I Cannot Remember My Mother Class 9 NCERT Solutions provide accurate, well-explained, and easy-to-understand answers to all the questions from Chapter 8 (Poem 4) of the latest NCERT English Kaveri textbook. These solutions are prepared according to the latest CBSE syllabus and help students understand the poem’s central idea, poetic devices, themes, vocabulary, and literary values.
I Cannot Remember My Mother Class 9 NCERT Solutions
Reflect and Respond
I. Work in pairs. Discuss the memories from your childhood that you remember. List them and share with your classmates and teacher.
Answer: I remember many sweet moments from my childhood. I used to enjoy playing with toys and building small houses with blocks. My first school days are also clear in my mind, when I carried a new bag and met my teacher. During festivals at home, I loved lighting diyas and eating sweets with my family. I also recall family trips to the park, where I played on swings and slides. At night, my grandmother told me wonderful stories before I went to sleep. These memories make me feel happy and remind me of the love and care I received in my childhood.
II. Discuss how children’s relationship with their mother can influence their emotions and memories.
Answer: Children’s relationship with their mother is very special. It shapes how they feel, how they think, and what they remember later in life. A mother’s love, care, and presence give children a sense of safety and comfort. When this bond is strong, children often grow up with happy emotions and warm memories. Even if the mother is not physically present, her influence can be felt through songs, smells, or simple everyday experiences, just like in Tagore’s poem.
III. Match the words given in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1. hover | (i) sing a tune with your lips closed |
| 2. hum | (ii) a type of flower (coral jasmine) |
| 3. cradle | (iii) look steadily for a long time |
| 4. shiuli | (iv) rituals conducted in a temple |
| 5. morning service | (v) linger or remain near a place |
| 6. gaze | (vi) a small bed for a baby |
Answer:
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1. hover | (v) linger or remain near a place |
| 2. hum | (i) sing a tune with your lips closed |
| 3. cradle | (vi) a small bed for a baby |
| 4. shiuli | (ii) a type of flower (coral jasmine) |
| 5. morning service | (iv) rituals conducted in a temple |
| 6. gaze | (iii) look steadily for a long time |
Check Your Understanding
I. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.
Stanza 1
1. The poet remembers his mother while he __.
Answer: Plays
2. The poet remembers the _ but not the _.
Answer: Song, Face
Setting: __ (outdoor/indoor)
Answer: Indoor
Stanza 2
1. The poet remembers his mother in the __ season.
Answer: Autumn
2. The poet remembers his mother by the smell of __.
Answer: Shiuli flowers
Setting: __ (outdoor/indoor)
Answer: Outdoor
Stanza 3
1. The poet feels that his mother _ at him from the _.
Answer: Sky
Setting: __ (outdoor/indoor)
Answer: Outdoor
II. The senses of olfactory (smell), auditory (hearing), and visual (sight), are three of the five basic senses in humans. Give examples of references to senses from the poem. Complete the table given below.
Answer:
| Stanza | Lines from the Poem | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Stanza 1 | …the tune of some song that she used to hum while rocking my cradle | Auditory (hearing) |
| Stanza 2 | …the smell of the shiuli flowers floats in the air, the scent of the morning service in the temple comes to me as the scent of my mother | Olfactory (smell) |
| Stanza 3 | …I send my eyes into the blue of the distant sky, I feel that the stillness of my mother’s gaze on my face has spread all over the sky | Visual (sight) |
III. Read the poem silently once again and complete the following.
1. Two examples of alliteration from the poem are (i) _ and (ii) __.
Answer:
- (i) “song…she…used to hum” and
- (ii) “smell of the shiuli”.
2. An example of onomatopoeia is ____.
Answer: An example of onomatopoeia is “hum” (the soft sound of singing).
3. The poem uses imagery extensively. Explain.
Answer: The poem uses imagery extensively because the poet describes sound, smell, and sight in such a way that readers can almost hear the tune, smell the flowers, and see the calm sky.
