by Markus Natten
When did my childhood go?
Was it the day I ceased to be eleven,
Was it the time I realised that Hell and Heaven
Could not be found in Geography,
And therefore could not be,
Was that the day!
Explanation (English)
The poet reflects on the loss of childhood, wondering if it ended when he stopped being eleven or when he realised that concepts like Hell and Heaven couldn't be found in geography.
Explanation (Hindi)
कवि अपने बचपन के खो जाने पर विचार करते हैं। वह सोचते हैं कि क्या वह दिन था जब वह ग्यारह वर्ष के नहीं रहे, या जब उन्होंने यह जाना कि स्वर्ग और नरक भूगोल में नहीं मिलते।
Questions
Q1:When did the poet's childhood go?
Ans: The poet wonders if it ended when he stopped being eleven or when he realised that Hell and Heaven couldn't be found in geography.
Q2: What concept did the poet question?
Ans: The poet questioned the existence of Hell and Heaven, realising they couldn't be located in geography.
Q3: How does the poet express his uncertainty?
Ans: The poet uses rhetorical questions, repeatedly asking, "Was that the day!"
Q4: What does the poet associate with childhood?
Ans: The poet associates childhood with innocence and unquestioning belief.
Q5: What literary device is used in this stanza?
Ans: The use of rhetorical questions is a key literary device in this stanza.
When did my childhood go?
Was it the time I realised that adults were not
All they seemed to be,
They talked of love and preached of love,
But did not act so lovingly,
Was that the day!
Explanation (English)
The poet questions if adulthood began when he realised that adults, who preached love, didn't always act lovingly, highlighting the hypocrisy he observed in them.
Explanation (Hindi)
कवि यह भी सोचते हैं कि क्या उनका बचपन तब खो गया जब उन्होंने महसूस किया कि वयस्क वे नहीं हैं जैसे वे दिखते हैं। वे प्रेम की बात करते हैं, लेकिन प्रेम से व्यवहार नहीं करते।
Questions
Q1: What did the poet realise about adults?
Ans: The poet realised that adults, who preached love, didn't always act lovingly.
Q2: How did this realisation affect the poet?
Ans: It led to disillusionment, marking a shift from childhood innocence.
Q3: What does this stanza highlight?
Ans: The stanza highlights the hypocrisy observed in adults.
Q4: How does the poet convey his feelings?
Ans: Through rhetorical questions, expressing confusion and disillusionment.
Q5: What theme is introduced here?
Ans: The theme of disillusionment with adult behaviour is introduced.
When did my childhood go?
Was it when I found my mind was really mine,
To use whichever way I choose,
Producing thoughts that were not those of other people
But my own, and mine alone,
Was that the day!
Explanation (English)
The poet contemplates if he lost his childhood when he recognised that his mind was his own, capable of independent thought, marking the onset of individuality.
Explanation (Hindi)
कवि फिर यह विचार करते हैं कि क्या उनका बचपन तब खो गया जब उन्होंने जाना कि उनका मन वास्तव में उनका अपना है, जिसे वह जैसे चाहें उपयोग कर सकते हैं।
Questions
Q1: What new realisation did the poet have?
Ans: The poet realised that his mind was his own, capable of independent thought.
Q2: How does this signify maturity?
Ans: It marks the onset of individuality and personal identity.
Q3: What does the poet mean by "producing thoughts"?
Ans: It refers to the ability to think independently, not influenced by others.
Q4: How does this change affect the poet?
Ans: It signifies a departure from childhood innocence to adult awareness.
Q5: What literary device is used here?
Ans: The phrase "producing thoughts" is a metaphor for independent thinking.
Where did my childhood go?
It went to some forgotten place,
That’s hidden in an infant’s face,
That’s all I know.
Explanation (English)
The poet expresses uncertainty about the exact moment childhood ended, concluding that it went to a forgotten place, symbolised by the innocence found in an infant's face.
Explanation (Hindi)
अंत में, कवि यह स्वीकार करते हैं कि उनका बचपन किसी भूले हुए स्थान में चला गया है, जो एक शिशु के चेहरे में छिपा है। यही वह सब है जो वह जानते हैं।
Questions
Q1: Where does the poet believe childhood went?
Ans: The poet believes childhood went to a forgotten place, symbolised by an infant's face.
Q2: What does the infant's face represent?
Ans: It represents the innocence and purity of childhood.
Q3: How does this conclusion affect the poet?
