Class 11 English (Elective) Poem 6 – Mother Tongue Important Question Answers from Woven Words Book
Class 11 English (Elective) Mother Tongue Important Question Answers – Looking for questions and answers for CBSE Class 11 English (Elective) Poem 6- Mother Tongue? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practising Class 11 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the exam. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring Poem 6 – Mother Tongue now. The questions listed below are based on the latest CBSE exam pattern, wherein we have given NCERT solutions to the chapter’s extract-based questions, multiple choice questions and Extra Question Answers
Also, practising with different kinds of questions can help students learn new ways to solve problems that they may not have seen before. This can ultimately lead to a deeper understanding of the subject matter and better performance on exams.
- Mother Tongue NCERT Solutions
- Mother Tongue Extract Based Questions
- Mother Tongue Multiple Choice Questions
- Mother Tongue Extra Question Answers
Related:
Mother Tongue Textbook Questions (NCERT Solutions)
UNDERSTANDING THE POEM
1. The quill is the central element in the poem—what does it symbolise?
Ans. The quill symbolises language, expression, and identity. It represents the poet’s desire to write in her mother tongue, Dogri, and to preserve and serve it through her writing. It also stands for the tools of a writer committed to cultural and linguistic heritage.
2. You notice a sense of urgency in the poet’s request—what is the reason for this?
Ans. The urgency reflects the poet’s deep emotional bond and responsibility toward her mother tongue. She feels summoned by her language, as though it is calling her to write, to contribute, and to keep it alive. The urgency also hints at the poet’s commitment and devotion to Dogri.
3. How has the poet brought out her emotional attachment to her mother tongue?
Ans. The poet compares her mother tongue to a Shahni, a noblewoman or a queen, showing respect, reverence, and affection. She speaks of being one of many loyal servants to Dogri, willing to serve her with writing. This metaphor highlights how she views her language as dignified and powerful, worthy of love and service. Her persistent request for a quill and her emotional plea emphasize her devotion.
4. Personification is a figure of speech that attributes human qualities to inanimate things and abstract ideas. How has it been used in this poem?
Ans. The poem uses personification in several ways. The reed is given human qualities, it can speak, get irritated, ask questions, and even cut off its hand to give the poet a quill. Most significantly, Dogri, the mother tongue, is personified as a Shahni, a rich, kind noblewoman with many devoted followers. This personification helps the poet express her emotional connection and respect for her language.
TRY THIS OUT
1. Talk to five people from different spheres of society around you and ask them the number of languages they know and use for various purposes. Try to gather information about their attitude to the different languages they know and use.
Ans. Person 1 (Teacher): Knows Hindi, English, and Sanskrit. Uses Hindi at home, English at work, and Sanskrit for religious occasions. Feels proud of Sanskrit but finds English more practical for daily use.
Person 2 (Shopkeeper): Speaks Punjabi and Hindi. Uses Punjabi at home and with local customers, Hindi with non-local visitors. Sees Punjabi as emotional and Hindi as functional.
Person 3 (IT Professional): Fluent in Kannada, Hindi, and English. Speaks Kannada at home, English at work, and uses Hindi in social situations. Considers English a career necessity.
Person 4 (Housemaid): Speaks Bhojpuri and Hindi. Bhojpuri is used with family, Hindi with employers. Loves Bhojpuri as it reminds her of her village and roots.
Person 5 (Student): Knows Tamil, Hindi, and English. Tamil is used at home, Hindi with friends, English in academics. Likes Tamil for its richness and English for its opportunities.
People have varied attitudes towards the languages they speak. Most feel emotionally connected to their native or regional language, while English and Hindi are often seen as tools for communication, education, or work.
2. Dogri is a language spoken in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. Its earliest mention is in Amir Khusro’s list of Indian languages. It does not have a script of its own. It is written in either the Devnagari or the Persian script. Find out about other Indian languages that are spoken but do not have a script of their own.
