A Photograph Class 11 English: Summary, Theme, (Ques & Ans), Stanza-wise Explanation

“A Photograph” is the CBSE Class 11 English Hornbill Book poem. In this poem, the poet describes a photograph of his mother taken many years ago. In the poem “A Photograph” you will read the summary theme, and detailed explanation of the Poem stanza-wise along with meanings of difficult words to help you understand the poem better. Additionally, it includes a summary of the poem in Hindi and literary devices used to enhance the meaning of the poem.

About the poet: Shirley Toulson

Shirley Toulson was an English writer, poet, journalist, and local politician born on 20 May 1924 in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. She is best known for her poem “A Photograph,” which is included in the CBSE Class 11 English Hornbill Book.

Toulson had a passion for poetry and started writing at a young age. Her works often focused on themes of love, nature, and human emotions. In addition to poetry, Toulson also wrote several books and articles on travel and history. She passed away on 23 September 2018, leaving behind a legacy of beautiful poetry and literature.

Theme of the poem: A photograph class 11

The theme of the poem “A Photograph” is how transient and mortal human life is, it reflects the pain of separation and how people after death are vividly present in the memories of their loved ones.

A photograph class 11: central idea

The central idea of the poem “A Photograph” by Shirley Toulson is the transient nature of life and the passage of time, as reflected through memories captured in a photograph. The poem explores how time changes everything, including people, memories, and circumstances, and how memories can endure even in the face of loss.

The poem highlights the impermanence of life, the bitter-sweetness of nostalgia, and the silence that accompanies absence. It invites reflection on the fleetingness of moments, the enduring nature of memories, and the impact of time on our perception of the past. The central idea revolves around the themes of transience, memories, and loss, and how these shape our understanding of life’s fleeting nature.

A Photograph Class 11: Poem Summary

The poet finds an old photograph of her mother who dies nearly twelve years ago. The photograph was taken even before she was born. Her mother is at a beach with her two cousins on either side namely Betty and Dolly dressed in a funny manner. They went paddling in the water on a nice holiday. They seemed to have a really good time. As children, they looked rejuvenated and carefree. Her uncle captured this moment.

The poet misses her mother and feels the pain of parting but there’s nothing she can do about it. She will have to live with her memories. In the picture, the sea touches her mother’s transient feet. The sea is still there and appears like it hasn’t changed much since that time which describes the temporary nature of human beings.

Her mother misses those happy moments and she knows it’s the past that she can’t relive again. Alongside the poet misses her mother’s laugh which she knows can’t return as she is no longer alive. She doesn’t have many words to explain her pain. She becomes silent on the thought of parting. The silence around her is so heavy that it silences her silence.

A Photograph 11: poem summary in Hindi

“ए फोटोग्राफ” शर्ली टॉलसन की एक चिंतनशील और भावुक कविता है। यह कविता कवि की माँ और उसकी दो चचेरी बहनों की एक तस्वीर के बारे में है जो लगभग 12 साल पहले ली गई थी। तस्वीर में उन तीनों को समुद्र तट पर खड़ा दिखाया गया है, समुद्र उनके पैरों को धो रहा है, और कैमरे के साथ चाचा को देखकर मुस्कुरा रहा है। कवि की माँ सबसे बड़ी हैं और दोनों लड़कियों ने उनका हाथ पकड़ा हुआ है। तस्वीर समय के एक पल, खुशी और मासूमियत के एक पल को कैद करती है।

कवि इस बात पर चिंतन करता है कि किस तरह तस्वीर उस पल को समय के साथ जम गई है और कैसे यह अब अतीत की एक कड़ी के रूप में काम करती है। यह तस्वीर उसे अपनी मां के अतीत से जुड़ने में मदद करती है, एक ऐसा समय जब वह अभी तक पैदा नहीं हुई थी। वह अपनी माँ की हँसी की कल्पना करती है जब वह स्नैपशॉट देखती है, उनके पहने हुए कपड़ों की ओर इशारा करती है और समुद्र तट पर उनके समय की याद दिलाती है। समुद्र, जो तस्वीर में अपरिवर्तित दिखाई देता है, जीवन की क्षणभंगुर प्रकृति और खुशी के क्षणों की क्षणिक प्रकृति की निरंतर याद दिलाता है।

कवि यह भी दर्शाता है कि समय कैसे बीतता है और कैसे इसने चीजों को बदल दिया है। उसकी माँ अब मर चुकी है, और उसके पास केवल कवि की यादें ही बची हैं। यह तस्वीर उनके द्वारा साझा किए गए अच्छे समय और उनके द्वारा महसूस किए गए नुकसान की याद दिलाती है। कविता मृत्यु और हानि के चारों ओर की चुप्पी पर एक मार्मिक प्रतिबिंब के साथ समाप्त होती है, और यह कैसे हम सभी को चुप कराती है।

Stanza-wise Explanation of the poem: A Photograph

Stanza 1:

The cardboard shows me how it was
When the two girl cousins went paddling,
Each one holding one of my mother’s hands,
And she the big girl — some twelve years or so.
All three stood still to smile through their hair
At the uncle with the camera. A sweet face,
My mother’s, that was before I was born.
And the sea, which appears to have changed less,
Washed their terribly transient feet.

