{"id":26115,"date":"2025-09-16T06:18:33","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T06:18:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawpreptutorial.com\/blog\/?page_id=26115"},"modified":"2026-04-01T13:29:54","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T13:29:54","slug":"a-photograph-question-answer","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.lawpreptutorial.com\/blog\/cbse\/class-11\/a-photograph-question-answer\/","title":{"rendered":"A Photograph Questions and Answers: Class 11 (With PDF)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These Q&As will also help you revise quickly before exams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Poem: A Photograph<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the full explanation and Summary of A Photograph<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Photograph Question Answers (Very Short)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Q1. Who is the poet of A Photograph?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> Shirley Toulson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q2. What does the cardboard refer to in the poem?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> It refers to the cardboard frame on which the old photograph was mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q3. Who were Betty and Dolly?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> They were the poet\u2019s mother\u2019s cousins who went paddling with her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q4. How old was the poet\u2019s mother in the photograph?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> She was around twelve years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q5. Who clicked the photograph described in the poem?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> The girls\u2019 uncle clicked the photograph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q6. What was the poet\u2019s mother doing in the photograph?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> She was standing on the beach, smiling, and holding her cousins\u2019 hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q7. What does the sea symbolize in the poem?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> The sea symbolizes permanence and continuity, in contrast to human life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q8. How did the poet\u2019s mother react when she saw the photograph years later?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> She laughed and fondly remembered the day at the beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q9. What does the phrase \u201cits silence silences\u201d mean?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> It means the poet is left speechless by the grief of her mother\u2019s death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q10. What is the main theme of the poem A Photograph?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> The passage of time, memory, and the pain of loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Download Full Questions & Answers PDF<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Class 11 A Photograph Questions Answers (Short)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Q1. What does the poet see in the photograph?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q2. How does the poet\u2019s mother remember her childhood through the photograph?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q3. What contrast does the poet draw between the sea and human life?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans<\/strong>: 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q4. How does the poem convey the theme of loss?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> The poem conveys loss through the poet\u2019s grief over her mother\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q5. What is the significance of the phrase \u201cthe laboured ease of loss\u201d?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> It suggests the difficult yet inevitable acceptance of loss. Just as the poet\u2019s mother had lost her childhood days, the poet herself has lost her mother. Both experiences bring pain that time cannot completely erase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q6. Why is the photograph called \u201ca piece of cardboard\u201d?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q7. How does the poet describe her feelings after her mother\u2019s death?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> 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, \u201cIts silence silences.\u201d This shows the depth of her pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q8. How does the poem highlight the permanence of memories?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> The poem shows that photographs preserve moments of happiness long after the people in them are gone. The photograph of the poet\u2019s mother remains unchanged, even though time has taken her away, keeping her memory alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q9. What emotions does the poet express in the poem?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> The poet expresses nostalgia, sorrow, and grief. She recalls her mother\u2019s childhood joy, her mother\u2019s later laughter at the photograph, and finally her own silence and pain after her mother\u2019s death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q10. Why is A Photograph considered a moving poem?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> It is considered moving because it beautifully captures the cycle of life\u2014childhood, memory, and death. Shirley Toulson uses simple language to express deep emotions, making the poem relatable to anyone who has lost a loved one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More Important Resources for CBSE Exam<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Class 11th <\/a><\/strong>Hornbill Syllabus<\/a><\/td>CBSE Class 11th Commerce Subjects<\/a><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
CBSE Full Form<\/a><\/strong><\/td>All about CBSE Class 11th<\/a><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Class 11th Syllabus<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Class 12th Syllabus<\/a><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Class 11th Commerce Books<\/a><\/strong><\/td>CBSE Board: All details<\/strong><\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Class 11 A Photogram Questions and Answers (Long)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Q1. Explain how the poem A Photograph captures the three stages of life.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> The poem beautifully presents three stages of life through the photograph. In the first stage, the poet describes her mother\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third stage reflects the poet\u2019s own present, after her mother\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q2. How does Shirley Toulson use a photograph to explore the theme of memory and loss?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> 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\u2019s death, the photograph evokes grief for the poet, reminding her of her absence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q3. What is the significance of the line \u201cIts silence silences\u201d in the poem?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> The line \u201cIts silence silences\u201d is the most powerful and emotional part of the poem. It expresses the poet\u2019s grief after her mother\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The repetition of the word \u201csilence\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q4. Compare the roles of nature and human life in the poem A Photograph.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> In A Photograph, Shirley Toulson contrasts the permanence of nature with the transience of human life. The sea, which appears in the photograph\u2019s background, is described as unchanged over the years. It remains constant and eternal. In contrast, human life undergoes rapid changes. The poet\u2019s mother, once a young girl smiling on the beach, grows older, recalls her childhood fondly, and eventually passes away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q5. What role does nostalgia play in the poem A Photograph?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> Nostalgia is central to the poem A Photograph. When the poet\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the poet, however, the nostalgia turns into grief after her mother\u2019s death. She remembers her mother\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q6. How does A Photograph reflect the poet\u2019s emotions about her mother?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> The poem A Photograph reflects Shirley Toulson\u2019s deep emotional bond with her mother. She remembers her mother\u2019s childhood innocence, her laughter in adulthood, and finally her silence in death. Through the photograph, the poet relives her mother\u2019s life stages. Her tone changes from descriptive in the beginning to nostalgic in the middle and finally to mournful at the end. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s absence. Toulson\u2019s emotions move from admiration to nostalgia to sorrow, making the poem a heartfelt tribute to her mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q7. Explain how the poem A Photograph is both simple and profound.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> A Photograph is written in simple language, with no complex metaphors or difficult imagery. Shirley Toulson uses plain descriptions like \u201ccardboard,\u201d \u201cpaddling,\u201d and \u201csmile through their hair\u201d 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s strength lies in this balance of simple expression and profound meaning, making it timeless and moving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q8. What message does Shirley Toulson convey in A Photograph?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By describing her mother\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q9. How does the poem show the poet\u2019s acceptance of loss?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> 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, \u201cIts silence silences.\u201d This shows that she has come to terms with the inevitability of death, even though the pain remains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The phrase \u201claboured ease of loss\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q10. Why is A Photograph considered a moving elegy?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ans:<\/strong> 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\u2019s life and death. The poem moves through stages of joy, nostalgia, and grief, ending with the poet\u2019s silence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s mother and an elegy that resonates with anyone who has lost a loved one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find detailed questions and answers from all chapters of English Class 11 now:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Father to Son Questions & Answers<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Birth Questions and Answers<\/a><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Childhood Questions & Answers<\/a><\/strong><\/td>The Address Questions & Answers<\/a><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
The Laburnum Top Questions & Answers<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Mother\u2019s Day Questions & Answers<\/a><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
The Summer of Beautiful White Horse Questions & Answers<\/a><\/strong><\/td>The Voice of The Rain Questions & Answers<\/a><\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A Photograph Extract-Based Question Answer<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Extract 1<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe cardboard shows me how it was<\/em>
When the two girl cousins went paddling,<\/em>
Each one holding one of my mother\u2019s hands,<\/em>
And she the big girl \u2013 some twelve years or so.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. The word cardboard here refers to _______.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