Ans. Several Indian languages are spoken widely but do not have a script of their own and are written in the scripts of other languages:
Bhili: Spoken in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan; usually written in Devanagari.
Ladakhi: Spoken in Ladakh; written in Tibetan script or Devanagari depending on region.
Tulu: Spoken in Karnataka and Kerala; mostly written in Kannada script.
Ho: Spoken in Odisha and Jharkhand; traditionally unwritten, now uses Warang Citi script or Devanagari.
Konkani: Spoken in Goa and coastal Karnataka/Maharashtra; written in Devanagari, Roman, Kannada, and Malayalam scripts depending on the region.
Kurukh: Spoken by Oraon tribe; uses Devanagari and Latin scripts, though attempts have been made to revive the Tolong Siki script
CBSE Class 11 English (Elective) Poem 6 Mother Tongue Extract-Based Questions and Answers
A.
“I approached a stem
Swinging on a reed
And asked him
To give me a quill.”
1. Who is the speaker addressing in this extract?
Ans. The speaker is addressing the stem of a reed, asking it for a quill.
2. What is the speaker requesting and why?
Ans. The speaker is requesting a quill, symbolising her desire to write, most likely in her mother tongue.
3. What figure of speech is used when the reed is being spoken to?
Ans. Personification is used, as the reed is given human qualities like listening and responding.
4. What does the ‘quill’ symbolize in this context?
Ans. The quill symbolizes the means of expression, specifically the ability to write in her native language.
5. What tone does the poet convey in this request?
Ans. The tone is earnest and respectful, showing the speaker’s reverence for language and writing.
B.
“Irritated, he said
I gave you one only the other day
A new one, what have you done with it?
Are you some sort of an accountant
With some Shah
Writing account books
Where you need a new pen
Every other day he asked.”
1. Who is speaking and to whom in this extract?
Ans. The reed is speaking to the poet, questioning her repeated request for a quill.
2. Why is the reed irritated?
Ans. The reed is irritated because it had already given the poet a new quill recently, and now she is asking for another one.
3. What comparison does the reed make in this extract?
Ans. The reed compares the poet to an accountant who needs a new pen every day to maintain account books.
4. What tone is conveyed by the reed in this passage?
Ans. The tone is sarcastic and mildly annoyed, reflecting the reed’s reluctance at first.
5. What does this extract suggest about the poet’s need for the quill?
Ans. It suggests the poet frequently writes, indicating her dedication to expression, particularly in her mother tongue.
C.
“No, I don’t work for a Shah
I said, but for a Shahni, very kind,
Very well off
And I am not the only one
Working for her
She has many servants
Ever ready to do her bidding
That Shahni is my mother tongue
Dogri”
1. Who does the poet refer to as ‘Shahni’?
Ans. The poet refers to her mother tongue, Dogri, as the ‘Shahni’.
2. What qualities are attributed to the Shahni?
Ans. The Shahni is described as kind, wealthy, and well-respected, symbolising the richness and dignity of the mother tongue.
3. What is the poet’s role in relation to the Shahni?
Ans. The poet sees herself as a devoted servant or writer working to serve and honour her language.
4. What does the poet mean by saying she is not the only one working for her?
Ans. She implies that many people cherish and promote their mother tongue, indicating a community of supporters.
5. What metaphor does the poet use to describe her mother tongue in the poem ‘Mother Tongue’ by Padma Sachdev, and what is the significance of this comparison?
Ans. The poet uses the metaphor of a “Shahni” (a noble and wealthy lady) to describe her mother tongue, Dogri. By comparing Dogri to a Shahni, the poet personifies the language as a powerful and respected figure. This metaphor signifies the poet’s deep emotional attachment, devotion, and reverence toward her mother tongue.
D.
“Give me, a quill, quickly
She must be looking for me
The reed cut off its hand
Gave it to me and said
Take it
I too am her servant.”
