NCERT Solutions Class 11, English, Hornbill, Poem- 4, Childhood
Think it out
1. Identify the stanza that talks of each of the following.
individuality rationalism hypocrisy
Solution:
2. What according to the poem is involved in the process of growing up?
Solution:
According to the poem, the loss of childhood is involved in the process of growing up. This loss is compensated by some gains which come with adolescence. These are: increase in understanding, power of rationalising and discrimination as well as a sense of individuality and self-confidence.
3. What is the poet’s feeling towards childhood?
Solution:
The poet does not appear to feel sad or upset at the loss of his childhood. He only seems to be puzzled at the disappearance of childhood and the arrival of adulthood. He expresses his confusion when he asks the questions ‘When’ and ‘Where did my childhood go’?
4. Which do you think are the most poetic lines? Why?
Solution:
The lines that seem to be the most poetic are:
‘It went to some forgotten place,
That’s hidden in an infant’s face;
That’s all I know.’
These lines sum up beautifully the process of growth and the disappearance of a particular stage of life. These lines express metaphorically that an infant’s innocent face hides many things behind its smiles. Perhaps the childhood also lies hidden somewhere in the child’s consciousness.