A Photograph Questions Answers Class 11 CBSE Hornbill provides detailed, exam-focused solutions to all textual and extract-based questions. It includes short and long answer types, helping students understand themes, poetic devices, and emotions in the poem. Perfect for Class 11 CBSE students to prepare confidently for English Core exams with structured answers.
About the Poet:
Shirley Toulson was a British poet and writer, born in 1924 and passed away in 2018. She was known for writing poems that explored personal relationships, loss, and memory. She often wrote about the emotional impact of everyday life. In her poem “A Photograph,” Toulson expresses her deep sorrow over the loss of her mother. The poem is personal and emotional, as it reflects how a simple photograph brings back memories of her mother’s childhood, her laughter, and eventually, her death. It shows how time takes away people, but memories remain. The poem is a touching tribute to her mother and also a universal reminder of how love, memory, and grief are all connected by time.
Summary of the Poem: “A Photograph”
The poem begins with the poet looking at an old photograph pasted on cardboard. It shows her mother as a twelve-year-old girl, standing on the beach with her two cousins. All three were smiling, holding hands, while the sea touched their feet. The photograph captures a happy moment from the past. Years later, the poet’s mother would laugh fondly at the picture, remembering the beach holiday and the clothes they wore. It was her past, now just a memory. Now, the poet’s mother has been dead for many years. The poet feels a deep and wordless sorrow. There is nothing left to say — only silence remains, and even that silence is powerful and overwhelming.
The poem explores themes of time, loss, memory, and change. Through a simple photograph, the poet reflects on how life moves on, people grow old, and loved ones pass away. The contrast between the unchanging sea and the fleeting lives of humans is deeply moving. Shirley Toulson shows how memories bring both comfort and pain — and how silence often speaks louder than words in moments of grief.
NCERT Hornbill Textual Questions Answers Class 11 [Page No 10]
NCERT Hornbill Textual Questions Answers Class 11 provides comprehensive and easy-to-understand solutions to all prose and poetry texts. It helps students grasp key themes, literary devices, and answer formats required for exams. Ideal for CBSE Class 11 students preparing for English Core exams with accurate, chapter-wise explanations.
Vocabulary Inference from Context [Page No 10]
1. paddling
→ Walking or playing in shallow water.
In the poem, “paddling” refers to the young girls (including the poet’s mother) walking in the shallow sea water at the beach during their holiday.
2. transient
→ Temporary; not lasting.
The phrase “terribly transient feet” refers to the fact that human life is short-lived and ever-changing, unlike the eternal sea.
Think It Out [Page No 11]
1. What does the word ‘cardboard’ denote in the poem? Why has this word been used?
Ans: The word ‘cardboard’ refers to the old photograph mounted on thick paper. It suggests that the picture is from the past and has aged over time. The poet uses the word to symbolize how fragile and faded memories can become, just like the cardboard that holds the photo. It also shows how time passes, turning moments of joy into silent, distant memories captured in a lifeless piece of cardboard.
2. What has the camera captured?
Ans: The camera has captured a joyful moment from the poet’s mother’s childhood during a sea holiday. It shows the poet’s mother and her two cousins standing together and smiling, holding hands. It captures innocence, happiness, and a time long gone. Though the people have changed or died, the photograph freezes that moment forever. It reflects both joy and sorrow, as it now only serves as a memory of the mother’s past.
3. What has not changed over the years? Does this suggest something to you?
Ans: The sea has not changed over the years, as the poet mentions it appears the same. This suggests that nature remains constant, while human life is short and ever-changing. The unchanging sea contrasts with the “transient feet” of the girls in the photo. It reminds us that time moves on and people grow old or die, but nature continues unaffected. This highlights the permanence of nature and the fragility of life.
