Bihar Board class 9 English Poetry chapter 1 solutions are available here. This is our free guide to answer all the questions asked in chapter 1 – “The Grandmother”.
The poem “The Grandmother” by Ray Young Bear, featured in Chapter 1 of the Bihar Board Class 9 English book, is a touching tribute to the poet’s grandmother. This American Indian poet vividly portrays his grandmother’s lasting influence on his life, even after her passing. Through simple yet evocative imagery, Young Bear paints a picture of a loving, kind, and inspiring figure who continues to shape his thoughts and actions.
Bihar Board Class 9 English Poetry Chapter 1 Solutions
| Subject | English |
| Class | 9th |
| Chapter | 1. The Grandmother |
| Author | Ray Young Bear |
| Board | Bihar Board |
A. Answer the following questions orally
Q1. What do you call your mother’s mother or father’s mother?
Ans. I call maternal grandmother to mother’s mother and grandmother to father’s mother.
Q2. How do you behave with your grandmother?
Ans. I behave with my grandmother with due respect.
Q3. What is the role of a grandmother in a family?
Ans. The grandmother is respected by all. She tells stories to children sometimes feeds, them.
Q4. Is your grandmother alive? How much are you attached to her?
Ans. Yes, she is alive. She is my guide who always encourages me to do good.
B. 1. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statement
Ans.
- The speaker sees his grandmother from two miles away. – (F)
- The grandmother’s scarf was red. – (F)
- The shopping bag was made of jute. – (F)
- The poet felt hands on his head. – (T)
- The grandmother’s hands were too hot. – (F)
- Her hands were warm with the smell of roots. – (T)
- A voice was coming from a mountain. – (T)
B. 2. Fill in the blanks on the basis of your reading of the poem
Ans.
- If I were to see her shape from a mile away.
- I would know so quickly that it would be her.
- If I felt hands on my head
- I would know that those were her hands
- If I heard a voice coming from a rock.
- I would know her words would flow.
B. 3. Answer the following questions very briefly
Q1. From what distance does the poet recognise his grandmother?
Ans. He recognises his. grandmother from a mile.
Q2. What is the colour of the grandmother’s scarf?
Ans. The colour of the grandmother’s scarf is purple.
Q3. What material the shopping bag is made of?
Ans. The shopping bag is made of plastic.
Q4. What are the two things in the first eight lines which the speaker associates with his grandmother?
Ans. The speaker associates with her purple scarf and her plastic bag.
Q5. In the poem, the poet feels the tender-touch of his grandmother. Explain the lines.
Ans. The poet feels the tender touch of his grandmother. Her hands are warm and damp with the smell of roots.
Q6. From where was the voice coming?
Ans. The voice was coming from a rock.
Q7. Where do the words of grandmother flow in the poet?
Ans. The words of grandmother flow inside the poet.
C. 1. Long Answer Type Questions
Q1. ‘The purple scarf’ and ‘the plastic shopping bag’ suggest the social position of the speaker. Explain.
Ans. The purple scarf and plastic shopping bag suggest the grandmother is from a middle-class background. These simple, everyday items indicate she does her own shopping and lives a modest lifestyle. The scarf also hints at her traditional or practical nature.
Q2. How does the poet express a close and emotional relationship with his grandmother? Discuss.
Ans. The poet expresses a close emotional bond with his grandmother through vivid sensory details. He feels her presence despite physical distance, imagining her hands on his head and seeing her scarf and shopping bag. These strong mental images show how deeply she has impacted him.
Q3. Explain the expression: ‘With the smell of roots’.
Ans. With the smell of roots” suggests the grandmother spends time gardening. This earthy scent on her hands represents her connection to nature and her nurturing role in the family. It also evokes memories of her home and the time they spent together.
Q4. Why does the speaker say ‘a voice coming from a rock’. When does a voice come from a rock? Have you ever experienced your sound coming back to you?
Ans. The phrase “a voice coming from a rock” likely means the grandmother has passed away, and the poet hears echoes of her voice in his memories. This is similar to how sound echoes off rocks or mountains. It shows how her influence remains strong even after she’s gone.
Q5. What does ‘Sleeping fire’ suggests in the poem? Explain?
Ans. “Sleeping fire” represents the poet’s dormant energy or passion. His grandmother’s voice or memory awakens this inner fire, inspiring him to action or emotion. It suggests her continuing influence on his life and spirit.
Q6. What are ‘Stirring ashes’ in the poem? Explain.
Ans. “Stirring ashes” symbolizes the rekindling of memories. While the poet may seem to have moved on outwardly, his grandmother’s memory is still alive within him. Her influence continues to affect him, like embers stirred back to life.
Q7. ‘Her words would flow inside me’ shows the poet’s insense closeness with his grandmother. Comment on the speaker’s relationship with his grandmother.
Ans. The line “Her words would flow inside me” shows a deep connection between the poet and his grandmother. It suggests her advice and wisdom have become a part of who he is. This internal dialogue demonstrates how her influence continues to guide him.
Q8. The speaker has shown his intimate relation with his grand-mother using all his senses. How? Explain.
Ans. The poet uses multiple senses to show his connection to his grandmother. He sees her scarf and bag, feels her hands, hears her voice, and smells the scent of roots. This sensory-rich description creates a vivid and emotional portrait of their relationship.
C.2. Group Discussion
Discuss the following in groups and pairs:-
Q1. Distance does not affect intimate relationships. Do you agree?
Ans. Distance doesn’t always weaken close relationships. True closeness is a feeling in our hearts, not just physical nearness. In the poem, even though the grandmother is far away or possibly no longer alive, the poet still feels her presence strongly. He imagines her blessing him and remembers her vividly. This shows that their bond remains strong despite the distance. Memories, love, and shared experiences can keep people connected even when they’re apart. However, maintaining long-distance relationships does require effort and communication.
Comprehension Based Questions with Answers.
- If I were to see
her shape from a mile away
I’d know so quickly
that it would be her.
the purple scarf
and the plastic
shopping bag.
if I felt
hands-on my head
I’d know that those
were her hands
Q1. Name the poem and the poet.
Ans. The name of the poem is ‘The Grandmother’ and the poet is Ray Young Bear.
Q2. How can the poet recognise his Grandmother?
Ans. The poet can recognise his grandmother from a mile with her purple scarf and plastic shopping bag.
Q3. What is the feeling of the poet regarding his grandmother?
Ans. He felt his grandmother’s hand on his forehead. The poet has a great feeling for his grandmother.
- warm and damp
with the smell
of roots.
if I heard
a voice
coming from
a rock
I’d know
and her words
would flow inside me
like the light
of someone
stirring ashes
from a sleeping fire
at night.
Q1. What does ‘Warm and damp’ symbolize?
Ans. ‘Warm and damp’ symbolizes the softy hands of his grandmother.
Q2. What for ‘I’ stands here?
Ans. Here ‘I’ stands for the poet.
Q3. What would flow inside the poet?
Ans. Grandmother’s words would flow inside the poet’s heart.
Q4. Find the word from the poem which means, “causing to move”.
Ans. The word is “Stirring”.
