I Cannot Remember My Mother Class 9 Solutions

I. Work in pairs. Discuss the memories from your childhood that you remember. List them and share with your classmates and teacher.

Answer: Some childhood memories I remember are:

• Playing with friends in the evening
• Listening to stories from grandparents
• Going to school for the first time
• Celebrating festivals with family
• Eating food cooked by my mother
• Visiting parks, fairs or relatives during holidays

II. Discuss how children’s relationship with their mother can influence their emotions and memories.

Answer: A child’s relationship with the mother can deeply influence emotions and memories. A mother’s voice, touch, care, songs, food, fragrance and presence often become part of a child’s earliest memories. Even when a child cannot remember every detail clearly, feelings of comfort, safety, love and warmth may remain for life.

III. Match the words given in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2.

I. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

Stanza 1

Stanza 2

Stanza 3

II. Give examples of references to senses from the poem. Complete the table.

III. Read the poem silently once again and complete the following.

1. Two examples of alliteration from the poem are (i) __________ and (ii) ___________.

Answer: (i) my mother and (ii) flowers floats. Another acceptable example is stillness… spread… sky.

2. An example of onomatopoeia is ________________.

Answer: hum

3. The poem uses imagery extensively. Explain.

Answer: The poem uses imagery through sound, smell and sight. The tune and humming create auditory imagery. The smell of shiuli flowers and the scent of temple service create olfactory imagery. The blue distant sky and mother’s gaze create visual imagery. These images help the poet feel his mother’s presence.

4. Although the poem does not have a rhyme scheme, it is enjoyable because ______________.

Answer: Although the poem does not have a rhyme scheme, it is enjoyable because of its emotional depth, simple language, repetition, imagery and musical movement.

5. What is the tone of the poet? Why do you say so?

Answer: The tone of the poet is tender, nostalgic and serene. The poet does not remember his mother clearly, but he feels her presence through a tune, fragrance and the sky. This creates a mood of gentle longing rather than loud sorrow.

6. What impact does the title of the poem have on the overall mood of the poem?

Answer: The title creates a mood of sadness, longing and emotional incompleteness. It prepares the reader for a poem about absence, memory and the deep bond between mother and child.

7. The poet uses “I cannot remember my mother” as a refrain because __________________.

Answer: The poet uses it as a refrain because it emphasises the pain of not being able to remember his mother clearly, while also showing that her presence returns through sensory memories.

8. The poet uses symbolism to indicate the memory of his mother’s presence. Identify the symbols used in the poem.

Answer: The symbols are:

• Tune / song: symbolises the mother’s lullaby and care.
• Cradle: symbolises childhood and maternal protection.
• Shiuli flowers: symbolise fragrance, purity and tender memory.
• Morning service: symbolises spiritual and sacred association.
• Blue sky: symbolises the vast and calm presence of the mother.
• Mother’s gaze: symbolises love, watchfulness and protection.

I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

1. Extract-based Question

Reference: This extract is from the opening stanza, where the poet is reminded of his mother through a tune during playtime.

(i) Complete the following sentence appropriately. The poet is reminded of his mother during his ________________.

Answer: playtime / play

(ii) What is the primary emotion conveyed by the line “a tune seems to hover over my playthings”?

Answer: C. It activates memories of the mother.

(iii) In the context of the poem, what role does the hovering tune play during the speaker’s playtime?

Answer: The hovering tune acts as a memory trigger. It connects the poet’s present playtime with the song his mother used to hum while rocking his cradle.

(iv) State whether the following sentence is true or false. The poet experiences the tune lingering over playthings only occasionally during playtime.

Answer: True

(v) How could the poet feel his mother’s presence, even though she isn’t there?

Answer: The poet feels his mother’s presence through the tune she used to hum. The sound creates an emotional memory of her care and affection.

2. Extract-based Question

Reference: This extract is from the final stanza, where the poet connects the stillness of his mother’s gaze with the vast blue sky.

(i) What does the poet suggest about the stillness of his mother’s gaze spreading over the sky?

Answer: B. The sky is a symbolic extension of the mother’s presence.

(ii) What emotion does the poet associate with the “stillness” of his mother’s gaze?

Answer: D. a sense of serenity

(iii) State whether the following sentence is true or false. The poet suggests that the mother’s gaze has a tangible and visual effect on the sky.

Answer: False. The effect is symbolic and emotional, not physical or tangible.

(iv) What is the purpose of likening the mother’s gaze to the sky?

Answer: The poet likens the mother’s gaze to the sky to suggest that her love is calm, vast, protective and ever-present. The sky becomes a symbol of her silent presence.

(v) Complete the sentence appropriately. The tone of the poet in the given extract is _____________ because _____________.

Answer: The tone of the poet in the given extract is serene and nostalgic because he feels his mother’s calm and loving presence spread across the sky.