1. Why does the poet urgently ask for a quill?
Ans. She feels her mother tongue (Dogri) is waiting for her to write, indicating a sense of duty and urgency.
2. What does the line “She must be looking for me” signify?
Ans. It shows the poet’s strong emotional connection and responsibility toward her language, as if it were a living person.
3. What does the reed do in response to the poet’s request?
Ans. The reed selflessly gives a part of itself—a metaphorical ‘hand’—to make a quill for the poet.
4. What does the reed mean by “I too am her servant”?
Ans. It shows the reed’s symbolic alignment with the poet’s devotion to the mother tongue, suggesting nature itself supports the cause.
5. Which figure of speech is used in the reed’s action?
Ans. The poet uses personification, giving the reed human emotions and actions to deepen the emotional tone of the poem.
Class 11 Mother Tongue Multiple-Choice Questions
1. What does the poet ask the reed for?
(a) A song
(b) A pen
(c) A quill
(d) A book
Ans. (c) A quill
2. How does the reed initially respond to the poet’s request?
(a) Happily
(b) Calmly
(c) Confusedly
(d) Irritatedly
Ans. (d) Irritatedly
3. What does the reed accuse the poet of being?
(a) A student
(b) A teacher
(c) An accountant
(d) A poet
Ans. (c) An accountant
4. Who does the poet say she works for?
(a) A king
(b) A Shah
(c) A Shahni
(d) A merchant
Ans. (c) A Shahni
5. Who is the ‘Shahni’ symbolic of?
(a) Her teacher
(b) Her country
(c) Her mother
(d) Her mother tongue, Dogri
Ans. (d) Her mother tongue, Dogri
6. What figure of speech is used when the reed is given human qualities?
(a) Simile
(b) Irony
(c) Personification
(d) Hyperbole
Ans. (c) Personification
7. How does the poet describe the Shahni?
(a) Cruel and poor
(b) Proud and greedy
(c) Kind and well off
(d) Rude and arrogant
Ans. (c) Kind and well off
8. What does the poet urgently request?
(a) Time to write
(b) A new notebook
(c) A fresh reed
(d) A quill quickly
Ans. (d) A quill quickly
9. What does the reed do at the end of the poem?
(a) Refuses the poet
(b) Gives a flower
(c) Cuts off its hand and gives it
(d) Tells the poet to go away
Ans. (c) Cuts off its hand and gives it
10. What does the reed mean by saying, “I too am her servant”?
(a) The reed obeys the Shahni
(b) The reed also respects the mother tongue
(c) The reed belongs to the poet
(d) The reed is scared of the Shahni
Ans. (b) The reed also respects the mother tongue
11. What emotion drives the poet’s repeated need for a quill?
(a) Greed
(b) Laziness
(c) Love for her language
(d) Confusion
Ans. (c) Love for her language
12. What is the tone of the poem?
(a) Humorous
(b) Satirical
(c) Emotional and reverent
(d) Indifferent
Ans. (c) Emotional and reverent
13. What does the poet imply by “She must be looking for me”?
(a) Her teacher is calling
(b) Her mother tongue needs her expression
(c) The Shahni is angry
(d) The Shahni is leaving
Ans. (b) Her mother tongue needs her expression
14. What kind of relationship does the poet share with her mother tongue?
(a) Casual
(b) Competitive
(c) Devotional and loyal
(d) Critical
Ans. (c) Devotional and loyal
15. What does the quill symbolise in the poem?
(a) Power
(b) Artistic freedom
(c) Writing as devotion to language
(d) Conflict
Ans. (c) Writing as devotion to language
16. Which language is central to the poem?
(a) Hindi
(b) Urdu
(c) Dogri
(d) Punjabi
Ans. (c) Dogri
17. What theme is explored in this poem?
(a) Migration
(b) Language pride and identity
(c) Economic disparity
(d) Education system
Ans. (b) Language pride and identity
18. What is the poet’s tone towards Dogri?
(a) Dismissive
(b) Indifferent
(c) Respectful and affectionate
(d) Angry
Ans. (c) Respectful and affectionate
19. What does the term “quill” literally refer to?
(a) A feather used as a pen
(b) A stick
(c) A brush
(d) A piece of cloth
Ans. (a) A feather used as a pen
20. What message does the poem ultimately convey?
(a) Disregard for traditions