4. The poet’s mother laughed at the snapshot. What did this laugh indicate?
Ans: The laugh showed the poet’s mother’s amusement and nostalgia as she remembered her childhood. It was a fond reaction to seeing herself and her cousins dressed for the beach. Her laughter also carried a sense of longing for the past. This laugh, filled with warmth and memories, connected her to her younger self. It reflected her bittersweet feelings about time gone by, and the joy of recalling happy childhood days.
5. What is the meaning of the line “Both wry with the laboured ease of loss.”
Ans: This line means that both the poet and her mother have experienced loss. The mother had lost her carefree childhood, and the poet lost her mother. The word “wry” shows their mixed feelings—sadness and a faint smile. “Laboured ease” suggests that although they tried to accept the loss, it was still painful. This line reflects the effort it takes to move on from deep emotional loss while quietly carrying the pain.
6. What does “this circumstance” refer to?
Ans: “This circumstance” refers to the death of the poet’s mother and the deep silence that follows it. It shows the poet’s grief and how it is hard to put such sorrow into words. Her pain is quiet and strong, and the absence of her mother has left a lasting impact. The phrase shows the poet’s emotional state, where silence expresses more than speech. Grief has silenced her completely, leaving only emptiness.
7. The three stanzas depict three different phases. What are they?
Ans: The three stanzas show three phases of life. The first stanza describes the poet’s mother as a child during a happy beach holiday. The second stanza shows her as an adult laughing at her old photograph. The third stanza is the present, where the mother is dead, and the poet reflects on her loss. Together, they show the passage of time—from childhood to adulthood to death—emphasizing memory, change, and silent grief.
Exam Pattern-Based Questions Answers
Exam Pattern-Based A Photograph Questions Answers cover all important textual, extract-based, and short/long answer types as per CBSE Class 11 format. These include MCQs, inferential and analytical questions to match competency-based patterns in the new syllabus. Perfect for thorough revision and scoring high in Class 11 English Core Term Exams.
Extract-Based A Photograph Questions Answers
Extract-Based A Photograph Questions Answers focus on important stanzas with MCQs, reasoning, and poetic device-based questions. They help students practise comprehension and critical thinking as per the latest CBSE exam pattern.
Extract 1: A Photograph Questions Answers
“The cardboard shows me how it was
When the two girl cousins went paddling,
Each one holding one of my mother’s hands,
And she the big girl — some twelve years or so.”
1. Who is referred to as the ‘big girl’?
A. The poet
B. One of the cousins
C. The poet’s mother
D. The poet’s aunt
Answer: C. The poet’s mother
2. Fill in the Blank:
The cardboard mentioned in the poem refers to a ________.
Answer: photograph
3. Why does the poet mention “twelve years or so”?
Answer: She refers to the age of her mother when the photograph was taken, indicating her young and innocent childhood.
4. Identify the poetic device in “the cardboard shows me how it was.”
A. Personification
B. Simile
C. Metaphor
D. Alliteration
Answer: A. Personification
Extract 2: A Photograph Questions Answers
“All three stood still to smile through their hair
At the uncle with the camera. A sweet face,
My mother’s, that was before I was born.”
1. Complete the sentence:
The three girls smiled at ________ who was holding the camera.
Answer: their uncle
2. What does the phrase “a sweet face” signify?
A. A random girl
B. The poet’s friend
C. The mother’s innocent childhood expression
D. A stranger on the beach
Answer: C. The mother’s innocent childhood expression
3. Assertion (A): The poet describes her mother’s face as sweet.
Reason (R): The poet’s mother was angry at the moment.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation.
B. A is true, but R is false.
C. A is false, but R is true.
D. Both A and R are false.
Answer: B. A is true, but R is false.
4. Which poetic device is used in “smile through their hair”?
A. Simile
B. Enjambment
C. Oxymoron
D. Metaphor
Answer: B. Enjambment
Extract 3: A Photograph Questions Answers
“And the sea, which appears to have changed less,
Washed their terribly transient feet.”
1. What literary device is used in the phrase “terribly transient feet”?
A. Alliteration
B. Personification
C. Metaphor
D. Oxymoron
Answer: A. Alliteration
2. Fill in the Blank:
The poet contrasts the unchanging sea with the ________ nature of human life.
