Get notes, line-by-line explanation, summary, questions and answers, critical analysis, word meanings, extras, and pdf of the poem I Remember, I Remember by Thomas Hood which is part of ICSE Class 9 English (Treasure Chest). However, the notes should only be treated for references and changes should be made according to the needs of the students.
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Evergreen workbook answers/solutions
Multiple Choice Questions
Read the following questions and select the correct option:
1. What is the rhyme scheme used in each stanza of the poem?
(a) abbcdefe
(b) abcbdefe
(c) abcbbdef
(c) abcbdfee
Answer: b) abcbdefe
2. ‘He never came a wink too soon’ ? What does ‘he’ refer to here?
(a) the moon
(c) the sun
(b) the poet’s father
(d) the poet’s brother
Answer: c) the sun
3. Which of these statements is NOT true?
(a) The poet feels miserable as a grown-up man.
(b) The poet laments the loss of childhood innocence.
(c) The poet wishes that he had died in his childhood.
(d) The poet wishes to die now.
Answer: d) The poet wishes to die now.
4. What kind of tree was planted by the poet’s brother?
(a) fir tree
(b) laburnum
(c) rose
(d) oak
Answer: b) laburnum
5. And thought the air must rush as fresh To swallows on the wing.’ Which figure of speech is used in these lines?
(a) simile
(b) metaphor
(c) irony
(d) oxymoron
Answer: a) simile
6. Select the option that correctly displays the traits of the poet’s state of mind as an adult now.
1. Gloomy 2. Happy 3. Bored 4. Excited 5. Thrilled 6. Exhausted
(a) 2, 4 and 5
(b) 2, 4 and 6
(c) 1, 3 and 6
(d) 3, 4 and 5
Answer: c) 1, 3 and 6
7. What is the main idea conveyed by the poem?
(a) that adulthood is a period of gloom and restlessness.
(b) that childhood is the best period in man’s life.
(c) that one must recall one’s childhood.
(d) that childhood memories play an important role in man’s life.
Answer: b) that childhood is the best period in man’s life.
8. That is so heavy now’. What does ‘heavy’ refer to here?
(a) the poet’s spirit now
(b) the swing
(c) the poet’s spirit in childhood
(d) old days of childhood
Answer: a) the poet’s spirit now
9. In the last stanza the poet refers to ‘childish ignorance’. How does he view it as an adult?
(a) sarcastically
(b) positively
(c) negatively
(d) ironically
Answer: d) ironically
10. Which one of these in the poem is associated with childhood freedom?
(a) the sun
(b) the flowers
(c) swing
(d) the fir trees
Answer: c) swing
Comprehension Passages
Passage -1
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
I remember, I remember,
The house where I was born,
The little window where the sun
Came peeping in at morn;
He never came a wink too soon,
Nor brought too long a day,
But now, I often wish the night
Had borne my breath away!
(i) In what mood does the poet recall his childhood? Why?
Answer: The poet recalls his childhood days in a deeply reflective and sentimental mood, pondering over the lost innocence and natural bliss of those happy times. As childhood is usually considered the best period of one’s life unspoiled by the complexities of the world, the poet reminisces about his childhood with a heavy heart.
(ii) How is the sun treated here? Which memory of the poet’s childhood is associated with it?
Answer: The sun is personified in a unique way, as if it were a caring person who would gently wake up the poet every morning by peeping through his window. The poet has fond memories of the sun arriving neither too early nor too late to start his day, associated with the natural rhythm of his childhood.
(iii) What does the poet wish?
Answer: The poet wishes he had died in his blissful childhood.
(iv) What contrast of childhood and adulthood is made by the poet?
Answer: The poet draws a stark contrast between the cheerfulness and innocent wonder of his childhood days versus the melancholy and disillusionment of his adulthood. Childhood brought unchecked joy and harmony with nature, while adulthood has weighed down his spirit with misery, exhaustion, and a yearning for the irrecoverable past.
(v) How does the poet view swinging in his childhood?
Answer: Swinging gave the poet a sense of freedom and thrill in childhood. He felt like a bird flying freely in the air while swinging.
