NAME- PAVITRA CHAUDHARY CLASS- 11 A ROLL No.-28 SUBJECT- ENGLISH CHAPTER – Childhood (by Markus Natten)

Poem When did my childhood go? Was it the day I ceased to be eleven, Was it the time I realized that Hell and Heaven, Could not be found in Geography, And therefore could not be, Was that the day! 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!

When did my childhood go 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 my alone, Was that the day! Where dimy childhood go? It went to some forgotten place, That’s hidden in an infant’s face, That’s all I know.

Summary MOST PEOPLE WOULD LOOK BACK AT THEIR CHILDHOOD WITH NOSTALGIA. IT IS A SPECIAL STAGE IN THE LIFE OF A HUMAN BEING. IN THE POEM 'CHILDHOOD', MARKUS NATTEN WONDERS WHEN HE LOST HIS CHILDHOOD.HE IDENTIFIES FEW STAGES WHEN HIS THOUGHTS AND PERCEPTIONS OF THE WORLD CHANGED. THINKING LOGICALLY AND BEING ABLE TO REASON OUT WAS THE FIRST STEP TO MATURITY. HERE HE BEGAN TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN REALITY AND FICTION. HE WONDERS IF THIS WAS THE TIME HE LOST HIS CHILDHOOD. HE LATER DISCOVERS THE HYPOCRISY OF ADULTS AND REALIZES THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT WHAT THEY PRETEND TO BE. HE WONDERS IF THIS WAS THE TIME HE LOST HIS CHILDHOOD. HE FINDS HIMSELF BECOMING MORE INDEPENDENT AND ABLE TO FORM HIS OWN OPINIONS. HE WONDERS WHETHER HIS GROWING INDIVIDUALITY LED TO THE LOSS OF HIS CHILDHOOD.

Exercise Questions 1.what according to the poem is involved in the process of growing up? 2. what is the poet's feeling towards childhood? 3.Which do you think are the most poetic lines? why ? 4.Identiy the stanza that talks of each of the following. Individuality Rationalism Hypocrisy

Answers Ans1- According to the poem, love, truth and rationalism ae involved in the process of growing up. Age, understanding ,realisation also play a great role. Ans2- The poet feel that childhood is the best period of life. In childhood man remains free from all hypocrisy , greed and pretention. It is the period of innocence and purity of heart. Ans3- the last four line of the poem are the most poetic. The poet conveys the idea that innocence of childhood is hidden in any infant’s face. Nobody is as innocent as an infant. The line are very rhythmic. First and fourth and second and third lines rhyme each other. Ans4- a- Third stanza. b- First stanza. c- Second stanza.

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