Answer: transient
3. What does “transient feet” symbolise in the poem?
Answer: It symbolises the temporary nature of human life, especially the fleeting moments of childhood.
4. What is the poetic device used in “terribly transient feet”?
A. Irony
B. Alliteration
C. Personification
D. Metaphor
Answer: B. Alliteration
Extract 4: A Photograph Questions Answers
“She’d laugh at the snapshot. ‘See Betty
And Dolly,’ she’d say, ‘and look how they
Dressed us for the beach.’ The sea holiday
Was her past, mine is her laughter.”
1. Complete the sentence
The poet’s mother would laugh at the snapshot and recall ________ and ________.
Answer: Betty; Dolly
2. Assertion (A): The sea holiday was a joyful memory for the poet’s mother.
Reason (R): The poet’s mother used to cry while looking at the photograph.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation.
B. A is true, but R is false.
C. A is false, but R is true.
D. Both A and R are false.
Answer: B. A is true, but R is false.
3. Fill in the Blank:
The poet associates her memory of her mother with her mother’s ________.
Answer: laughter
Extract 5: A Photograph Questions Answers
“Now she’s been dead nearly as many years
As that girl lived. And of this circumstance
There is nothing to say at all.
Its silence silences.”
1. What does the line “Its silence silences” imply?
A. The poet is filled with joy.
B. The poet can no longer speak of her mother.
C. The poet feels emotionally blank and speechless.
D. The poet is narrating a funny memory.
Answer: C. The poet feels emotionally blank and speechless.
2. What does the poet mean by “Now she’s been dead nearly as many years as that girl lived”?
Answer: It means that her mother has been dead for almost the same number of years as she had lived in the photograph—reflecting the passage of time and deep loss.
3. Complete the sentence:
According to the poet, silence has a deep impact as it ________.
Answer: silences
4. Identify the poetic device in “Its silence silences.”
A. Simile
B. Personification
C. Repetition
D. Alliteration
Answer: D. Alliteration
Extract 6: A Photograph Questions Answers
Now she’s been dead nearly as many years
As that girl lived. And of this circumstance
There is nothing to say at all.
Its silence silences.
1. Identify the phrase from the extract that conveys the following:
“It has been twelve years since the death of the poet’s mother.”
Answer: “Now she’s been dead nearly as many years as that girl lived.”
(Here, “that girl” refers to the poet’s mother at around 12 years of age in the photo, implying it has been nearly 12 years since her death.)
2. The tone of the poet in the above extract is –
Answer: d. sentimental
3. Which figure of speech has been used in the last line of the extract –
Answer: Repetition
Explanation: The phrase “Its silence silences” repeats the word “silence” for emphasis, reflecting the overpowering and speechless grief of the poet.
Short Answer Type A Photograph Questions Answers [3×1=3 Marks]
Short Answer Type A Photograph Questions Answers provide 40-50 word responses based on textual understanding and critical analysis. They are designed to test inference, explanation of poetic lines, and emotional depth of the poem. Ideal for CBSE Class 11 students aiming for clarity, precision, and good marks in English Core exams.
A Photograph Questions Answers Set 1
1. What does the phrase “terribly transient feet” suggest about human life?
Ans: The phrase “terribly transient feet” suggests that human life is short and temporary. The poet compares the permanence of the sea with the short-lived presence of humans. The word “transient” shows that the moment of joy is brief and cannot last. While the sea has not changed, the girls have grown or passed away. It highlights the reality that human life moves quickly and nothing lasts forever.
2. Why does the poet mention “the sea, which appears to have changed less”?
Ans: The poet uses the unchanging sea to contrast with the changes in human life. While people grow older, die, or disappear, nature remains constant and unaffected. This shows the passing of time and how it affects people more than nature. It also reminds the poet of the loss of her mother. The sea becomes a symbol of permanence, while human life is temporary and always going through changes.
