Childhood
By
Markus Natten
Analysis:
· The
poem ‘Childhood’ is composed by Marcus Natten, a Norwegian poet. His poetry is
known for its introspective and contemplative nature.
· The
poet is sad over his lost childhood. He wonders about the moment when he lost
his innocence. He realised that the world is not the same as it appeared in his
childhood.
· The
poem discusses the hypocrisy of the people as they grow and lose their
childhood.
· The
tone of the poem is reflective and pensive (sad).
· The
poem emphasises that we need to preserve the childlike nature in us. It focuses
that we should grow in our thoughts but remain childlike and innocent in
nature.
Line by Line Explanation
Stanza 1
When did my childhood go?
Was it the day I ceased to be eleven,
Was it the time I realised that Hell and Heaven,
Could not be found in Geography,
And therefore could not be,
Was that the day!
Explanation : In the opening lines, the poet wonders about when and how his childhood came to an end. He tries to think and recall the day when his childhood ended. He thinks perhaps it ended when he was no longer eleven years old or when he grew to be 12 years old. May be, he lost his childhood when he was able to realis that hell and heaven did not exist in geographical locations or on the map. He could realise that hell and heaven are imaginary places that actually do not exist in this world. This realisation brings about maturity and rationality in the poet who could differentiate between realistic and fictional things.
Stanza 2
When did my childhood go?
Was it the time I realised that adults were not
all they seemed to be,
They talked of love and preached of love,
But did not act so lovingly,
Was that the day!
Explanation : Here, the poet again analyses another possibility about when his childhood ceased to exist. There was a time when the poet started seeing the world with a new perception that adults are
hypocrites and are not how they seem or act to be. The adults who talk of love and
preach of love, yet never behave so lovingly all the time. They are double faced in
reality. He tries to recall the day when his thoughts matured and he could understand the hypocrisy of his elders and the people around him.
Stanza 3
When did my childhood go?
Was it when I found my mind was really mine,
To use whichever way I choose,
Producing thoughts that were not those of other people
But my own, and mine alone
Was that the day!
Explanation : In this stanza, the poet talks about another possibility of when and how he lost his childhood. He asked himself about possibilities. He wonders about the day when his mind was his own and could use his mind the way he wants. There was a day when he could produce his own thoughts which were not guided or prompted by anyone. It was the day when he sensed his own individuality and that he has a definite personality. Perhaps, that day he lost his childhood.
Stanza 4
Where did my childhood go?
It went to some forgotten place,
That’s hidden in an infant’s face,
That’s all I know.
Explanation : Towards the end, the poet tries to
decide the place where his lost childhood disappeared. He concludes that his
childhood had gone to some place which he doesn't remember or possibly doesn't know. Now he realises that it will never come back. He
cherished his innocence which vanished and is resting in the face of an infant. He also realises that he can only find his childhood in a baby’s
face. He
also conveyed that the innocence of childhood stays till the time one
is an infant by nature and heat. He finally concludes that
his childhood went to some forgotten or unknown place and it is hidden in the face of an
innocent infant. it establishes the idea that we must retain childlike nature in us and keep a child alive in us however old we grow.
Poetic Devices
When did my childhood go? – Refrain, Consonance
Was it the day I ceased to be eleven, - Anaphora
Was it the time I realised that Hell and Heaven –Anaphora, Allusion, Alliteration, Consonance
Could not be found
in Geography, - Consonance
And therefore could
not be, - Consonance
Was that the day! – Refrain, Alliteration
When did my childhood go? –
Refrain, Consonance
Was it the time I realised that adults were not – Enjambment, Alliteration, Consonance
all they seemed to be, - Enjambment
They talked of love and
preached of love,
- Repetition, Consonance
But did not act so
lovingly, - Contrast, Consonance
Was that the day! – Refrain, Alliteration
When did my childhood go? –
Refrain, Consonance
Was it when I found my
mind was really
mine, - Alliteration, Consonance
To use whichever way I choose, - Consonance
Producing thoughts that
were not those of other people – Alliteration, Consonance, Assonance
But my own, and mine alone – Alliteration, Consonance
Was that the day! – Refrain, Alliteration
Where
did my childhood go? – Refrain, Consonance
It went to some
forgotten place, - Consonance
That’s hidden in an
infant’s face, - Symbolism, Consonance
Q. Identify the stanza that talks of each of the
following:
Individuality, Rationalism, Hypocrisy
Ans. The following stanzas highlight the above mentioned traits:
- Rationalism: First
stanza talks about Rationalism because there the poet starts thinking
rationally and questions the existence of hell and heaven which he can’t
find on geographical locations and even on maps.
- Hypocrisy:
Second stanza discusses the hypocrisy of people as they grow. The poet
thinks that elders become manipulative in their talks and dealings in the
real world.
- Individuality: Third
stanza highlights that in the process of growing up the poet gains
individuality. He starts thinking on his own and using his own mind
without getting influenced by others’ thoughts.
Q. What according to the poem, is involved in the
process of growing up?
Ans. According to the poem, the loss of childhood is involved in the process of
growing up. Each loss is compensated by some gain which we come across in our
life. In the age of adolescence we grow in understanding, power of rationality as
well as sense of individuality and self-confidence but in this process we lose our
childhood.
Q. Which, do you think are the most poetic lines? Why?
Ans. The following lines in the poem are most poetic:
"It went to some forgotten place
That’s hidden in an infant’s face,
That’s all I know."
These lines beautifully sum up the process of growth and the disappearance of childhood. These lines have a figurative and symbolic meaning. The infant’s innocent face is presented as symbol for childhood. Here, the poet tells that the childhood lies hidden and buried deep inside a child’s innocence. It strongly conveys the message that we want to cherish our childhood we need to retain innocence of a child.
RTC ( Reference to the Context )
When did my childhood go?
Was it when I found my mind was really mine, To use
whichever way I choose,
Producing thoughts that were not those of .
other people, But my own, and mine alone Was that the
day!”
(a) It means that his mind was influenced by others
(b) It means that his mind was not influenced by
others
(c) It means that his mind was influenced by his
parents
(d) It means that he was not confused
Answer:
(b) It means that his mind was not influenced by
others
Q2. What did the poet realise?
(a) He realised that his mind belonged to his parents
(b) He realised that his mind was controlled by his
friends
(c) He realised that his mind was controlled by his
teachers
(d) He realised that his mind was his, and he had his
own individuality
Answer
(d) He realised that his mind was his, and he had his
own individuality
Q 3. The poet ……….. find an answer to his question.
(a) did
(b) did not
(c) can
(d) may
Answer: did
RTC 2
Where did my childhood go?
It went to some forgotten place,
That’s hidden in an infant’s face,
That’s all I know.
Q 1. Where did the poet’s childhood go?
(a) It went to an unknown place
(b) It went to some forgotten or unknown place
(c) It went to a known place
(d) It went to the poet’s native place
Answer:
(b) It went to some forgotten or unknown place
Q 2. Where does the poet think that his childhood is
hidden?
(a) He thinks that it is hidden in a cat’s face
(b) He thinks that it is hidden in a boy’s face
(b) He thinks that it is hidden in a boy’s face
(c) He thinks that it is hidden in an infant’s face
(d) He thinks that it is hidden beneath his face
Answer:
(c) He thinks that it is hidden in an infant’s face
Q 3. The present tense of 'forgotton’is ………
(a) forgot
(b) forgets
(c) forget
(d) forgets
Answer:
(c) forget
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