If you are looking for the questions and answers of A Photograph poem in Class 11th English, this blog will help you with a complete set of solutions for exam preparation.
The poem A Photograph by Shirley Toulson, from the Hornbill book, is an important part of Class 11 English. It beautifully explores the themes of time, memory, and loss. In this post, we will cover both short and long questions and answers from A Photograph, including extract-based ones, to make your learning easy and effective.
These Q&As will also help you revise quickly before exams.
About the Poem: A Photograph
A Photograph by Shirley Toulson is a touching poem that captures the essence of memory, time, and loss. It begins with a photograph of the poet’s mother as a twelve-year-old girl on a beach holiday with her cousins. Years later, the mother herself would look at the photograph and laugh at those childhood memories.
After her death, however, the same photograph brings only silence and grief for the poet. Through this, the poem shows how photographs preserve moments of joy, while life continues to move on. It reminds us of the permanence of memories and the impermanence of human life.
Read the full explanation and Summary of A Photograph.
A Photograph Question Answers (Very Short)
Q1. Who is the poet of A Photograph?
Ans: Shirley Toulson.
Q2. What does the cardboard refer to in the poem?
Ans: It refers to the cardboard frame on which the old photograph was mounted.
Q3. Who were Betty and Dolly?
Ans: They were the poet’s mother’s cousins who went paddling with her.
Q4. How old was the poet’s mother in the photograph?
Ans: She was around twelve years old.
Q5. Who clicked the photograph described in the poem?
Ans: The girls’ uncle clicked the photograph.
Q6. What was the poet’s mother doing in the photograph?
Ans: She was standing on the beach, smiling, and holding her cousins’ hands.
Q7. What does the sea symbolize in the poem?
Ans: The sea symbolizes permanence and continuity, in contrast to human life.
Q8. How did the poet’s mother react when she saw the photograph years later?
Ans: She laughed and fondly remembered the day at the beach.
Q9. What does the phrase “its silence silences” mean?
Ans: It means the poet is left speechless by the grief of her mother’s death.
Q10. What is the main theme of the poem A Photograph?
Ans: The passage of time, memory, and the pain of loss.
Class 11 A Photograph Questions Answers (Short)
Q1. What does the poet see in the photograph?
Ans: The poet sees her mother as a twelve-year-old girl standing on the beach with her cousins, Betty and Dolly. They are smiling at the camera while holding hands. The photograph captures the innocence and carefree joy of childhood.
Q2. How does the poet’s mother remember her childhood through the photograph?
Ans: Whenever the mother looked at the photograph years later, she would laugh and recall her cousins fondly. She also joked about how they were dressed for the beach. The picture brought nostalgia and happiness to her.
Q3. What contrast does the poet draw between the sea and human life?
Ans: The poet observes that the sea in the photograph has hardly changed over time, whereas human life changes constantly. This contrast highlights the permanence of nature and the transience of human existence.
Q4. How does the poem convey the theme of loss?
Ans: The poem conveys loss through the poet’s grief over her mother’s death. The same photograph that once brought laughter now reminds her only of absence and silence, reflecting how memories turn into painful reminders after death.
Q5. What is the significance of the phrase “the laboured ease of loss”?
Ans: It suggests the difficult yet inevitable acceptance of loss. Just as the poet’s mother had lost her childhood days, the poet herself has lost her mother. Both experiences bring pain that time cannot completely erase.
Q6. Why is the photograph called “a piece of cardboard”?
Ans: The photograph is mounted on cardboard, which has survived over time even though the people in it have aged or passed away. This emphasizes how fragile human life is compared to objects that preserve memories.
Q7. How does the poet describe her feelings after her mother’s death?
Ans: The poet feels speechless and overwhelmed by grief. She admits that there is nothing more to say and expresses her sorrow with the haunting line, “Its silence silences.” This shows the depth of her pain.
Q8. How does the poem highlight the permanence of memories?
Ans: The poem shows that photographs preserve moments of happiness long after the people in them are gone. The photograph of the poet’s mother remains unchanged, even though time has taken her away, keeping her memory alive.
Q9. What emotions does the poet express in the poem?
Ans: The poet expresses nostalgia, sorrow, and grief. She recalls her mother’s childhood joy, her mother’s later laughter at the photograph, and finally her own silence and pain after her mother’s death.
Q10. Why is A Photograph considered a moving poem?
Ans: It is considered moving because it beautifully captures the cycle of life—childhood, memory, and death. Shirley Toulson uses simple language to express deep emotions, making the poem relatable to anyone who has lost a loved one.
More Important Resources for CBSE Exam:
| Class 11th Hornbill Syllabus | CBSE Class 11th Commerce Subjects |
| CBSE Full Form | All about CBSE Class 11th |
| Class 11th Syllabus | Class 12th Syllabus |
| Class 11th Commerce Books | CBSE Board: All details |
Class 11 A Photogram Questions and Answers (Long)
Q1. Explain how the poem A Photograph captures the three stages of life.