3. What feelings does the photograph evoke in the poet?
Ans: The photograph evokes both joy and sorrow in the poet. She feels happy recalling the memory of her mother laughing at the picture. At the same time, she feels the pain of her mother’s absence. The picture brings back her mother’s childhood, the beach holiday, and their bond. These feelings are mixed, and the poet is left with silence and deep emotions that she struggles to express clearly or openly.
A Photograph Questions Answers Set 2
4. Explain the meaning of “Its silence silences.”
Ans: The line “Its silence silences” shows the poet’s deep grief after her mother’s death. The silence left behind is so powerful that it leaves her unable to speak. She has no words to express her pain. It reflects the emptiness that follows loss and the inability to explain emotions. The silence becomes louder than words, and the poet is left with nothing to say, showing the finality of death.
5. Why does the poet describe her mother’s laughter as “wry”?
Ans: The word “wry” means slightly sad or ironic. The poet’s mother laughed while remembering her beach holiday, but the laughter had a touch of sadness. She was smiling at the past, which could never come back. It shows her realization that time has passed and those days are gone. The poet now remembers that laughter as a memory, filled with both love and pain, creating a strong emotional moment.
6. How does the poet use contrast to highlight the theme of change?
Ans: The poet contrasts the unchanging sea with the short-lived human life. While nature remains unaffected, people change, grow old, or die. The photograph captures a moment that is lost forever. The mother laughed at it in the past, but now she is gone. This difference between the permanent sea and the transient people highlights the main theme that life is always changing, and memories are all that remain.
7. What does the poem suggest about the role of photographs in memory?
Ans: The poem shows that photographs preserve moments that cannot return. The cardboard photograph helps the poet remember her mother’s childhood and their shared past. It brings joy and pain together—joy from memories and pain from the loss. A simple picture becomes powerful because it connects different time periods. Even though the people in it are gone, the memory captured in the photo continues to speak to the poet.
8. Why is the poem titled “A Photograph”?
Ans: The poem is titled “A Photograph” because it revolves around a picture that captures a significant moment in the poet’s mother’s childhood. The photo connects the past with the present and triggers memories and emotions. It represents love, loss, and time. The image in the photo may fade, but the memories remain strong. It becomes a symbol of remembrance, and through it, the poet explores the depth of grief.
A Photograph Questions Answers Set 3
9. How does the poet show the passage of time in the poem?
Ans: The poet shows time passing through three stages: the mother’s childhood, her adulthood when she laughed at the photo, and the present, where the poet mourns her mother’s death. These stages show how life moves on, memories stay, and people change or disappear. Time affects relationships, emotions, and experiences. The poet reflects on how quickly life passes, and how only memories remain when the people we love are gone.
10. What impact does the mother’s death have on the poet?
Ans: The poet feels deep pain and emptiness after her mother’s death. Her grief is silent and difficult to express in words. She says, “There is nothing to say at all,” showing that the loss has left her speechless. She recalls her mother’s laughter, but now that laughter is only a memory. The mother’s absence creates a quiet sorrow in the poet’s life that continues for many years afterward.
11. How does the poem explore the theme of loss?
Ans: The poem explores loss through memories, emotions, and silence. The poet loses her mother, but she remembers her through a photograph. The loss is not just physical but emotional and personal. It stays with her for years, and even time cannot heal it completely. The poem shows that loss creates silence, both inside and outside. Through this quiet reflection, the poet expresses how death changes everything, yet memories continue.
12. What does the phrase “laboured ease of loss” mean?
Ans: The phrase “laboured ease of loss” means that even though time passes, the pain of losing someone never fully disappears. The word “laboured” suggests effort, and “ease” means comfort. Together, they show a contradiction—grief becomes manageable, but it still takes strength to live with it. The poet’s mother once felt it, and now the poet feels the same. It highlights how grief passes through generations but never truly ends.