4. Although the poem does not have a rhyme scheme, it is enjoyable because __.
Answer: Although the poem does not have a rhyme scheme, it is enjoyable because of its musical rhythm, repetition, and emotional depth.
5. What is the tone of the poet? Why do you say so?
Answer: The tone of the poet is nostalgic and tender. He speaks with love and longing, showing how deeply he misses his mother.
6. What impact does the title of the poem have on the overall mood of the poem?
Answer: The impact of the title “I Cannot Remember My Mother” is that it immediately creates a mood of sadness and longing, preparing the reader for the emotional journey of the poem.
7. The poet uses ‘I cannot remember my mother’ as a refrain because ______.
Answer: The poet uses ‘I cannot remember my mother’ as a refrain because it emphasizes his inability to recall her face directly, while showing how her presence is felt through senses and memories.
8. The poet uses symbolism to indicate the memory of his mother’s presence. Identify the symbols used in the poem.
| Symbolism is a literary device in which a writer uses a tangible object, abstract idea, or phenomenon that represents something beyond the literal meaning. It helps the poet convey deeper meanings and to connect with readers on an emotional level. Refrain is a poetic device defined as a line or a group of lines that is repeated at regular intervals in a poem. |
Answer: The poet uses symbolism to indicate his mother’s presence. The symbols are:
- The tune of the song (symbol of love and care)
- The shiuli flowers and temple scent (symbol of purity and devotion)
- The blue sky and stillness (symbol of calm gaze and eternal presence).
Critical Reflection
I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. I cannot remember my mother only sometimes in the midst of my play a tune seems to hover over my playthings,
(i) Complete the following sentence appropriately. The poet is reminded of his mother during his __.
Answer: (i) The poet is reminded of his mother during his playtime.
(ii) What is the primary emotion conveyed by the line ‘a tune seems to hover over my playthings’?
A. It enhances the joy of play.
B. It disrupts the playtime atmosphere.
C. It activates memories of the mother.
D. It symbolises the carefree nature of childhood.
Answer: C. It activates memories of the mother
(iii) In the context of the poem, what role does the hovering tune play during the speaker’s playtime?
Answer: In the context of the poem, the hovering tune plays the role of awakening the poet’s memory. While he is busy in play, the tune reminds him of his mother’s love and care, even though she is not physically present.
(iv) State whether the following sentence is true or false. The poet experiences the tune lingering over playthings only occasionally during playtime.
Answer: The sentence is True. The poet experiences the tune lingering over his playthings only occasionally during playtime.
(v) How could the poet feel his mother’s presence, even though she isn’t there?
Answer: The poet could feel his mother’s presence through sensory experiences — the sound of her song, the smell of shiuli flowers, and the sight of the calm blue sky. These senses symbolise her love and presence even though she isn’t there.
2. I feel that the stillness of my mother’s gaze on my face has spread all over the sky.
(i) What does the poet suggest about the stillness of his mother’s gaze spreading over the sky?
A. The mother’s gaze is physically present in the sky.
B. The sky is a symbolic extension of the mother’s presence.
C. The sky mirrors the mother’s emotions.
D. The stillness is fleeting and unrelated to the mother.
Answer: B. The sky is a symbolic extension of the mother’s presence.
Explanation: The poet suggests that the stillness of his mother’s gaze spreading over the sky means the sky is a symbolic extension of the mother’s presence. It is not physical, but a feeling that her calm love is everywhere.
(ii) What emotion does the poet associate with the ‘stillness’ of his mother’s gaze?
A. a sense of grief
B. a sense of anticipation
C. a sense of nostalgia
D. a sense of serenity
Answer: D. a sense of serenity
Explanation: The emotion the poet associates with the ‘stillness’ of his mother’s gaze is a sense of serenity. It shows peace, calmness, and comfort.
(iii) State whether the following sentence is true or false.
The poet suggests that the mother’s gaze has a tangible and visual effect on the sky.
Answer: The sentence is False. The poet does not say the mother’s gaze has a tangible or visual effect on the sky. Instead, he symbolically feels her presence in the sky’s stillness.
