephen Spender.

(vi) “live in a dream” represents…

Dtudents have dream to live in an open area.

2. Read the stanza given below and answer the questions that follow :
At the back of the dim class
One unnoted, sweet and young. His eyes live in
a dream,
Of squirrel’s game, in the tree room, other than
this.
(i) Name the poem.
(ii) Name the poet.
(iii) Why is the class dim?
(iv) Why is the child called ‘sweet and young’?
(v) What does the child want to enjoy?

(vi) “the tree room” means….

1. An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum.
2. The name of the poet is Stephen Spender.
3. There was no window in the classroom.
4. Children are young and sweet.
5. He is a small boy and wanted to play like a squirrel in an open tree.
6. Airy and open room.

3. Read the stanza given below and answer the questions that follow :

On sour cream walls, donations. Shakespeare’s head,
Cloudless at dawn, civilized dome riding all
cities.
Belled, flowery, Tyrolese valley. Open-handed
map
Awarding the world its world. And yet, for these
Children, these windows, not this map, their
world,
Where all their future is painted with a fog,
A narrow street sealed in with a lead sky
Far far from rivers, capes, and stars of words.
(i) Name the poem and the poet.
(ii) Where are donations and Shakespeare’s head placed?
(iii) How does the poet paint the future of the children?
(iv) Explain “Sour cream walls”.
(v) Find words from the stanza which mean the same as :
(a) Faded
(b) Globe

(vi) “A narrow street sealed in with a lead sky” symbolises…

Answers: 

1. An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum and the name of the poet is Stephen Spender.
2. They are placed on sour walls.
3. Their future is like fog.
4. It means a dull wall.
5. Faded: sour, Globe: World.
6. Crowded street without any natural touch.

CBSE Sure-Shot Keeping Quiet Comprehension Poetry Class 12 English

Read the stanza given below and answer the questions that follow :

1. stanza
Now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still.
For once on the face of the Earth
let’s not speak in any language,
let’s stop for one second,
and not move our arms so much.

Questions:

1. Name the poem and the poet.
2. What does the poet appeal to us to do?
3. What does he not want us to do?
4. Which language does he ask us to speak?
5. Why is he asking us not to speak and move our arms?
6. “not speak in any language

Answers:

1. The title of the poem is Keeping Quiet and was written by Pablo Neruda.
2. The poet appeals to us to remain silent for a moment.
3. He asks us to keep still.
4. He asks us about any language.
5. He asks us to be silent to introspect ourselves.
6. Universal silence.

2. Stanza
It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.
Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales
and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands.

Questions:

1. What would the exotic moment be?
2. Why does the poet call it an exotic moment?
3. Write the name of the poet and the poem.
4. What will happen to engines?
5. What would the fishermen do?
6. “would not harm whales” means…

Answers:

1. When there will be complete silence.
2. Due to total calmness, the poet calls it an exotic moment.
3. The name of the poem is Keeping Quiet, and the name of the poet is Pablo Neruda.
4. There will be the sounds of engines.
5. The fishermen can see their wounded hands.
6. No loss to life of sea animals.

3. Stanza
Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their brothers
in the shade, doing nothing.
What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.

Questions:

1. What are the warmongers doing?
2. What will happen to their clothes?
3. What does war bring?
4. What do you mean by “victory with no survivors”?
5. What is total inactivity?
6. “victory with no survivors” Is it a victory?

Answers:

1. War mongers are making weapons of destruction.
2. Their clothes will have blood stains from war.
3. The war brings deaths and chaos.
4. Victory for none, as war will kill everyone.
5. It means no action.
6. It’s not a victory but total loss oh humans.

4. Stanza

Perhaps a huge silence
Might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.
(i) Name the poem and the poet.

(ii) What might the silence do?

(iii) Why does silence interrupt our sadness?

(iv) What is the threat of silence mentioned in the last line?

(v) Find from the stanza words which mean the same as: obstacle

(vi) Opposite word of ‘ sadness’

1. The name of the poet is Pablo Neruda and the name of the poem is ‘Keeping Quiet’.
2. The silence will bring understanding to human beings.
3. Silence helps us understand ourselves, and understanding each other will reduce sadness.
4. We are going towards our death if we don’t understand each other.
5. Interrupt
6. Happiness

CBSE Sure-Shot A Thing of Beauty Comprehension of Stanzas Class 12 English

The poem, “A Thing of Beauty,” written by John Keats, explains the beauty and its importance for human beings in everyday life. The poem is based on Romantic poetry where poets like William Wordsworth and Byron explain the fundamentals of “Return to Nature” due to the industrial revolution, which created greed, corruption, and materialism. John Keats used the AABB rhyme scheme in “A Thing of Beauty.”

