"Amma" by Tabish Khair is a poignant and nostalgic poem that explores the themes of memory, the passage of time, and the enduring emotional connections between a speaker and their grandmother. Set in an old house filled with intimate emptiness and memories of the past, the poem describes the ................
Amma - New Voices Course Book - Class 8 - English
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Back Questions - Amma | New Voices Course Book | Literature | English | Class 8
Why do you think grandmother’s footsteps echo?
The grandmother's footsteps echo in the poem as a metaphor for her lingering presence in the house and the speaker's memories. The echoing footsteps symbolize the enduring emotional bond between the speaker and their grandmother, as well as the nostalgia and longing for the times they shared together. The echoes also suggest that the house itself retains the essence of the grandmother, even though she might no longer be physically present.
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Why does the grandmother have to wait for monsoons to repair the curtain?
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Sign up nowWhat does the speaker remember about summers in his grandmother’s house?
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Sign up nowWhat has changed about the house though the speaker says, ‘Nothing has changed’?
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Sign up nowWhat is the significance of the last line of the poem?
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Sign up nowWhat do we get to know about the grandmother from this poem?
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Sign up nowExplain the line: Through the intimate emptiness of its rooms and hall...
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Sign up nowBased on your understanding draw a character sketch of ‘Amma’ using clues from the poem.
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Sign up nowPick out the expressions for the poem that convey the ageing of the grandmother and the house.
grandmother house
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Sign up nowComment on the tone and setting of the poem.
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Sign up nowThe title of the poem ‘Amma’ is a palindrome. Think of five similar words of your own.
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Sign up nowDo you think the grandchild was fond of Amma? Do you think they shared a close bond? Support you answer using clues from the poem.
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Sign up nowWhile the speaker talks about his ageing grandmother, he also hints at the isolated life lived by her. Do you agree? Comment.
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Sign up nowYou are away studying in a hostel. Write a letter to your grandparents, informing them that you’d be visiting them for the Dusshera holidays.
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Sign up nowExtra Questions - Amma | New Voices Course Book | Literature | English | Class 8
Down the stairs of this house
where plaster flakes and falls,
Through the intimate emptiness
of its rooms and hall,
I hear your slow footsteps,
grandmother, echo or pause
- How does the poet Tabish Khair create a sense of nostalgia in the stanza? Provide examples from the text.
- What kind of atmosphere is created by the description of the house? What emotions does this atmosphere evoke in you as a reader?
where plaster flakes and falls,
Through the intimate emptiness
of its rooms and hall,
I hear your slow footsteps,
grandmother, echo or pause
- Tabish Khair creates a sense of nostalgia through the vivid description of the house and the implied memories attached to it. The mention of the grandmother's "slow footsteps" evokes the memory of her presence. The decaying state of the house, represented by "plaster flakes and falls," further intensifies the sense of past times.
- The house, in its state of decay and emptiness, creates a melancholic and somewhat haunting atmosphere. As a reader, this evokes emotions of longing, loss, and even a touch of sadness.
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Down the stairs of this house
where plaster flakes and falls,
Through the intimate emptiness
of its rooms and hall,
I hear your slow footsteps,
grandmother, echo or pause
- How does the poet use auditory imagery, such as the "slow footsteps" and the "echo or pause," to enhance the reader's experience of the poem?
- What does the "intimate emptiness" of the rooms and hall signify in the context of the poem?
- In your opinion, why does the poet choose to focus on the physical decay ("plaster flakes and falls") of the house?
- How does the poet use the figure of the grandmother in the poem? What might she symbolize?
- How do you interpret the meaning of "echo or pause" in relation to the grandmother's footsteps?
- What emotions do you think the poet is trying to convey through this stanza and why?
- What does this stanza tell you about the poet's relationship with his grandmother?
- How does the poet's depiction of physical space reflect on his emotional state?
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Sign up nowQuiz - Amma | New Voices Course Book | Class 8 Literature | English
Vocabulary - Flashcards - Amma | New Voices Course Book | Class 8 Literature | English
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Unlock now 🔓About the Author - Amma | New Voices Course Book | Class 8 Literature | English
Tabish Khair is a contemporary Indian novelist, poet, and critic who was born in 1966 in Gaya, Bihar. He is known for his unique writing style, which blends Indian and Western literary traditions, and his work often deals with themes such as identity, culture, and history.
Khair has written several books, including novels such as "Filming: A Love Story," "The Bus Stopped," and "The Thing About Thugs," which was shortlisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize in 2010. He has also published collections of poetry, including "Manhattan '62" and "Where Parallel Lines Meet."
In addition to his writing, Khair is also a respected academic and has taught literature and creative writing at several universities, including Aarhus University in Denmark and the University of Kent in England.
Overall, Tabish Khair is a versatile and accomplished writer who has made significant contributions to contemporary Indian literature and beyond.
Summary - Amma | New Voices Course Book | Class 8 Literature | English
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Themes - Amma | New Voices Course Book | Class 8 Literature | English
- Ageing and Mortality
The poem portrays the inevitable process of ageing and the fleeting nature of human life. The grandmother's physical limitations, her arthritic joints, and deteriorating eyesight suggest the theme of ageing, mortality, and the passage of time. - Memory and Nostalgia
The poem is infused with memories of the speaker's experiences spent with their grandmother, evoking a sense of nostalgia. The sensory....
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Unlock now 🔓Symbols - Amma | New Voices Course Book | Class 8 Literature | English
- House: The house is a symbol of the grandmother's life and the passage of time. The flaking plaster, taken-down curtains, and damage to the house symbolize the changes that come with the passage of time.
- Watermelon crescents: Watermelon crescents represent the memories of the speaker's childhood summers spent with....
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Unlock now 🔓Poetic Devices - Amma | New Voices Course Book | Class 8 Literature | English
The poem "Amma" by Tabish Khair employs several poetic devices to enhance its themes and emotions. Some of the poetic devices used in the poem include:
- Imagery: The poem uses vivid and sensory images to evoke emotions and memories in the reader. For example, the image of watermelon crescents and the fragrance of soap evoke memories of the grandmother's house.
- Metaphor: The poem employs....
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Unlock now 🔓Vocabulary - Amma | New Voices Course Book | Class 8 Literature | English
Plaster: (noun) A mixture of lime, sand, and water that is used to coat and decorate walls and ceilings.
The walls of the old building were covered with peeling plaster.
Intimate: (adjective) Private or closely connected; familiar and personal.
Their intimate conversations allowed them to understand each other deeply.
Khus: (noun) A type of grass that is used to make screens, mats, and fragrant drinks.
The khus mats kept the.............................
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