II. Answer the following questions.

1. What is the emotional impact of the refrain, “I cannot remember my mother”?

Answer: The refrain creates a deep emotional impact by repeatedly reminding readers of the poet’s loss and incomplete memory. It expresses sadness and longing, but it also shows that the mother’s presence survives through sound, smell and sight.

2. Interpret the connection between the poet’s mother and the following: (i) shiuli flowers (ii) humming tune

(i) Shiuli flowers: The smell of shiuli flowers in the early autumn morning reminds the poet of his mother’s scent and her sacred, gentle presence.

(ii) Humming tune: The humming tune reminds the poet of the song his mother used to hum while rocking his cradle. It represents maternal love and care.

3. What role does nature play in the poet’s description of the memory of his mother?

Answer: Nature plays an important role as a carrier of memory. The scent of shiuli flowers and the vast blue sky help the poet feel his mother’s presence. Nature transforms personal memory into a calm and universal experience.

4. What can be inferred about the poet’s perception of the mother–child relationship?

Answer: The poet sees the mother–child relationship as deeply emotional and lasting. Even though he cannot remember his mother clearly, her love remains in his senses and feelings. This suggests that a mother’s presence continues to shape the child’s inner world.

I. Work in pairs to classify the sensory words given in the box below.

II. Fill in the blanks with sensory words in the box for the passage by Sarojini Naidu. There are two extra words.

III. Write numbers against each picture with the phrases that describe them with their sensorial associations.

I. You will listen to four short extracts of people expressing their childhood memories. As you listen, match each statement 1–6 to each speaker (i)–(iv). There are two statements that you do not need.

I. Work in pairs. Think of an object, song, or a place that is memorable for you. Take turns to speak about it using the prompts given.

Sample Speech: My Grandmother’s Old Radio

During my childhood, one object that became very memorable for me was my grandmother’s old radio. It was small, brown and slightly scratched, but it filled our home with songs, news and stories every evening. I still remember its soft crackling sound and the warm light that appeared when it was switched on.

Growing up, I fondly remember sitting beside my grandmother while she listened to old songs. The room often smelled of tea and cardamom, and the slow music made the evenings peaceful. A cherished part of my childhood includes listening to those songs while she told me stories from her younger days.

This memory has impacted my life because it taught me to value simple family moments. Even now, when I hear an old song, I remember my grandmother’s smile and the calm evenings we shared. This memory is meaningful because it connects me with love, family and childhood.

I. Imagine you had been on a school trip to a scenic place which appealed to all your senses. Write a diary entry describing the place and why it was a memorable experience.

Sample Diary Entry

Friday, 31 May 2026
9:30 p.m.

Dear Diary,

Today was one of the most beautiful days of my school life. Our class went on a trip to a scenic hill garden. As soon as I stepped out of the bus, I saw bright flowers, green slopes and a clear blue sky. The place looked like a painting.

The cool breeze touched my face gently. I could smell fresh grass, wet soil and blooming flowers. Birds were chirping in the trees, and somewhere in the distance I could hear the soft sound of flowing water. The colourful flowers, the fragrance in the air and the peaceful sounds made me feel calm and happy.

The most memorable moment was sitting quietly with my friends near a small lake. The water reflected the sky and trees. I felt grateful for nature and for the chance to spend such a peaceful day with my classmates.

This trip will remain special because it appealed to all my senses and gave me a feeling of joy, peace and togetherness.

Good night!

I. Gather more information on unique flowers of India — where they are found, how they look, what smell they emit, and what the historical significance is, if any. Add more flowers to this list.

II. You must have read poems and songs related to the theme of family, friends and their reminiscences, in English and also in your own language. Collect these poems and songs, and share with your classmates and teacher. Now, read and enjoy the poem given below.

Suggested Response: Poems and songs about family and childhood often show how memory keeps loved ones alive in our hearts. The poem I Remember, I Remember also looks back at childhood with longing. Like I Cannot Remember My Mother, it uses memories of home, nature and childhood to create a tender emotional mood.

Question 1. What is the main theme of I Cannot Remember My Mother?

Answer: The main theme is the lasting emotional presence of the mother through memory, even when clear visual memory has faded.

Question 2. Why does the poet say he cannot remember his mother?

Answer: The poet says this because he does not remember his mother clearly in a direct or complete way. However, he feels her presence through sound, smell and sight.

Question 3. How does the tune remind the poet of his mother?

Answer: The tune reminds the poet of the song his mother used to hum while rocking his cradle. It becomes an auditory memory of her care.

Question 4. What does the scent of shiuli flowers symbolise?

Answer: The scent of shiuli flowers symbolises the mother’s fragrance, tenderness and sacred presence.

Question 5. Why is the blue sky important in the poem?

Answer: The blue sky is important because the poet feels his mother’s calm gaze spread across it. It symbolises her vast, peaceful and protective presence.

Question 6. How does the poem show that memory can be sensory?

Answer: The poem shows sensory memory through the tune of a song, the scent of shiuli flowers and the sight of the blue sky. These senses help the poet feel his mother’s presence.