AHSEC (ASSEB) Class 11 English Hornbill – Chapter 10 Solutions –Childhood | Assam Eduverse
Chapter Overview:
Assam Eduverse presents the summary and solutions of Class 11 English (AHSEC/ASSEB) – Hornbill, Chapter 10: Childhood by R. K. Narayan. This chapter from the Class 11 Hornbill textbook is a reflective poem that explores childhood, innocence, self-awareness, and the journey to adulthood, making it essential for exam preparation with both summary and textbook solutions.
The poem Childhood reflects on the poet’s realization of the loss of his childhood innocence. He contemplates moments of profound understanding, such as learning that Heaven and Hell are not physical places and recognizing the hypocrisy of adults around him. These revelations mark a transition to a more rational, independent, and thoughtful state of mind. The poet concludes that childhood ends when one achieves independent thought and self-awareness, a stage that cannot be regained, existing now only in the innocent gaze of an infant. The poem beautifully captures the bittersweet nature of growing up, the tension between innocence and awareness, and the poignant nostalgia for a world that is lost forever.
Chapter 10: Childhood emphasizes the journey from innocence to self-awareness and the lasting value of childhood memories. For Class 11 students (AHSEC/ASSEB), it provides a detailed summary and solutions to textbook questions, making it a reflective and philosophically rich chapter in the Hornbill textbook.
AHSEC (ASSEB) Class 11 English Hornbill – Chapter 10: Childhood Solutions & Question Answers
📖 Summary of Childhood
Chapter 10 – Class 11 Hornbill
This poem is an introspective reflection on the transition from childhood innocence to independent thought and adulthood. The poet contemplates moments of profound realization, such as discovering that Heaven and Hell are not physical places and recognizing the hypocrisy of adults. These experiences mark the end of childhood and the beginning of rational, self-aware thinking.
The poet reflects on how childhood is a fleeting phase, now only preserved in the innocent gaze of infants. The poem captures the tension between the simplicity of early life and the complexities of growing up, portraying the bittersweet emotions associated with the loss of innocence. Narayan emphasizes the value of memory, nostalgia, and the enduring significance of early experiences that shape an individual’s understanding of the world.
Conclusion: Chapter 10 highlights the journey from innocence to self-awareness and the lasting impact of childhood memories on adult life.
— From the book Hornbill
Think it out
Q1. Identify the stanza that talks of each of the following.
Answer:
Individuality: The third stanza (“Was it when I found my mind was really mine…”)
Rationalism: The first stanza (“Was it the time I realised that Hell and Heaven, Could not be found in Geography…”)
Hypocrisy: The second stanza (“Was it the time I realised that adults were not all they seemed to be…”)
Q2. What according to the poem is involved in the process of growing up?
Answer: The poem suggests that growing up is a process of losing innocence and gaining self-awareness. It involves questioning things you were taught, recognizing the flaws in adults, and discovering your own independent mind. It’s a journey from blind belief to rational thought and a unique sense of self.
Q3. What is the poet’s feeling towards childhood?
Answer: The poet feels a sense of loss and nostalgia for his childhood. He sees it as a forgotten, “hidden” place that is gone forever. While he has gained a more rational and individual mind, he also recognizes the simplicity and innocence that he lost.
Q4. Which do you think are the most poetic lines? Why?
Answer: The most poetic lines are likely the last two: “It went to some forgotten place, That’s hidden in an infant’s face.” These lines are beautifully metaphorical, capturing the essence of childhood as a lost and hidden state that can only be seen in the face of a new generation. They are simple yet deeply profound.
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