(a) A piece of wood
(b) The cardboard frame of the photograph 
(c) A diary page
(d) A painting<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Show Answer:<\/summary>\n

Answer: (b) The cardboard frame of the photograph <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. How old was the poet\u2019s mother in the photograph?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

(a) Ten years
(b) Twelve years 
(c) Fifteen years
(d) Twenty years<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Show Answer:<\/summary>\n

Answer: (b) Twelve years <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Who were the two cousins mentioned in the photograph?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

(a) Mary and Annie
(b) Betty and Dolly 
(c) Susan and Clara
(d) Rachel and Sarah<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Show Answer:<\/summary>\n

Answer: (b) Betty and Dolly <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extract 2<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll three stood still to smile through their hair<\/em>
At the uncle with the camera. A sweet face,<\/em>
My mother\u2019s, that was before I was born<\/em>
And the sea, which appears to have changed less.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. The girls were smiling at _______.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

(a) Their father
(b) Their uncle with the camera 
(c) A passerby
(d) The sea<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Show Answer:<\/summary>\n

Answer: (b) Their uncle with the camera <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Fill in the blank: The poet describes her mother\u2019s face as a ______ face.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Show Answer:<\/summary>\n

Answer: sweet<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. What does the unchanged sea symbolize in the poem?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

(a) Permanence of nature 
(b) Anger of nature
(c) Beauty of nature only
(d) Danger of the sea<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Show Answer:<\/summary>\n

Answer: (a) Permanence of nature <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extract 3<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSome twenty- thirty- years later<\/em>
She\u2019d laugh at the snapshot. \u2018See Betty<\/em>
And Dolly,\u2019 she\u2019d say, \u2018and look how they<\/em>
Dressed us for the beach.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Who is \u201cshe\u201d in this stanza?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

(a) The poet
(b) The poet\u2019s mother 
(c) The poet\u2019s aunt
(d) The poet\u2019s cousin<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Show Answer:<\/summary>\n

Answer: (b) The poet\u2019s mother <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Fill in the blank: The poet\u2019s mother laughed at the ______.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Show Answer:<\/summary>\n

Answer: snapshot<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. What emotion does the mother show when she looks at the photograph?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

(a) Anger
(b) Nostalgia 
(c) Fear
(d) Sadness<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Show Answer:<\/summary>\n

Answer: (b) Nostalgia <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extract 4<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow she\u2019s been dead nearly as many years<\/em>
As that girl lived. And of this circumstance<\/em>
There is nothing to say at all.<\/em>
Its silence silences.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. The word \u201ccircumstance\u201d here refers to _______.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

(a) The sea holiday
(b) The mother\u2019s death 
(c) A birthday celebration
(d) A school memory<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Show Answer:<\/summary>\n

Answer: (b) The mother\u2019s death <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11. Fill in the blank: The phrase \u201cits silence silences\u201d means deep ______ caused by grief.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Show Answer:<\/summary>\n

Answer: speechlessness<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12. The tone of these lines is ______.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

(a) Joyful
(b) Reflective
(c) Mournful 
(d) Excited<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Show Answer:<\/summary>\n

Answer: (c) Mournful <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the chapter-wise summaries of Class 11 English here:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Portrait of a Lady Summary<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues Summary<\/a><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
We\u2019re Not Afraid to Die Summary<\/a><\/strong><\/td>The Landscape of The Soul Summary<\/a><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
The Ailing Planet Summary<\/a><\/strong><\/td>The Browning Version Summary<\/a><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
The Adventure Summary<\/a><\/strong><\/td>The Address Summary<\/a><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Silk Road Summary<\/a><\/strong><\/td>The Laburnum Top Summary<\/a><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
The Voice of The Rain Summary<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Childhood Summary<\/a><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Father to Son Summary<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Birth Summary<\/a><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Mother\u2019s Day Summary<\/a><\/strong><\/td>The Summer of The Beautiful White Horse Summary<\/a><\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Important Questions from A Photograph Poem<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n