KEY-WORDS:

• Paddling – to move the hands or feet about in shallow water
• Transient – lasting only for a short time; impermanent.

Explanation of stanza 1:

The poet is staring at an old picture framed in cardboard. In the picture, her mother was standing on a beach with her two cousins on either side. she seemed the biggest among the three girls around twelve years or so. They went for paddling(playing) in the water. The picture conveyed how happy and carefree they were as children, away from any kind of grief and misery that eventually life brings.

The poet is gazing at her mother’s sweet and beautiful young face. The person who captured this lively moment was her mother’s uncle. Now that her mother is not alive anymore, she misses her. She feels the pain of separation. The sea that washed her feet is still the same but her mother isn’t, this shows the transient nature of human life.

Stanza 2:

Some twenty-thirty — years later
She’d laugh at the snapshot. “See Betty
And Dolly,” she’d say, “and look how they
Dressed us for the beach.” The sea holiday
Was her past, mine is her laughter. Both wry
With the laboured ease of loss.

KEY-WORDS:

• Wry – using or expressing dry, especially mocking, humour.
• Laboured – done with great effort and difficulty.

Explanation of Stanza 2:

After twenty or thirty years, when this photograph was taken, her mother would laugh at it and mock how her cousins namely Betty and Dolly were dressed. It seemed stupid to her to be dressed like that just for a photograph that too at a beach. That memorable holiday was her mothers past and her laughter is the poet’s past. When looking at this picture her mother realizes that she cannot live those mesmerizing moments again and the poet now realizes the same thing that she cannot see her mother laughing like that again, hence they both experienced the same pain of loss.

Stanza 3:

Now she’s been dead nearly as many years
As that girl lived. And of this circumstance
There is nothing to say at all.
Its silence silences.

Explanation of Stanza 3:

Her mother died nearly twelve years ago and now the poet has no words to describe how she feels about the separation. She can’t collect her feelings. All that she can hear now is silence and that silence silences all the thoughts.

A photograph class 11: conclusion

In conclusion “A Photograph” by Shirley Toulson is a poignant reflection on the transient nature of life, the enduring power of memories, and the impact of time on our perception of the past. Through the portrayal of a photograph capturing a moment from the past, the poem evokes a sense of nostalgia, while also reminding us of the inevitable passage of time and the changes it brings. It conveys a bittersweet sentiment, as memories endure even in the face of loss, but also highlight the impermanence of life.

The poem invites us to reflect on the fleetingness of moments and the importance of cherishing memories, even as time marches on. Ultimately, “A Photograph” leaves us with a sense of silence, a poignant reminder of the emptiness that accompanies absence and the quietness that lingers in the wake of passing time. The poem encourages us to treasure the fleeting moments of life and hold on to memories, even as they evolve and change over time.

A Photograph class 11: Poetic devices

There are several poetic devices used in the poem “A Photograph” by Shirley Toulson. Some of the prominent poetic devices are:

1. Imagery: The poem is rich in imagery, particularly visual imagery. The poet describes the photograph in detail, including the girls paddling in the sea, the sea washing over their feet, and the sweet face of her mother.
2. Metaphor: The sea is used as a metaphor for the passage of time and the transient nature of life. The poet reflects on how the sea appears to have changed less than the people in the photograph, emphasizing the fleeting nature of moments of happiness.
3. Personification: The sea is personified in the line, “Washed their terribly transient feet,” giving it human-like qualities and emphasizing the idea of transience and change.
4. Irony: The poet uses irony to reflect on the passage of time and the inevitability of loss. The photograph captures a moment of joy and innocence, but the poet knows that her mother is now dead, and the memory of that moment is all she has left.
5. Alliteration: The repetition of the “s” sound in “smile through their hair” and “silence silences” creates a musical effect and emphasizes the theme of silence and loss.
6. Enjambment: The lines in the poem are enjambed, meaning that they do not end with punctuation, which creates a sense of flow and continuity, emphasizing the idea of time passing and memories being preserved.
7. Repetition: The repetition of the phrase “And of this circumstance” emphasizes the idea of loss and the silence that surrounds it. It also creates a sense of finality and closure.
8. Irony: The poem employs irony, particularly in the contrast between the fleetingness of life and the permanence of the sea. The description of the sea as unchanged while the people in the photograph have aged or passed away creates an ironic juxtaposition that underscores the theme of transience and impermanence.

A photograph class 11 Question and Answers

Think It Out

Q. 1. What does the word ‘cardboard’ denote in the poem? Why has this word been used?

Ans. In the poem “A Photograph” by Shirley Toulson, the word “cardboard” is used to denote the material on which the photograph is printed. The word is significant because it emphasizes the physicality and materiality of the photograph, which serves as a tangible link to the past.

