Searching for comprehensive Childhood question answers for Class 11 English? Look no further! The poem "Childhood" is a journey into the realm of growing up, a must-read that's included in the Class 11 English syllabus. This poem has resonated with students, parents, and educators alike, bringing back memories and instigating meaningful conversations about the transition from youth to adulthood. But we know it’s not just about reminiscing; you also need to ace those exams! That's why we provide detailed Childhood Class 11 question answers designed to help you grasp the poem's nuances.

Our Childhood question and answer section makes it incredibly easy for you to understand each stanza and its underlying themes. And if you're a fan of having everything neatly organized, we offer Childhood Class 11 questions and answers PDF, so you can study on the go. For teachers and parents, our resources come in handy for explaining the poem's intricate details in an easy-to-understand manner. Our Childhood Class 11 Summary Questions and Answers are a treasure trove for anyone looking to dive deep into the poem’s meaning.

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Childhood class 11 Poem Summary                                    

-by Markus Natten

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: The poet wonders when he lost his childhood. He reflects that perhaps it was the day when he crossed the age of eleven. Maybe it was the stage when he realised that the concepts of Hell and Heaven, about which he had been taught since his childhood, did not exist in reality. Geography textbooks did not give the location of any such places. The poet realises that he might have lost his childhood when he gained his rational outlook due to getting educated.

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: In this stanza, the poet reflects that maybe the loss of childhood occurred when he was able to see through the hypocrisy of adults. These people followed double standards, actually following and preaching different standards of behaviour. They told the poet to be loving and caring; however they themselves were argumentative, violent and discourteous. Their behaviour was a far cry from the love they sermonised about and advocated so reverently to the child. Perhaps, says the poet, recognising broken trust was a major step towards adulthood.

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: The poet asks the same question again and again but with different options. He is trying to guess when he actually lost his childhood. Perhaps, it was the day when he realised that his mind could think independently, forming his own opinions and being able to take his own decisions. He gained a sense of individuality, which set him free from the preconceived opinions of others. His own individual opinions and experiences shape his thoughts now and he realised that this might have been the time when he lost his childhood innocence completely.

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: In this stanza the poet changes his question. The poet now wonders where his childhood has gone. He reflects that may be his childhood has gone to an unremembered place. The poet also says that childhood can be found in the innocent face of a child who does not have any pretensions and rationality and who trusts others unconditionally. In other words, a small child is full of innocence and there one can find one's own childhood.

NCERT SOLUTIONS FOR CLASS 11 POEM 5 ENGLISH

childhood question answers

(Think it out)

Question 1. Identify the stanza that talks of each of the following.

individuality rationalism hypocrisy

Answer:

Individuality – Third stanza

Rationalism – First stanza

Hypocrisy – Second stanza

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

Answer: According to the poem, the poet was attempting to direct the process of maturation from childhood to adolescence. The poet believes that by losing his childhood, he will gain some characteristics that will perfectly define his adolescence. These characteristics include: comprehending rationalism and discrimination, comprehending adult hypocrisy, comprehending the power of individualism and self-confidence.

Question 3. What is the poet’s feeling towards childhood?

Answer: Childhood, according to the poet, is a stage from which the next stage, adolescence, begins. Childhood was the stage when people tended to believe things earlier; a child easily believes what adults say. The poet was eager to enter his adolescent stage because a poet is eager to understand rationalism, discrimination, hypocrisy, individualism, and self-confidence, and the poet has no regrets about losing his childhood.

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

Answer: The poem’s final stanza appears to be the most poetic: “It went to some forgotten place That’s hidden in an infant’s face; that’s all I know.” These lines beautifully capture the process of growth and the passing of a particular stage of life. These lines imply, metaphorically, that an infant’s innocent face conceals a great deal behind its smiles. He finds solace in the fact that the virtues of childhood are not forever lost, but maybe hidden somewhere in the child’s consciousness.