A Photograph Questions Answers Set 4
13. What role does the sea play in the poem?
Ans: The sea symbolizes permanence and stability in the poem. While people grow old, change, or die, the sea remains the same. It washes the feet of the children in the photograph, just as it does today. This contrast between the constant sea and changing human life shows the passage of time. The sea also reflects memory and loss because it witnessed the happy moments that are now only memories.
14. Why is the memory of laughter important for the poet?
Ans: The poet remembers her mother’s laughter because it was a moment of joy shared between them. Even though her mother is now gone, that laughter remains in her memory. It connects the poet to her mother and brings comfort and pain at the same time. The laughter is not just a sound but a symbol of the relationship they had, making it one of the most lasting memories for her.
15. How does the poet deal with grief in the poem?
Ans: The poet deals with grief quietly and reflectively. She does not cry or shout. Instead, she remembers her mother through a photograph and feels the silence left by her absence. The phrase “Its silence silences” shows that her emotions are deep and difficult to explain. The poet finds it hard to express her feelings in words, so she lets silence speak for her. Her mourning is soft but powerful.
A Photograph Questions Answers Set 5
16. How can you say that the photograph was taken on a windy day?
Ans: We can say that the photograph was taken on a windy day because the poet mentions, “All three stood still to smile through their hair.” This suggests that the wind was blowing, and their hair was flying across their faces. Despite the breeze, they stood still and smiled for the camera. The blowing hair clearly indicates the presence of wind during the time the photograph was taken.
17. ‘Nothing endures but change’. Elucidate with reference to the poem ‘A Photograph’.
Ans: The poem “A Photograph” reflects the idea that nothing lasts forever except change. The poet’s mother was once a happy child, then an adult, and later passed away. Her photograph remains, but people and moments have changed. The sea remains unchanged, while human life has moved on. The poet herself is now left with silence and memory. Time has changed everything, proving that change is the only constant in life.
Long Answer Type A Photograph Questions Answers [1×6=6 Marks]
Long Answer Type A Photograph Questions Answers offer 120 – 150 word analytical responses aligned with the 6-mark CBSE format.
They focus on themes like loss, memory, passage of time, and emotional depth in the poem. These answers enhance critical thinking and help students frame well-structured, exam-ready responses for Class 11 English Core.
A Photograph Questions Answers Set 1
1. How does the poet contrast the permanence of nature with the transience of human life in the poem?
Ans: In the poem, the poet draws a strong contrast between nature and human life. She describes the sea as something that “appears to have changed less,” showing that nature remains constant. In contrast, her mother and the cousins in the photograph have aged or passed away. The phrase “terribly transient feet” emphasizes the temporary nature of human life. The sea continues to wash the shore, but the people once photographed are no longer there. This comparison highlights the permanence of nature and the fleeting nature of human existence. It shows how time affects people but not nature. The photograph becomes a silent witness to this contrast—while the sea stays the same, human life fades away. This contrast creates a sense of loss and nostalgia. The poet uses it to reflect on time, change, and mortality, making readers think about how everything in life changes except nature, which stands firm through generations.
2. What role does the photograph play in shaping the poet’s emotions and thoughts?
Ans: The photograph in the poem is not just a picture—it becomes a powerful symbol of memory, love, and loss. It shows a moment from the past when the poet’s mother was a child, happily paddling with her cousins. This frozen moment brings mixed feelings to the poet. On one hand, it reminds her of her mother’s joyful childhood. On the other hand, it brings sadness, as her mother is now no more. The photograph connects different time periods—her mother’s childhood, her adult years, and the present, where only silence remains. The poet recalls how her mother laughed at the snapshot, but now even that laughter is a memory. The photo also reminds her of time’s passing and how relationships change. It captures joy, yet it also brings pain. This silent photograph evokes deep emotions and becomes the starting point of the poet’s reflection on life, change, and death. It shapes her grief into thoughtful silence.