The use of the word “cardboard” also suggests that the photograph is not a high-quality or expensive print, but rather a simple and inexpensive snapshot. This reinforces the idea that the photograph is a humble and everyday object, but one that holds great emotional significance for the poet.

Furthermore, the word “cardboard” is also used to suggest the fragility of the photograph, which is made of a thin and easily damaged material. This serves as a reminder of the fragility of memory and the impermanence of life, highlighting the fleeting nature of moments captured in a photograph.

Q. 2. What has the camera captured?

Ans. The camera has captured a moment from the past in the poem “A Photograph” by Shirley Toulson. Specifically, the photograph captures an image of the poet’s mother and her two girl cousins paddling in the sea, each holding one of her mother’s hands. The photograph also captures the girls smiling and looking towards the uncle who is taking the photograph.

Through the photograph, the poet is able to relive and remember this moment from the past, and reflect on the passage of time and the inevitability of loss. The photograph captures a moment of joy and innocence, but the poet knows that her mother is now dead, and the memory of that moment is all she has left. The photograph thus serves as a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of happiness and the impermanence of life.

Q. 3. What has not changed over the years? Does this suggest something to you?

Ans. In the poem “A Photograph” by Shirley Toulson, the sea is described as something that appears to have changed less over the years. This suggests that while people change and grow old, the natural world remains constant and unchanging. The sea is used as a metaphor for the passage of time and the transient nature of life, highlighting the idea that everything in life is impermanent, except for nature.

The fact that the sea is described as having changed less than the people in the photograph suggests that the sea serves as a constant reminder of the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The sea is thus a symbol of the continuity of life, reminding us that while everything else may change and pass away, the natural world remains constant and unchanging.

Q. 4. The poet’s mother laughed at the snapshot. What did this laugh indicate?

Ans. In the poem “A Photograph” by Shirley Toulson, the poet’s mother laughed at the snapshot many years after it was taken. This laugh indicates a mix of nostalgia and fond memories associated with the photograph. The photograph represents a happy memory from her past, and the laugh suggests that she is able to look back on that memory with joy and affection.

However, the laugh also has a wry quality to it, suggesting that the mother is aware of the passage of time and the inevitability of loss. The photograph captures a moment of happiness and innocence, but the mother knows that time has passed, and the people in the photograph have grown older, and some have even died. The laugh thus represents a mixture of joy and sorrow, nostalgia and regret.

Q. 5. What is the meaning of the line “Both wry with the laboured ease of loss.”

Ans: he line “Both wry with the laboured ease of loss” is from the poem “A Photograph” by Shirley Toulson. The line refers to the poet and her mother, who are both characterized as being “wry” and having a “laboured ease” when it comes to dealing with loss.

The word “wry” implies a sense of dry humor or irony, suggesting that both the poet and her mother are able to find humor in the midst of sadness and loss. At the same time, the phrase “laboured ease” suggests that while the two may appear to be coping with loss in a calm and composed manner, this composure is hard-won and requires a great deal of effort and work.

Taken together, the line “Both wry with the laboured ease of loss” suggests that the poet and her mother are able to find some measure of peace and acceptance in the face of loss, but that this peace is not easily achieved. The use of the word “laboured” suggests that dealing with loss is a difficult and arduous process, while the use of the word “ease” suggests that, despite the difficulty, both the poet and her mother have come to a place of acceptance and even a sense of humor about the inevitability of loss.

Q. 6. What does “this circumstance” refer to?

Ans. In the poem “A Photograph” by Shirley Toulson, the phrase “this circumstance” refers to the fact that the poet’s mother has been dead for nearly as many years as the girl in the photograph had lived. The poem reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of loss, and this circumstance is a reminder of the impermanence of all things.

The phrase “this circumstance” is used to underscore the sense of finality and inevitability associated with death. The word “circumstance” refers to a particular set of conditions or events, and in this case, it refers to the fact that the poet’s mother has passed away and that there is nothing that can be done to change this fact. The use of the word “circumstance” also suggests a certain sense of detachment or distance, as if the poet is trying to come to terms with the reality of her mother’s death.

Q. 7. The three stanzas depict three different phases. What are they?

Ans. In the poem “A Photograph” by Shirley Toulson, the three stanzas depict three different phases of time, memory, and loss.

The first stanza describes the photograph itself, which captures a moment in time when the poet’s mother and her two girl cousins are paddling in the sea. The image is frozen in time, and the cardboard on which the photograph is printed serves as a reminder of this moment.

The second stanza shifts to the present day and describes the poet’s mother looking back at the photograph many years later. She laughs at the image and reminisces about the past, recalling the names of her cousins and commenting on their clothing. The sea remains a constant backdrop to these memories, a reminder that some things, such as the natural world, remain unchanged even as people age and die.

The third and final stanza moves further into the future, reflecting on the fact that the poet’s mother has now been dead for many years. The silence that surrounds this fact is all-encompassing, and the poem ends on a note of finality and acceptance, suggesting that the cycle of life and death is a natural and inevitable part of the human experience.

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