Ans: The poem beautifully presents three stages of life through the photograph. In the first stage, the poet describes her mother’s childhood when she was a twelve-year-old girl enjoying a sea holiday with her cousins. The second stage is when the mother herself looks at the photograph years later and laughs, recalling her childhood with fondness.
The third stage reflects the poet’s own present, after her mother’s death, when the photograph brings only silence and grief. This movement from joy to nostalgia and finally to loss highlights the cycle of life and the inevitability of death. Shirley Toulson shows how time transforms memories into both comfort and sorrow, making the poem deeply emotional and relatable.
Q2. How does Shirley Toulson use a photograph to explore the theme of memory and loss?
Ans: In A Photograph, the poet uses an old photograph as a symbol of memory and loss. The picture shows her mother as a young girl, full of innocence and joy, enjoying a day at the beach. For her mother, the same photograph was a source of nostalgia, reminding her of her childhood days with her cousins. However, after her mother’s death, the photograph evokes grief for the poet, reminding her of her absence.
The poem demonstrates how photographs preserve moments of joy but also become symbols of loss with the passage of time. Toulson effectively conveys the permanence of photographs in contrast to the fleeting nature of human life. This duality makes the poem a powerful expression of how memories comfort us and at the same time make us mourn what is lost.
Q3. What is the significance of the line “Its silence silences” in the poem?
Ans: The line “Its silence silences” is the most powerful and emotional part of the poem. It expresses the poet’s grief after her mother’s death. While the photograph once brought laughter and fond memories, it now only highlights the painful reality of her absence. The phrase conveys that words fail in the face of such deep sorrow, and silence becomes the only response.
The repetition of the word “silence” emphasizes both the finality of death and the speechlessness of the poet. It shows how grief leaves one without expression, overwhelmed by loss. This line also brings closure to the poem, as the poet accepts the inevitability of death and the quiet that follows. Shirley Toulson, through this single phrase, captures the intensity of mourning in a simple yet profound way.
Q4. Compare the roles of nature and human life in the poem A Photograph.
Ans: In A Photograph, Shirley Toulson contrasts the permanence of nature with the transience of human life. The sea, which appears in the photograph’s background, is described as unchanged over the years. It remains constant and eternal. In contrast, human life undergoes rapid changes. The poet’s mother, once a young girl smiling on the beach, grows older, recalls her childhood fondly, and eventually passes away.
While nature continues unchanged, human life is fleeting and vulnerable. This contrast highlights the inevitability of death and the permanence of loss. Toulson uses this imagery to remind readers of the fragile nature of human existence compared to the timelessness of the natural world. The juxtaposition of permanence and impermanence adds depth to the theme of memory and loss in the poem.
Q5. What role does nostalgia play in the poem A Photograph?
Ans: Nostalgia is central to the poem A Photograph. When the poet’s mother looked at the picture years later, she would often laugh and recall her childhood at the beach with her cousins. This reaction shows her longing for the past and the joy of reliving happy memories. For the mother, the photograph was a source of amusement and fond recollection, bridging the gap between her childhood and adult life.
For the poet, however, the nostalgia turns into grief after her mother’s death. She remembers her mother’s laughter, but it now causes silence and pain. The poem thus shows how nostalgia can be comforting when the loved one is alive but can transform into sorrow after their loss. Shirley Toulson portrays nostalgia as both sweet and painful, capturing the emotional power of memories.
Q6. How does A Photograph reflect the poet’s emotions about her mother?
Ans: The poem A Photograph reflects Shirley Toulson’s deep emotional bond with her mother. She remembers her mother’s childhood innocence, her laughter in adulthood, and finally her silence in death. Through the photograph, the poet relives her mother’s life stages. Her tone changes from descriptive in the beginning to nostalgic in the middle and finally to mournful at the end.
The mother is shown as a lively and affectionate person who enjoyed recalling her childhood. After her death, however, the poet feels speechless and overwhelmed by grief. The photograph becomes a constant reminder of her mother’s absence. Toulson’s emotions move from admiration to nostalgia to sorrow, making the poem a heartfelt tribute to her mother.
Q7. Explain how the poem A Photograph is both simple and profound.
Ans: A Photograph is written in simple language, with no complex metaphors or difficult imagery. Shirley Toulson uses plain descriptions like “cardboard,” “paddling,” and “smile through their hair” to paint a vivid picture of the photograph. Yet, beneath this simplicity lies a profound message about the passage of time, the inevitability of death, and the permanence of memories.
The simplicity makes the poem easy for readers to understand, while its depth touches universal human emotions. By describing an everyday object like a photograph, Toulson conveys themes of memory, nostalgia, and grief that everyone can relate to. The poem’s strength lies in this balance of simple expression and profound meaning, making it timeless and moving.
Q8. What message does Shirley Toulson convey in A Photograph?
Ans: The central message of A Photograph is that life is temporary, but memories last forever. People grow, change, and eventually pass away, but photographs capture moments of joy that remain unchanged. The poem also conveys the inevitability of loss and the silence that death brings.
