Character Sketch from Class 11 English (Elective) Woven Words Book Poem 6 Mother Tongue of the Speaker and the Reed

A character sketch defines what the character is like and how he/she evolves or develops throughout the story. In this post you can find the Character Sketch of the Speaker and the Reed from Class 11 English (Elective) Woven Words Book Poem 6 – Mother Tongue

 

 

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Character Sketch of the Speaker 

The speaker in Mother Tongue is a devoted and passionate individual who holds deep love and respect for her mother tongue, Dogri. She is portrayed as someone who feels a strong responsibility to express herself through her native language, viewing it as a noble entity (“Shahni”) deserving loyalty and service. Her persistence in asking the reed for a quill shows her dedication and urgency to write and preserve her language. She values tradition and cultural identity and sees her writing as a way to honor and keep her mother tongue alive.

 

Questions related to the character of the Speaker

Q1. How do we come to know that the speaker is rooted?
Q2. How does the speaker want to keep her mother tongue alive?

 

Character Sketch of the Reed

The reed is personified as a living, somewhat reluctant but ultimately loyal character. Initially, it is irritated and questions the poet’s repeated requests for a quill, showing a practical and slightly annoyed side. However, it eventually sacrifices part of itself (“cut off its hand”) to help the poet, demonstrating devotion and servitude to the mother tongue as well. The reed symbolizes nature’s support and the interconnectedness between the poet, language, and the natural world.

 

Questions related to the character of the Reed

Q1. How does the reed help the speaker?
Q2. Describe the reed.