A Thing of Beauty CBSE Sure-Shot Reading Comprehension

Q. 1.B

A thing of beauty is a joy forever     1*6=6
Its loveliness increases, it will never
Pass into nothingness; but will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing
A flowery band to bind us to the earth

i. Choose the option that displays the same poetic device as used in the first line of the extract.
A. I’m as happy as I can be.
B. Life is a roller coaster ride.
C. Nature is God’s gift to us.
D. The dazzling divas enchanted all

Ans. B. Life is a roller coaster ride.

ii. What does the phrase ‘a bower quiet’ indicate?
A. serenity
B. morality
C. superiority
D. diversity

Ans. A. serenity

iii. The benefits of a thing of beauty for humans include .
(i) healthy body
(ii) calm mind
(iii) struggle-free life
(iv) better relationships
(v) hope to carry on
Choose the most appropriate option.
A. Only (v)
B. (i), (ii) and (v)
C. (i), (iii) and (iv)
D. (ii) and (iv)

Ans. B. (i), (ii) and (v)

iv. Answer in ONE word.
When the poet says that ‘a thing of beauty’ will never pass into nothingness, he means
that it is………..

Ans. immortal
v. On the basis of the extract, choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below.
(1) We are surrounded by beautiful things.
(2) Beautiful things provide us joy.
A. (1) can be inferred from the extract but (2) cannot.
B. (2) can be inferred from the extract but (1) cannot.
C. Both (1) and (2) can be inferred from the extract.
D. (2) is the reason for (1) and can be inferred from the extract.

Ans. B. (2) can be inferred from the extract but (1) cannot.
vi. Which of the following is an apt title for the extract?
A. Full to the Brim with Joy
B. Beauty Galore
C. Live Life King Size
D. Hope Floats

Ans. D. Hope Floats

Metaphor in A Thing of Beauty

Definition: The comparison of two unrelated things is to convey some hidden meaning in the poem. John Keats used some metaphorical words in his poem, “A Thing of Beauty.” The poetic device, a metaphor creates some sensational effects and meanings of higher values.

1. Bower: calm, cool, shade.
2. Sweet dreams are happy dreams that make us cool, calm, and tension-free.
3. Flowery band: The flowery band binds us to earth and belongs to beautiful things, which conveys a positive attitude towards beautiful things.
4. Pall: John Keats used the word “pall” for a cool shade like trees, old and young. They shave us from the heat.
5. Endless Fountain of Immortal Drink: The poet explains that something is heavenly and compares the fountain of immortal drink to nature or beautiful things which are auspicious for humans. Humans can have heavenly feelings.

Alliteration in A Thing of Beauty

Definition: Alliteration means the happening of the same incidents at the beginning of the poem two or more times in a single line. It is a repeat of consonant sounds of two words placed near each other. It is a poetic device. The poet uses it for creating some fear and associated feeling to it.

The poetic device, Alliteration, in the poem, A Thing of Beauty

1. The poet creates a rhythm. in A Thing Of Beauty.

• The poet used the AABBC rhyme scheme to make his point of view in A Thing of Beauty.
• “That for themselves a cooling covert make
  ‘Gainst the hot season; the mid forest brake,”
• Put more emphasis on phrases to deliver the meaning.

2. Put more emphasis on phrases to deliver the meaning:

• “simple sheep”:
• “such are daffodils”:
• ” a flowery band to bind us to the earth”
• “spite of despondence, of inhuman dearth”
• “some shape of beauty moves away the pall”
• “from our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon.”
• “Trees old, and young, sprouting a shady boon”
• “That for themselves a cooling covert make”
• “‘Gainst the hot season, the mid forest brake”
• “Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms”

The poetic device, Imagery, in the poem, A Thing of Beauty

Definition: It denotes some imagination and is used by the poet in the form of some imageries. They touch one of our five senses; sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.

Uses of imagery in A Thing of Beauty

• A flowery band to bind us to the earth: It represents Earth is beautiful.
• Some shape of beauty moves away from the pall
• From our dark spirits. Such as the sun, and the moon.
• Trees old and young, sprouting a shady boon
• With the green world they live in, and clear rills.
• An endless fountain of immortal drink.
• Pouring unto us from heaven’s brink

Rhyme scheme: AABBC( forever, never, keep, sleep, breathing)

Inversion: Normal order of words is sometimes reversed to put more effects. (Are we wreathing a flowery band)

Symbols: “simple sheep” refers to mankind as Christ is considered the shepherd who leads human souls out of the dark world of crimes, sins, and temptations. “heaven’s brink”, and “immortal drink”. are the symbols for Christ.

Transferred Epithet: “gloomy days”, “unhealthy and over darkened ways”

Allusion: A brief reference to a person who represents a mythological character. here Endymion is a shepherd who lives on mountain Latmos and he is searching for Cynthia.