"Punishment in Kindergarten" by Kamala Das is a recollection of a painful memory from the poet's childhood. The poem begins with the author....
Punishment in Kindergarten - English Access - Class 8 - English
Unlock this entire course for just
₹849
🚀
Renews every month. Cancel anytime
Back Questions - Punishment in Kindergarten | English Access | Class 8 Literature | English
Complete the following sentences based on your understanding of the poem.
The child is called ‘peculiar’ because ....................................... .
The teacher’s comment changes the day from ....................................... to ....................................... for the child.
The child hides herself with the help of the hedge because ....................................... .
The picnic brings out the contrast between the loneliness of the child with the ....................................... .
The sun seems to be harsh in Stanza 3 because it is ....................................... and also to bring out the ....................................... .
1. The child is called ‘peculiar’ because she does not join the others and prefers to be alone.
2. The teacher’s comment changes the day from a honey-coloured day of peace to a day filled with pain for the child.
3. The child hides herself with the help of the hedge because she feels saddened and embarrassed by the laughter of her peers.
4. The picnic brings out the contrast between the loneliness of the child with the merriment and laughter of her schoolmates.
5. The sun seems to be harsh in Stanza 3 because it is described as steel-white or extremely bright and also brings out the loneliness and discomfort of the child.
Powered by Chatterbot AI
Based on your reading of the poem, match each figure of speech with the corresponding lines from the poem.
Figure of Speech | Lines from the poem |
|---|---|
a. Simile | .. the years have sped along, stopping briefly at beloved halts and moving sadly on ... |
b. Metaphor | ... throwing words at me like pots and pans.... |
c. Personification | ... the laughing faced only a blur.... |
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓The poet says, Today, the world is a little more my own. No need to remember the pain... – Explain what she means by this.
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Analyse the poet’s use of ‘pots and pans’ for the words the teacher spoke to her.
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓‘Why don’t you join the others, what
A peculiar child you are!’
Who says this to whom?
How does the poet describe the speaker of these lines?
How do you think this made the poet feel?
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓.... They turned and laughed;
Children are funny things, ...
Who does ‘they’ refer to in these lines?
What do ‘they’ laugh at?
Why does the poet call the children ‘funny things’?
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓...My mind has found
And adult peace...
Which memory creates the need for peace in the poet’s mind?
What stage of life is the speaker of these lines in when she writes the poem?
Explain what the poet means by ‘adult peace’.
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓If you had been a classmate of the child in the poem, how would you have behaved when you saw her sitting by herself? Write your reasons for doing so.
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓It is often said – Be sure to taste your words before you spit them out.
Do you agree? Why or why not?
Explain how this quote makes sense in the context of this poem.
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓You are Neetu/Naved. After reading the poem, you feel strongly about how we should react positively to the hardships of life. Write down your feelings in your diary.
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Extra Questions - Punishment in Kindergarten | English Access | Class 8 Literature | English
Today the world is a little more my own.
No need to remember the pain
A blue-frocked woman caused, throwing
Words at me like pots and pans, to drain
That honey-coloured day of peace.
‘Why don't you join the others, what
A peculiar child you are! '
What is the significance of the phrase "the world is a little more my own"?
What feelings or emotions does the author try to convey with the simile "Words at me like pots and pans"?
What does the phrase "honey-coloured day of peace" suggest about the speaker's feelings before the event?
What is the tone and mood of this stanza?
Today the world is a little more my own.
No need to remember the pain
A blue-frocked woman caused, throwing
Words at me like pots and pans, to drain
That honey-coloured day of peace.
‘Why don't you join the others, what
A peculiar child you are! '
What is the significance of the phrase "the world is a little more my own"?
What feelings or emotions does the author try to convey with the simile "Words at me like pots and pans"?
What does the phrase "honey-coloured day of peace" suggest about the speaker's feelings before the event?
What is the tone and mood of this stanza?
1. The phrase "the world is a little more my own" suggests a growing sense of self-awareness and individuality. It could be the speaker's realization of his unique view of the world, setting himself apart from others.
