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IV. Answer the following questions in not more than 300 words each:, 1. Discuss the theme of the poem., , In the poem ‘The House of My Childhood’ the poet Dilip Chitre narrates how his childhood, house have changed after the demise of his grandmother. The house remained empty without, furniture. The only things of the part that continued to remain there was the brass statues of deities, and a grinding stone. As he continued to look at the house the felt his grandmother's voice coming, from the branch of a tree. Although the house was now deserted, the poet could not resist the urge, to go around it and explore all the rooms., , Theme, , Nostalgic- From the beginning to the end the poet clearly brought the theme of nostalgia. He, misses the entire happiness of his childhood. He ‘toddles' around the house and remembers the, same walk, when played with his fellow- beings. Now the house is empty without any furniture., The shivering voice of his grandmother came from a bare branch, where no birds to sing., , Emptiness - The entire house is empty and silent. No living things are present and the house is, about to decay. The poet stands alone in front of the grey, colorless house. He toddled around the, house but only saw his grandmother's grindstone and brass figurines., , Old versus modern life - the poem brought the theme of rural house-hold activities of the olden, days. The grindstone shows that they worked hard and loved to make various dishes and snacks for, , their children and grand children. That's why the grinding stone is common image in the house., , ——, Ways with Words Page 19, , ‘SCHOOL OF DISTANCE EDUCATION, But the modern life style had outdated the grindstone so it left there in the deserted house., , Spiritual or religious - The brass figurines shows that they worshiped regularly to please their, deities. So the deities were kept in their house very preciously. The brass metal gives the idea that, they don't want to disfigure it. They are indispensable to spirituality but modern generation is less, spiritual. That is why nobody took the brass figurines to their new venue., , The passage of time - The poet looks at time as the one who took away all his childhood, memories. Even time had taken away the summer and spring with him leaving the elderly infant, to toddle around the house to find the lost ages., , 2. What picture of the grandmother do you get from the poem?, , In the poem 'The House of My Childhood’ the poet Dilip Chitre narrates how his childhood, house has changed after the demise of his grandmother. The house remained empty without, furniture. The only things of the part that continued to remain there was the brass statues of deities, and a grinding stone of his grandmother. As he continued to look at the house he felt his, grandmother's voice coming from the branch of a tree. Although the house was now deserted, the, poet could not resist the urge to go around it and explore all the rooms., , The picture of the grandmother we get from the poem is that she is a very traditional and, religious lady. And one who loved her grand children very much. The poet is trying to recollect the, past memories and in that the most unforgettable one is his grandmother. This shows his affection, and deep attachment towards his grandmother. Still the poet remembers the voice of his, grandmother. 'My grandmother's voice shivered on a bare branch’ it caused some inner feelings in, the mind of the poet. The grandmother worked hard and loved to make various dishes for her, children and grand children. That's why the grinding stone is common image in the house. The, brass figurines show that she worshiped regularly to please her deities for the well being for all., The brass metal gives the idea that she is very proud to have her deities in brass because she don't, want to disfigure it. But things changed after her death, the new generation neglected the two, things. Because they think that it is outdated one to use. The poem describes the emotion and, , feelings that was going through when the poet visits his childhood house.