(b) The burden of writing
(c) Love, respect, and service toward one’s mother tongue
(d) The beauty of nature
Ans. (c) Love, respect, and service toward one’s mother tongue
CBSE Class 11 English (Elective) Poem 6 Mother Tongue Extra Question Answers
1. Explain the role of urgency in the poem and how it reflects the poet’s attitude towards her language.
Ans. The poet expresses a sense of urgency when she demands the quill “quickly,” saying her Shahni, her mother tongue, is looking for her. This urgency illustrates her unwavering commitment to writing in Dogri and suggests that the language is not passive but actively waiting for expression. It shows how the poet feels responsible, even accountable, to keep her language alive through her writing. The urgency also reveals the poet’s fear that time is fleeting, and that she must fulfill her duty before it’s too late. This reflects her passionate devotion and the pressing need to preserve and promote her cultural heritage.
2. Discuss how the poem highlights the theme of devotion to one’s mother tongue.
Ans. The poem “Mother Tongue” is a vital tribute to linguistic devotion. The poet compares her mother tongue, Dogri, to a noblewoman, “Shahni”, who commands love and loyalty. The poet sees herself as a servant who constantly needs a quill to fulfill her duty of writing in Dogri. This metaphor reinforces the idea that writing is a sacred service. Even the reed, a part of nature, acknowledges its allegiance to the same Shahni by offering its “hand” as a quill. The poem thus portrays the mother tongue not as a mere means of communication, but as a powerful entity deserving lifelong commitment and respect.
3. What message does the poem “Mother Tongue” convey about language and identity?
Ans. “Mother Tongue” conveys a profound message about the intrinsic link between language and personal identity. Through her heartfelt metaphor of serving a Shahni, the poet demonstrates that a mother tongue is not just a language, it is a representation of heritage, emotion, and selfhood. By insisting on a quill to continue writing in Dogri, the poet emphasizes that expressing oneself in one’s native language is both a privilege and a responsibility. The poem reminds readers that preserving and respecting one’s mother tongue is essential to maintaining cultural identity, and that languages thrive only when actively used and cherished by their speakers.
4. How does the poet use metaphor to deepen the poem’s meaning in “Mother Tongue”?
Ans. Padma Sachdev employs metaphor extensively in the poem to enrich its emotional and cultural resonance. The most powerful metaphor is the comparison of Dogri, the poet’s mother tongue, to a wealthy, kind, and noble woman, “Shahni.” This transforms the act of writing into a form of devoted service. The quill becomes a sacred tool of expression, and the reed’s sacrifice, cutting off its hand, suggests a shared duty towards preserving the language. These metaphors elevate the idea of language from a utilitarian medium to a revered presence in the poet’s life, underscoring that expressing oneself in one’s native tongue is a deeply personal, almost spiritual act.
5. What does the poem reveal about the poet’s relationship with nature and how it supports her creative work?
Ans. In “Mother Tongue,” the poet’s interaction with nature reveals a harmonious and respectful relationship. She speaks to the reed as if it were a living, sentient being capable of understanding and emotion. The reed’s initial irritation and eventual self-sacrifice show a bond of mutual commitment to the cause of language. Nature is not just a backdrop but an active participant in the poet’s creative journey. By presenting the reed as a “servant” of the mother tongue, the poem suggests that creativity and expression are not isolated to the poet alone, they are supported and enhanced by the natural world, which shares in her linguistic devotion.