I REMBER, I REMBER: SUMMARY, GLOSSARY AND QUESTION ANSWERS

 The poet is reminiscing about his childhood and remembering his birthplace, specifically the little window in his house where the sun would shine in during the morning. He notes that the sun never came too early and the day was never too long.

He is reflecting on the carefree nature of childhood, where time seemed to pass more slowly and days were filled with innocence and wonder. but now, as an adult, he often wishes that the night had taken his life instead of having to face the struggles of the day.

 

The second stanza describes the speaker's memories of various flowers and trees from his childhood. The speaker recalls the colours and beauty of roses, violets, and lilies, which he describes as "flowers made of light."

He also remembers the lilacs where a robin (bird species) had built its nest and the laburnum tree that his brother had planted on his birthday, which still stands.

 

In the third stanza, the speaker reminisces about his childhood memories of swinging, and how he imagined the experience to be similar to that of flying birds. He felt light and free, like a bird in flight, and the air rushing past him made him feel energized.

However, now as an adult, the speaker feels weighed down by the burdens of life. Even the cool waters of summer pools cannot ease the feverish feeling of the speaker's brow.

 

In the final stanza, the poet recalls the fir trees that were tall and dark, and how he used to think their thin tops were close to the sky. He acknowledges that this was a childish ignorance, but it was a joyful thought for him as a child.

However, now that he is older, he realizes that he is farther away from heaven than he was when he was a boy and it no longer brings the same joy as before.

Glossary:

wink - close and open one eye quickly

borne - carried or taken away

vi'lets - violet (a plant with bluish-purple flowers)

lily-cups - a plant species

tossing - a small tree with pinkish-violet flowers

robin - a small, brown bird found in Europe

laburnum - a small tree with groups of yellow flowers hanging down

pool - a small area of still water

brow - a person's forehead

fir - a tall evergreen tree that has thin needle-like leaves

slender - thin

ignorance - lack of knowledge

farther off - far away

Comprehension

A. Match the columns.

1. The sun came to the window

2. The child often wished that the

3. The garden around the house

4. The laburnum tree was planted

5. The poet

 

a. had many flowers.

b. reflects on his childhood.

c. night had borne his breath away.

d. every morning, on time.

e. to mark the child's brother's birthday.

 

Ans.

1. The sun came to the window -> d. every morning, on time.

2. The child often wished that the -> c. night had borne his breath away.

3. The garden around the house -> a. had many flowers.

4. The laburnum tree was planted -> e. to mark the child's brother's birthday.

5. The poet -> b. reflects on his childhood.

 

B. Answer the questions with reference to the context.

1. Nor brought too long a day.

a. What did not bring too long a day?

b. Why was the day never too long for the poet?

c. Do you think this line indicates that the poet possibly finds his days long now? Why?

Ans.

a. The sun not bringing too long a day refers to the fact that the sun's arrival at the window marked the beginning of a new day, which was never too long for the poet as a child.

b. The day was never too long for the poet because, as a child, he was carefree and he enjoyed every moment.

c. Yes, this line indicates that the poet possibly finds his days long now. As an adult, the poet may have more responsibilities and worries, making his days feel longer.

2. It was a childish ignorance.

a. What does ‘it’ refer to?

b. Why does the poet refer to it as ‘childish’?

c. Is the poet still as ignorant as he was as a child?

Ans.

a. ‘It’ refers to the poet's childhood belief that the slender tops of the fir trees were close to the heaven.

b. The poet refers to it as childish because, as an adult, he realizes that his understanding of the world was limited and unexperienced.

c. No, the poet is no longer as ignorant as he was as a child. He has gained more knowledge and experience now, which has changed his outlook.

3. To know that I'm farther off from heaven.

a. Why did the poet feel closer to heaven earlier?

b. Why does the poet feel farther off from heaven now?

c. How does the knowledge of being farther away affect the poet?

Ans.

a. The poet felt closer to heaven earlier because, as a child, he had a more innocent and purer viewpoint on the world.

b. The poet feels farther off from heaven now because, as an adult, he has gained more knowledge and experience, which has made him more aware of his own mortality and the complexities of the world.

c. The knowledge of being farther away from heaven affects the poet by making him nostalgic for his childhood innocence and simplicity.

 

C. Answering Questions

1. What does the poet reflect upon in this poem?

2. What does the poet remember about the house where he was born?

3. Why does the poet wish the night had borne his breath away?

4. What surrounded the poet's house?

5. What was the poet's opinion about the trees?

6. The poet cherishes his childhood memories of nature. Read these descriptions Which objects in nature do they refer to in the poem?

a. symbols of beauty and happiness

b. messengers of joyous freedom

c. tall and lofty, reaching up to the sky and hence to God

Ans.

1. The poet reflects upon his childhood memories and his gaining more knowledge and experience with the passing of time.

2. The poet remembers the garden around the house, the laburnum tree, and the sun shining through the window.

3. The poet wishes the night had borne his breath away because he is nostalgic for his childhood and wishes he could have remained in that state of innocence and simplicity, he is not pleased with his present adulthood.

4. The poet's house was surrounded by a garden filled with different types of flowers.

 

5. The poet was a devotee of Nature. He cherished the trees, especially the laburnum tree, which held sentimental bond and nostalgic value for him.

6. The poet cherishes his childhood memories of nature. Read these descriptions Which objects in nature do they refer to in the poem?

a. symbols of beauty and happiness -> the sun, the morning different types of flowers including the laburnum tree

b. messengers of joyous freedom -> the swing and the swallows

c. tall and lofty, reaching up to the sky and hence to God -> the laburnum tree

N.B. The materials are collected from different sources including Meta AI.