2. The simile "Words at me like pots and pans" conveys the harsh impact of the woman's words on the speaker. It could symbolize emotional turmoil or disturbance caused by the sharp, clattering noise of pots and pans.
3. The phrase "honey-coloured day of peace" implies a serene and peaceful mood before the incident. The use of “honey-coloured” suggests warmth, sweetness, and contentment that got disrupted due to the harsh words.
4. The tone in this stanza is resentful, and the mood is sombre, reflecting the speaker's hurt and disappointment.
Powered by Chatterbot AI
On the lawn, in clusters, sat my
schoolmates sipping
Sugarcane, they turned and laughed;
Children are funny things, they laugh
In mirth at others' tears, I buried
My face in the sun-warmed hedge
And smelt the flowers and the pain.
What does the author mean by "Children are funny things, they laugh in mirth at others' tears"?
How does the author use an oxymoron to enhance the depiction of the speaker's experience?
What could be the significance of the children sipping sugarcane?
How does the author use the imagery of 'burying face in sun-warmed hedge'? What does it signify?
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Extra Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Extra Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Extra Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Quiz - Punishment in Kindergarten | English Access | Class 8 Literature | English
Vocabulary - Flashcards - Punishment in Kindergarten | English Access | Class 8 Literature | English
Learn Vocab & Speaking Together!
Grow your vocabulary while improving your speaking skills in one set up - simple, convenient, effective.
About the Poet - Punishment in Kindergarten | English Access | Class 8 Literature | English
Kamala Das, also known by her pen name Madhavikutty, was a prominent Indian English poetess, short-story writer, and autobiographer from Kerala state. Born on March 31, 1934, she is hailed as one of the most influential feminist voices in post-colonial Indian literature.
Das began writing in English at a young age and published her first collection of poems, "Summer in Calcutta," in 1965. Her works are known for their bold exploration of female identity and relationships. They often drew from personal experiences, including her own fraught marriage.
Additionally, Kamala Das wrote in Malayalam under the pen name Madhavikutty. Her autobiography, "My Story," written in English and later translated into Malayalam, was controversial for its candid portrayal of her life and relationships.
Despite fierce criticism at times, Kamala Das was a popular author and received several prestigious awards, such as the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Ezhuthachan Award, one of the highest literary honours in Kerala. Das passed away on May 31, 2009, leaving behind a rich legacy of feminist writings.
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock About the Poet and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Summary - Punishment in Kindergarten | English Access | Class 8 Literature | English
Unlock the full summary
Themes - Punishment in Kindergarten | English Access | Class 8 Literature | English
1. Childhood Trauma:
The poem prominently talks about a disturbing event in the poet's childhood that left a significant impression on her. The harsh words ....
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Themes and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Symbols - Punishment in Kindergarten | English Access | Class 8 Literature | English
1. "Blue-frocked woman": In the poem, the "blue-frocked woman" represents a figure of authority, such as a teacher or a caretaker. Her dress...
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Symbols and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Poetic Devices - Punishment in Kindergarten | English Access | Class 8 Literature | English
1. Imagery: The poet uses vivid and descriptive language to create mental images for the reader. For example, "honey-coloured day of...
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Poetic Devices and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Vocabulary - Punishment in Kindergarten | English Access | Class 8 Literature | English
Peculiar-- different to what is normal or expected; strange
The peculiar bird had colorful feathers unlike any others in the forest.
Mirth-- amusement, especially as expressed in laughter
The children's laughter filled the room with pure mirth during the birthday party.
Sugarcane--A tall, thick plant with a sweet juice that is used to make sugar.
The farmers harvested the sugarcane and prepared it for processing at the sugar mill.
Muffled--(of a sound) not loud because of being obstructed in some way; muted
She muffled her .....................................
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Vocabulary and everything else
Unlock now 🔓We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Line-by-line explanation in Hindi and everything else
Unlock now 🔓All this awesome.
Now on your phone.
