NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Hornbill (Poem) Chapter 4 (Poem) Childhood 2025-26

1. Identify the stanzas that talk of each of the following: Individuality, rationalism, hypocrisy.

Ans: 

• Third stanza: Individuality 

• First stanza: Rationalism

• Second stanza: hypocrisy

2. What according to the poem is involved in the process of growing up?

Ans: Growing up, according to the poem, entails the development of mental maturity as well as the loss of innocence and simplicity. When a person has become logical, sensible, and capable of constructing his own thoughts, he is said to have matured. A mature person can tell the difference between reality and fiction. A mature person is aware of other people's activities, just as the poet is aware of the gap between the two. The grownups' preaching and practice. The grownups' duplicity and false standards become apparent to him. A mature person also expresses his ideas and opinions.

3. What is the poet’s feeling towards childhood?
Ans: Childhood, according to the poet, is a time of purity and simplicity, a time when one trusts others without questioning their motives. He doesn't appear to be sad or distressed at the death of his mother. In his formative years, He just appears to be perplexed by the situation. The end of childhood and the beginning of adulthood. When he asks the questions, he expresses his perplexity. 'When did my childhood end?' and 'Where did my childhood go?'

4. Which do you think are the most poetic lines? Why?

Ans: ‘It went to some forgotten location, That's hidden in an infant's face; That's all I know,' the poem's final verse appears to be the most poetic. These sentences nicely capture the process of maturation and the passing of a stage of life. These phrases imply that an infant's innocent face conceals a great deal beneath its smiles. He takes comfort in the notion that the values of childhood aren't lost forever, but that they may be hidden someplace in the child's mind.

MCQ Questions with Answers

1. What does the poet say about the fact that adults talk and preach love but do not act lovingly?

1. The adults talk and preach love but do not act lovingly because they are hypocrites.

2. The adults talk and preach love but do not act lovingly because they are double-faced.

3. The adults talk and preach love but do not act lovingly because they do not want to.

4. The adults talk and preach love but do not act lovingly because they invest in only those whom they find interesting.

Answer: (a) The adults talk and preach love but do not act lovingly because they are hypocrites.

2. ‘Antithesis’ means the usage of two opposite words which are used together in a single sentence in a poem, so where did the poet use it in the poem?

1. The poet used it while describing the infant’s face.

2. The poet used it in a forgotten place.

3. The poet used it while talking about Hell and Heaven.

4. The poet used it while preaching love.

Answer: (c) The poet used while talking about Hell and Heaven

3. What sense did the poet have when he understood he can use his mind the way he likes?

1. He sensed that he could be as intelligent as his friends.

2. He sensed he has own individuality and a separate personality.

3. He sensed that he was very smart when he used his own mind.

4. He sensed that he could use his mind in creative work.

Answer: (b)  he sensed he has own individuality and a separate personality

4. What is the opposite word of ‘hidden’?

1. The opposite word for hidden is open.

2. The opposite word for hidden is closed.

3. The opposite word for hidden is partial.

4. The opposite word for hidden is out.

Answer: (d)  The opposite word for hidden is out.

5. Name the poet of the poem ‘Childhood’.

1. The poet’s name is Shirley Toulson.

2. The poet’s name is Walt Whitman.

3. The poet’s name is Marcus Natten.

4. The poet’s name is Naipul.

Answer: (c) The poet’s name is Marcus Natten.

A Detailed Explanation of English Hornbill Chapter 4 Poem

1. In the Poem, ‘Childhood’, Which Lines According to You, Are the Most Poetic Lines and Why?

Ans: The poem is a mix of emotions that showcases the transition and is wrapped up beautifully. The poet does justice to the selected topic and ensures that the readers resonate with the image that the poet wants to bring out throughout the poem. 

The following lines add the poetic feeling and the overall essence of the poem:

“It went to some forgotten place That’s hidden in an infant’s face,

That’s all I know.”

Although these are only two lines, they beautifully sum up the entire essence of the poem that showcases the whole process of growth in a very organized and attractive way. Besides that, the poet has also been successful in showing the disappearance of a particular stage of life. These two lines work at extreme edges and do a great job at representing the start and end of a life-cycle, something that is evident and evident. Moreover, if we have a close look, we can also find the hidden symbolic or metaphorical meaning that comes along with these articles. 

The use of a vocabulary that is simple but carries a significant meaning also plays a major role in resonating with the tonality of the poem and the characters that are placed in it. The lines beautifully describe how an infant’s innocent face hides several things behind its smiles and how beautifully an infant’s Childhood lies in some forgotten place that is buried deep inside their consciousness.

CBSE Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 4 (Poem) Other Study Materials

Conclusion 

The NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Chapter 4 - Poem "Childhood" provide valuable assistance to students in comprehending and appreciating the nuances of this poignant poem. By engaging with these solutions, students can delve deeper into the themes, imagery, and literary techniques employed by the poet. The solutions offer a comprehensive analysis of the poem, guiding students in their interpretation and enabling them to develop a greater understanding of the emotions and sentiments associated with childhood. The availability of these solutions in a PDF format allows students to conveniently access and study the material, further enhancing their language skills and literary appreciation. Overall, the NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Chapter 4 - "Childhood" serve as a valuable resource for students to engage with the poem and develop a deeper connection to its profound reflections on the fleeting nature of youth.

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