A Photograph Summary Class 11
Table of Contents
In this post, I am sharing A Photograph Summary Class 11 English Hornbill with Important Value Points. This is beneficial for those who are going to appear at exam 2023-24.
A Photograph Summary Class 11
A Photograph About the Author
Shirley Toulson was born in 1924 in Henley-on-Thames, England. She had a deep love for writing, and her father, who was also a writer, greatly inspired her. She earned a B.A. in Literature from Brockenhurst College in London in 1953. Shortly after, she pursued writing as her career while also working as an editor for several magazines.
Shirley Toulson was profoundly influenced by Celtic Christianity, and many of her important works, such as ‘Celtic Alternative’ in 1987 and ‘Celtic Year’ in 1993, were about this topic. However, she gained even more fame through a wide range of other works, including poetry collections, essays on education, and various publications on different subjects.
Central Idea of A Photograph
Shirley Toulson’s poem, ‘A Photograph,’ is a way for her to honor her mother. The poem talks about three different times in the past. In the first part, the photo shows the poet’s mom at the beach, having a great time with her two girl cousins when she was about 12 years old. In the second part, it’s like twenty or thirty years later, and the mom would laugh at how they dressed back then for the beach. In the third part, the poet thinks about her mom, who has passed away, and looking at the photo makes her feel a deep sense of nostalgia.
A Photograph Summary
The poem starts with the poet looking at her mother’s photo that was stored in cardboard boxes, maybe neglected for a while. The photo isn’t protected by a frame or anything, so it’s vulnerable to damage over time. In the picture, the poet’s mother is standing with her younger siblings, showing her strength as she supports them.
They all gaze at the camera while their brother or uncle takes their picture. They look joyful and eager, with their flowing hair and cheerful smiles. The photo also captures the sea waves crashing nearby as the young girls try to keep up with them. The poet, as she looks at this picture, thinks about the sea. Even though her mother appears still in the photo, she is able to resist change, as she has accepted her own mortality.
In the second part, when she’s older, the mother reflects on the day at the sea. She remembers her two cousins and the day that’s captured in the photo. She also jokes about the clothes they were wearing. These lines carry a tone of sadness as the mother tries to come to terms with the constant changes in life as she gets older. Looking back at her 12-year-old self might be her way of wanting to go back to her childhood, but it’s also a reminder of the passing of time and her own aging, which is painful.
A Photograph Summary Class 11 in English
In the third part, the poet recalls her mother who had passed away. The photo becomes a memory for both of them, connecting the mother and daughter even though her mother is no longer with her. The poet admits that the photo brings happiness when she imagines her mother’s laughter, just as her mother found joy in reminiscing about the day at the sea.
Furthermore, she realizes that the time since her mother passed away is the same as her age in the photo, which is 12 years. It could be a coincidence or a strange twist of fate. Eventually, both the poet and her mother come to terms with change and find solace in their memories. Even though these memories remind them of the fleeting nature of happiness and joyful moments.
While death usually brings quiet emptiness, the poet finds her mother’s passing to be impactful and inspiring enough to express her emotions through a tribute and poem. So, even though death marks an end, her mother’s death evokes a fresh response within her. In the end, she quietly accepts the ultimate silence of death.
Conclusion of A Photograph
In the poem “A Photograph,” the poetess reflects on the passage of time through a photograph of her mother. She emphasizes the inevitability of death and encourages us to cherish life while we have it, making the most of every moment.
Value Points of A Photograph Summary Class 11
1. The poet gazes at a childhood picture of her mother.
2. Her mom went on a seaside vacation with her two cousins, Betty and Dolly.
3. While they played in the water, their uncle took a picture of their sweet smiles.
4. Both cousins held the hands of the poet’s mother, who was the oldest of the girls.
5. This was before the poet was even born.
6. Time has passed since then, and everyone in the photo has changed, but the sea remains the same.
7. About twenty or thirty years later, her mother would look at the photo and laugh, filled with nostalgia.
8. Now, for the poet, her mother’s laughter and the beach holiday are memories of the past.
9. Her mother passed away around 12 years ago.
10. The stillness of the photo also quiets the poet’s heart.
11. She feels a deep sense of loss.
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