(iv) What is the purpose of likening the mother’s gaze to the sky?
Answer: The purpose of likening the mother’s gaze to the sky is to show her eternal and all‑embracing presence. Just as the sky covers everything, her love and calmness surround the poet.
(v) Complete the sentence appropriately. The tone of the poet in the given extract is _ because _.
Answer: The tone of the poet in the given extract is nostalgic and peaceful because he remembers his mother with longing but also feels comfort in her silent, calm presence spread across the sky.
II. Answer the following questions.
1. What is the emotional impact of the refrain, ‘I cannot remember my mother’?
Answer: The repeated line “I cannot remember my mother” creates sadness and longing. It shows the poet’s deep desire to recall her face but also highlights how her presence is felt through emotions and senses.
2. Interpret the connection between the poet’s mother and the following:
(i) shiuli flowers (ii) humming tune
Answer: Connection between mother and symbols
- (i) Shiuli flowers → The fragrance reminds the poet of his mother’s purity and devotion, like temple prayers.
- (ii) Humming tune → The soft song she sang while rocking his cradle symbolizes her love and care.
3. What role does nature play in the poet’s description of the memory of his mother?
Answer: Nature acts as a bridge to memory. The flowers, the temple scent, and the sky help the poet feel his mother’s presence even though she is not physically there.
4. What can be inferred about the poet’s perception of the mother–child relationship?
Answer: The poet sees the mother–child bond as eternal, loving, and nurturing. Even without direct memories, he feels her love through symbols in daily life. This shows that a mother’s influence is lasting and shapes emotions and memories forever.
Vocabulary in Context
I. Work in pairs to classify the sensory words given in the box below. One example has been done for you.
Answer: We put each word into the correct sense category. One example is already done.
| Sense | Words from the Box |
|---|---|
| Auditory (hearing) | rustle, squeaky, sizzle, hiss, deafening, ear‑splitting |
| Olfactory (smell) | stale, fragrant, stinky, aroma, scent, pungent |
| Visual (sight) | gloomy, glowing, minuscule, gigantic, vibrant, crimson |
| Tactile (touch) | rough, hairy, sticky, chilled, smooth, slimy, fluffy |
II. Fill in the blanks with sensory words in the box for the following passage written by Sarojini Naidu. There are two extra words.
Come and share my exquisite March morning with me: this sumptuous blaze of gold and sapphire sky; these 1. ____________ lilies that adorn the sunshine; the voluptuous 2. ____________ of neem and champak and serisha that beat upon the languid air with their implacable 3. ____________; the thousand little gold and blue and silver breasted birds bursting with the 4. ____________ ecstasy of life in nesting time. And, do you know that the scarlet lilies are woven petal by petal from my heart’s blood, these little quivering birds are my soul made incarnate music, these heavy 5. ____________ are my emotions dissolved into aerial 6. ____________, this 7. ____________ blue and gold sky is the ‘very me’…
Answer: Come and share my exquisite March morning with me: this sumptuous blaze of gold and sapphire sky; these 1. scarlet lilies that adorn the sunshine; the voluptuous 2. scents of neem and champak and serisha that beat upon the languid air with their implacable 3. perfumes; the thousand little gold and blue and silver breasted birds bursting with the 4. shrill ecstasy of life in nesting time. And, do you know that the scarlet lilies are woven petal by petal from my heart’s blood, these little quivering birds are my soul made incarnate music, these heavy 5. essence are my emotions dissolved into aerial 6. sweetness, this 7. flaming blue and gold sky is the ‘very me’…
III. Write numbers against each picture with the phrases that describe them with their sensorial associations. One example has been done for you.