By describing her mother’s childhood, her laughter in later years, and finally her absence, Toulson shows the cycle of life in a few lines. The message is universal: we cannot stop time or death, but we can cherish memories through the images and laughter left behind. The poem urges readers to value the present and understand the fragility of human life.
Q9. How does the poem show the poet’s acceptance of loss?
Ans: The poet expresses her grief in a restrained and quiet manner, showing acceptance of loss. She does not use dramatic expressions but instead ends the poem with the simple yet powerful line, “Its silence silences.” This shows that she has come to terms with the inevitability of death, even though the pain remains.
The phrase “laboured ease of loss” also conveys that loss is difficult but must eventually be accepted. Through her calm tone and acknowledgment of silence, the poet reflects maturity in dealing with grief. The poem shows that while memories may cause sorrow, they also help in accepting the reality of loss with quiet dignity.
Q10. Why is A Photograph considered a moving elegy?
Ans: An elegy is a poem that expresses sorrow for someone who has died. A Photograph fits this description perfectly. Shirley Toulson uses the photograph as a starting point to reflect on her mother’s life and death. The poem moves through stages of joy, nostalgia, and grief, ending with the poet’s silence.
The tone of mourning, the emphasis on loss, and the contrast between life and death give the poem the qualities of an elegy. Yet, unlike traditional elegies, it is written in very simple language, which makes it even more powerful. Its emotional depth and universality make it a moving tribute to the poet’s mother and an elegy that resonates with anyone who has lost a loved one.
Find detailed questions and answers from all chapters of English Class 11 now:
A Photograph Extract-Based Question Answer
Extract 1
“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. The word cardboard here refers to _______.
(a) A piece of wood
(b) The cardboard frame of the photograph
(c) A diary page
(d) A painting
Show Answer:
Answer: (b) The cardboard frame of the photograph
2. How old was the poet’s mother in the photograph?
(a) Ten years
(b) Twelve years
(c) Fifteen years
(d) Twenty years
Show Answer:
Answer: (b) Twelve years
3. Who were the two cousins mentioned in the photograph?
(a) Mary and Annie
(b) Betty and Dolly
(c) Susan and Clara
(d) Rachel and Sarah
Show Answer:
Answer: (b) Betty and Dolly
Extract 2
“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
And the sea, which appears to have changed less.”
4. The girls were smiling at _______.
(a) Their father
(b) Their uncle with the camera
(c) A passerby
(d) The sea
Show Answer:
Answer: (b) Their uncle with the camera
5. Fill in the blank: The poet describes her mother’s face as a ______ face.
Show Answer:
Answer: sweet
6. What does the unchanged sea symbolize in the poem?
(a) Permanence of nature
(b) Anger of nature
(c) Beauty of nature only
(d) Danger of the sea
Show Answer:
Answer: (a) Permanence of nature
Extract 3
“Some twenty- thirty- years later
She’d laugh at the snapshot. ‘See Betty
And Dolly,’ she’d say, ‘and look how they
Dressed us for the beach.’”
7. Who is “she” in this stanza?
(a) The poet
(b) The poet’s mother
(c) The poet’s aunt
(d) The poet’s cousin
Show Answer:
Answer: (b) The poet’s mother
8. Fill in the blank: The poet’s mother laughed at the ______.
Show Answer:
Answer: snapshot
9. What emotion does the mother show when she looks at the photograph?
(a) Anger
(b) Nostalgia
(c) Fear
(d) Sadness
Show Answer:
Answer: (b) Nostalgia
Extract 4
“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.”
10. The word “circumstance” here refers to _______.
(a) The sea holiday
(b) The mother’s death
(c) A birthday celebration
(d) A school memory
Show Answer:
Answer: (b) The mother’s death
11. Fill in the blank: The phrase “its silence silences” means deep ______ caused by grief.
Show Answer:
Answer: speechlessness
12. The tone of these lines is ______.
(a) Joyful
(b) Reflective
(c) Mournful
(d) Excited
Show Answer:
Answer: (c) Mournful
Read the chapter-wise summaries of Class 11 English here:
Important Questions from A Photograph Poem
- Who are Betty and Dolly in the poem A Photograph?
- What does the line “its silence silences” mean?
- How old was the poet’s mother in the photograph?
- What contrast does the poet draw between the sea and human life?
- What is the significance of the line “the laboured ease of loss”?
- How does the poet describe her mother’s reaction to the photograph?
- How does the poem highlight the themes of memory and loss?
- Explain how the poem captures the three stages of life.
- Why is A Photograph considered a moving elegy?
- What message does Shirley Toulson convey through the poem A Photograph?
Conclusion:
The poem A Photograph by Shirley Toulson beautifully blends memory, time, and loss. By practicing these a photograph questions and answers, you can easily understand the poem’s depth and prepare well for exams. Revising regularly will make the class 11th poem A Photograph question and answer section simple and effective.
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