Childhood
Think it out
Question 1: Identify the stanza that talks of each of the following.
individuality rationalism hypocrisy
Answer-
(a) rationalism: Stanza 1 talks about the beginning of rationalism, when the poet realized that Hell and Heaven, which are taught as real concepts, Could not be found in Geography, and therefore could not be.
(b) hypocrisy: Stanza 2 focuses on the realization of hypocrisy, when the poet realized that adults were not all they seemed to be. They talked of love and preached of love, but did not act so lovingly.
(c) individuality: Stanza 3 speaks of gaining individuality, when the poet found that his mind was really mine, To use whichever way I choose, allowing him to produce thoughts that were not those of other people But my own, and mine alone.
Question 2: What according to the poem is involved in the process of growing up?
Answer-
According to the poem, the process of growing up involves several key realizations marking the loss of childhood innocence and the acquisition of a critical, individual identity:
(a) Developing Rationality: The first stage is moving beyond imagination to rationalism, realizing that mythical places like Hell and Heaven are not real because they lack a basis in concrete reality (Geography).
(b) Recognizing Hypocrisy: The second stage involves seeing the world critically, specifically noticing the hypocrisy of adults who claim high moral standards (talked of love and preached of love) but fail to act upon them consistently.
(c) Establishing Individuality: The final stage is the conscious emergence of individuality, realizing that the mind was really mine to form unique thoughts that were not those of other people.
Question 3: What is the poet’s feeling towards childhood?
Answer-
The poet expresses a mixture of nostalgia, searching, and acceptance regarding childhood.
(a) Sense of Loss and Inquiry: The repeated questions, “When did my childhood go?”, reflect a yearning and an inability to pinpoint the exact moment this phase ended.
(b) Acceptance and Location: The poet concludes that childhood has not vanished completely but has gone to some forgotten place.
(c) Association with Innocence: The poet finds the essence of childhood preserved in the authenticity of an infant’s face, suggesting that this phase is cherished for its purity and innocence, which he can no longer access directly.
Question 4: Which do you think are the most poetic lines? Why?
Answer-
Note: This question requires reflection on poetic sensibility. The following lines are often considered the most poetic due to their metaphorical depth:
The most poetic lines are the concluding stanza, which addresses the question of where childhood went:
It went to some forgotten place,
That’s hidden in an infant’s face,
That’s all I know.
(a) Metaphorical Imagery: The lines use the metaphor of a “forgotten place” to embody the unreachable past, giving a physical location to an abstract concept.
(b) Resolution of Search: They provide a subtle, beautiful resolution to the poet’s persistent questioning, linking the lost personal innocence to the perpetual, visible innocence found in an infant’s face, suggesting that while the poet's youth is gone, its quality remains a living, universal phenomenon.