A Photograph Questions Answers Set 2
3. Evaluate the significance of the title “A Photograph” in the context of the poem’s theme.
Ans: The title “A Photograph” may seem simple, but it carries deep meaning in the context of the poem. The photograph is the central object through which the poet explores emotions like nostalgia, love, memory, and grief. It captures a moment that can never return—when her mother was a young girl enjoying a sea holiday. The photograph freezes time, but the people in it grow older and eventually die. For the poet, the image brings back her mother’s laughter and later reminds her of the deep silence that followed her death. The photograph becomes a symbol of how memories are stored visually but felt emotionally. It also reflects how time passes and life moves on, while some images stay unchanged. The poet finds it hard to express her grief in words, so the photograph stands in silent testimony of all those emotions. Thus, the title perfectly captures the essence of memory, change, and silent sorrow.
A Photograph Questions Answers Set 3
4. Explain how the poet conveys the idea of silent grief in the poem.
Ans: The poet conveys the idea of silent grief most powerfully in the last few lines of the poem. She writes, “There is nothing to say at all. Its silence silences.” These lines show how deeply she feels her mother’s absence. The grief is not loud or expressive; instead, it is calm, quiet, and deep. The silence after her mother’s death is so strong that it makes the poet speechless. Even though many years have passed, the pain still exists in her heart. The photograph reminds her of her mother’s smiling face and happy past, but now that happiness is gone. The poet doesn’t cry or express sadness openly, but the silence in the poem reflects her inner emotions. She is still mourning, not through tears or words, but through quiet remembrance. This silent grief is more powerful than spoken words and makes the poem more emotional and touching, helping readers connect deeply with her sorrow.
5. How does Shirley Toulson explore the theme of time and change through the poem?
Ans: Shirley Toulson explores the theme of time and change through the three stages of life shown in the poem. First, we see a picture of her mother as a child, playing with her cousins at the beach. That moment is frozen in a photograph. Next, the poet describes how her mother, now grown, used to look at the photo and laugh at the memory. This shows how time moved forward, and her mother remembered her own past. Lastly, the poet talks about the present, where her mother is dead, and she is left with only memories and silence. These three stages—childhood, adulthood, and death—clearly show the passing of time. The sea, which appears unchanged, is used as a contrast to human life, which keeps changing. Time affects people, not nature. Through this poem, the poet makes us think about how nothing in human life is permanent, and how time changes everything, leaving behind memories and silence.
A Photograph Questions Answers Set 4
6. In what way is the poem a reflection on personal loss and universal truth?
Ans: The poem is a personal reflection for the poet, as it talks about the loss of her mother, someone very close to her. Yet, at the same time, it deals with the universal truth that everyone experiences loss. Through a simple photograph, the poet captures deep feelings of grief, memory, and time. She remembers how her mother once laughed at the photo, and now, years later, that same photograph reminds her of the silence after her mother’s death. This personal story of loss becomes a way for readers to think about their own loved ones and how memories are all that remain. The poem doesn’t use dramatic words; instead, it quietly explores the emotions we all feel when someone we love is no longer with us. The silent grief, the passing of time, and the unchanging sea all point to a universal truth: life is short, and memories are what we carry forward.
A Photograph Questions Answers Set 5
7. How does the poem capture the emotions connected with looking at old photographs?
Ans: The poem beautifully captures the deep emotions that come with looking at old photographs. When the poet sees the photograph, it brings back a moment from the past—her mother’s childhood. It reminds her of the beach holiday and her mother’s sweet smile. It also brings memories of how her mother used to laugh at the picture many years later. Now, the same photograph brings sadness, as her mother is no longer alive. The joy in the photo contrasts with the silence and pain of the present. The photograph becomes a powerful symbol of how time passes and how people and relationships change. It holds a moment of happiness, yet now it creates a feeling of loss. The poet doesn’t say much, but the emotions are deep—nostalgia, love, and grief. This shows how a simple photo can bring back not just memories but also the feelings attached to them, making it emotionally rich and meaningful.