- beats of music echo in air
- melody of soothing scent, dancing in the air
- fragrant breeze of blooming buds
- gentle lullaby, a soft melody
- colourful sky, painting a lively sight
- attractive canvas painting the horizon
Answer:
- Tabla (beats of music echo in air)
- Incense pot (melody of soothing scent, dancing in the air)
- Flowers being picked (fragrant breeze of blooming buds)
- Mother rocking cradle (gentle lullaby, a soft melody)
- Kites in the sky (colourful sky, painting a lively sight)
- Sunset horizon (attractive canvas painting the horizon)
Listen and Respond
I. You will listen to four short extracts of people expressing their childhood memories. As you listen, match each statement 1–6 to each speaker (i)–(iv). There are two statements that you do not need. (Transcript for teacher on page 266)
| Statement | Speaker |
|---|---|
| The precious memories by the seaside are not the same anymore. | |
| My grandfather’s encouragement Speaker influences me in moments of difficulty | |
| The school days are a source of recollection to stay in touch. | |
| Childhood days are about freedom and ordinary pleasures in outdoor activities. | |
| Memories of school days are grandparents and my funny tales. | |
| Parents urge us to be adventurous and discover nature but with limitations. |
Answer: Match the Statements to the Speakers
| Statement | Speaker |
|---|---|
| The precious memories by the seaside are not the same anymore. | Speaker i |
| My grandfather’s encouragement Speaker influences me in moments of difficulty | Speaker ii |
| Childhood days are about freedom and ordinary pleasures in outdoor activities. | Speaker iii |
| Parents urge us to be adventurous and discover nature but with limitations. | Speaker iv |
Speaking Activity
I. Work in pairs. Think of an object, song, or a place that is memorable for you. Take turns to speak about it using the prompts given below.
- Introduce it briefly
- Describe it in detail including sensory details
- Narrate the specific memory associated with it
- Explain how it has impacted your life
- Summarise why this memory is meaningful to you even now
You may use the following phrases.
- During my childhood…
- Growing up, I fondly remember…
- Recalling those early years, I can’t forget…
- In my younger days, I used to…
- I have a clear memory of…
- A routine activity in my childhood involved…
- A cherished part of my childhood includes…
- As a child, I was fond of…
- One of my favourite childhood moments is…
- Thinking about my early years, I recall…
- A common occurrence during my youth was…
Answer:
Introduce it briefly
During my childhood, I was fond of the mango tree in our backyard.
Describe it in detail with sensory words
It had a rough trunk, smooth green leaves, and in summer the air was filled with the fragrant smell of ripe mangoes. I still remember the rustle of leaves when the wind blew.
Narrate the specific memory
One of my favourite childhood moments is climbing the tree with my friends, sitting on the branches, and tasting the sweet fruit. The sticky juice on my hands and the laughter of my friends made it unforgettable.
Explain its impact
Thinking about my early years, I recall how the mango tree taught me freedom, joy, and the beauty of nature. It gave me confidence to explore and enjoy simple pleasures.
Summarise why it is meaningful
Even now, recalling those early years, I can’t forget the mango tree because it symbolises my carefree childhood and the bond with my friends.
Useful Phrases to Use
- “Growing up, I fondly remember…”
- “A cherished part of my childhood includes…”
- “One of my favourite childhood moments is…”
Writing Task
I. Imagine you had been on a school trip to a scenic place which appealed to all your senses. Write a diary entry describing the place and why it was a memorable experience. Contents of the diary entry:
- begin with day, date, and time
- use only first person (I, my)
- capture sensory details
- express emotions
- focus on significant moments and experiences
- conclude with reflection
| Note: Anne Frank and Zlata Filipovic considered their diaries as their friends and therefore began their diary entries with ‘Dear diary’. However, Samuel Pepys considered his diary to be a documentation of facts, his thoughts and feelings. So, he did not begin his diary entries with ‘Dear diary’. |
Answer:
Monday, 3 August 2026
Time: 9:00 p.m.
Dear Diary,
Today we went on a school trip to Mahabaleshwar. The cool breeze touched my face, the fragrance of strawberries filled the air, and the glowing sunset over the valley looked magical. I heard birds chirping and the rustle of leaves, which made me feel peaceful.
Playing with friends, tasting fresh fruits, and boating on Venna Lake were the best moments. This trip was memorable because it gave me joy, freedom, and a deep love for nature.
Reflection: I will always cherish this day as a symbol of happiness and friendship.
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