Ans: It provides a sense of closure and understanding.
Q4: What does this stanza suggest about childhood?
Ans: It suggests that childhood innocence is eternal, residing in the faces of infants.
Q5: What literary device is used in this stanza?
Ans: The metaphor of the "forgotten place" conveys the elusive nature of childhood.
1. Who is the poet of "Childhood"?
a) Robert Frost
b) Markus Natten ✅
c) William Wordsworth
d) Emily Dickinson
2. What does the poet question in the first stanza?
a) The existence of Heaven and Hell ✅
b) The concept of time
c) The nature of love
d) The meaning of life
3. What did the poet realise about adults?
a) They are always truthful
b) They preach love but don't act lovingly ✅
c) They are always kind
d) They are always right
4. When did the poet find his mind was his own?
a) In childhood
b) In adolescence ✅
c) In adulthood
d) In old age
5. Where does the poet believe childhood went?
a) To a forgotten place ✅
b) To a distant land
c) To the past
d) To the future
6. What literary device is used in the poem?
a) Simile
b) Metaphor
c) Rhetorical questions ✅
d) Alliteration
7. What does the infant's face symbolise?
a) Childhood innocence ✅
b) Adult wisdom
c) Future potential
d) Past memories
8. What is the tone of the poem?
a) Joyful
b) Reflective ✅
c) Angry
d) Sarcastic
9. What does the poet associate with childhood?
a) Rational thinking
b) Innocence and unquestioning belief ✅
c) Disillusionment
d) Maturity
10. What is the central theme of the poem?
a) The loss of childhood innocence ✅
b) The joy of adulthood
c) The importance of education
d) The power of imagination
1. What does the poet question in the first stanza?
Ans: The poet questions when he lost his childhood, pondering if it was when he ceased to be eleven or when he realised that concepts like Hell and Heaven couldn't be found in geography.
2. How does the poet describe adults?
Ans: The poet describes adults as hypocritical, noting that they preach love but don't always act lovingly, leading to a sense of disillusionment.
3. What realisation marks the poet's transition to adulthood?
Ans: The poet realises that his mind is his own, capable of independent thought, marking the onset of individuality and maturity.
4. Where does the poet believe childhood went?
Ans: The poet believes childhood went to a forgotten place, symbolised by the innocence found in an infant's face.
5. What does the infant's face represent?
Ans: The infant's face represents the purity and innocence of childhood, suggesting that these qualities persist in the faces of children.
6. What literary device is prevalent in the poem?
Ans: The poem predominantly uses rhetorical questions to express the poet's reflections and uncertainties about the loss of childhood.
7. How does the poet feel about the loss of childhood?
Ans: The poet feels a sense of loss and nostalgia, questioning when and where his childhood innocence disappeared.
8. What does the poet associate with childhood?
Ans: The poet associates childhood with innocence, unquestioning belief, and a sense of wonder about the world.
9. How does the poem conclude?
Ans: The poem concludes with the poet recognising that childhood is hidden in the face of an infant, symbolising enduring innocence.
10. What is the central theme of the poem?
Ans: The central theme is the loss of childhood innocence and the transition into adulthood, marked by new realisations and disillusionments.
1. Discuss the poet's reflections on the loss of childhood in "Childhood".
Ans: In "Childhood," the poet reflects on the gradual loss of innocence and the onset of adulthood. He questions when he ceased to be a child, pondering if it was when he stopped being eleven or when he realised that concepts like Hell and Heaven couldn't be found in geography. This marks a shift from imaginative thinking to rational understanding. The poet also observes the hypocrisy in adults, noting that they preach love but don't always act lovingly, leading to disillusionment. Furthermore, he recognises that his mind is his own, capable of independent thought, signifying the development of individuality. Ultimately, the poet concludes that childhood has gone to a forgotten place, symbolised by the innocence found in an infant's face. This reflects the enduring nature of childhood innocence, even as one grows older.
2. How does the poet use rhetorical questions to convey his thoughts?
Ans: The poet employs rhetorical questions throughout the poem to express his reflections and uncertainties about the loss of childhood. By repeatedly asking, "When did my childhood go?" he conveys a sense of confusion and introspection. These questions prompt readers to consider the moments when innocence fades and maturity sets in. The rhetorical questions also highlight the poet's search for clarity and understanding regarding the transition from childhood to adulthood. Through this technique, the poet effectively communicates the complexities of growing up and the feelings of nostalgia and loss associated with it.