Passage -2
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
I remember, I remember,
The roses, red and white,
The violets, and the lily-cups,
The laburnum on his birth-day,
The tree is living yet!
(i) What has the poet wished earlier in the context?
Answer: The poet has wished earlier that he had died in his childhood.
(ii) ‘Those flowers made of light!’ Explain.
Answer: The poet is referring to the bright and colourful flowers like roses, violets and lilies which delighted him in childhood. Their bright colours seemed to radiate light.
(iii) What is ‘laburnum’? What makes the poet excited about it?
Answer: Laburnum is a tree with hanging yellow flower bunches. The poet is excited because it was planted by his brother on his birthday and is still alive, which reminds the poet of his childhood days.
(iv) Childhood is a period of freedom. Which childhood image in the poem reminds you of this?
Answer: The image of the poet swinging freely like a bird reminds me of the freedom of childhood.
(v) Why does the poet refer to the fir tree tops later in the context?
Answer: The poet refers to the fir tree tops to point out how his perspective has changed from childhood to adulthood. As a child, he thought the tree tops touched the sky but as an adult he realizes it was his childish ignorance.
Passage -3
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
I remember, I remember,
Where I was used to swing,
And thought the air must rush as fresh
To swallows on the wing;
My spirit flew in feathers then,
That is so heavy now,
And summer pools could hardly cool
The fever on my brow!
(i) What did the poet’s brother plant, and when? What is so exciting about it?
Answer: The poet’s brother planted a laburnum tree on his birthday. The poet is excited because the tree is still alive, reminding him of his childhood days.
(ii) How would the poet feel as a child on a swing?
Answer: As a child on the swing, the poet felt light, free and thrilled like a bird flying in the fresh air.
(iii) Elaborate the contrast between ‘then’ (childhood) and ‘now’ (adulthood).
Answer: ‘Then’ symbolizes the poet’s childhood days when his spirit felt free, light and airborne, like a bird gliding effortlessly through the fresh breezy air. The poet uses the metaphor of his spirit flying with feathers to convey the untethered joy and energy of his childhood. ‘Now’ in contrast denotes his current state in adulthood where his spirit feels oppressively heavy, weighed down by the burdens of grown-up sorrows, responsibilities and disconnectedness from the natural world.
(iv) Explain the last line here.
Answer: The metaphorical “fever on my brow” is symbolic of the poet’s restless dissatisfaction and sense of exhaustion as an adult which is in stark contrast to the cooling, calming effect of his childhood days. The “fever” represents the heat of emotions like frustration, stress and misery which the poet experiences now, unlike the relief provided by the pools of water in the carefree summers of his childhood.
(v) Does the poet want to escape from the present harsh realities? Why?
Answer: Yes, the poet wants to escape the gloom and misery of adulthood by reminiscing about his happy childhood. He wishes he had died in childhood to avoid the harsh realities of adulthood.
Passage-4
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
I remember, I remember,
The fir trees dark and high;
I used to think their slender tops
Were close against the sky:
It was a childish ignorance,
But now ’tis little joy
To know I’m farther off from heaven
Than when I was a boy.
(i) In what state of mind does the poet recall his childhood? What do you think has made him nostalgic?
Answer: The poet reminisces about his childhood in a gloomy, wistful state of mind, filled with sadness and longing for the now distant past. The loss of the joyful innocence and unburdened bliss of childhood upon becoming an adult has rendered the poet nostalgic about those perfect, idyllic early years.
(ii) What was the childhood viewpoint about the ‘fir trees’?
Answer: As a child, the poet thought the slender tops of the tall fir trees touched the sky.
(iii) How does the poet view his adulthood ‘wisdom’ as compared to his childhood ‘ignorance’?
Answer: The poet sees his childhood ignorance as blissful innocence which gave him joy. His adulthood wisdom has only distanced him from that heavenly joy.
(iv) Explain the last two lines of the extract.
Answer: The last two lines mean that the poet feels he has drifted farther away from the state of heavenly joy and innocence which he possessed as a child.
(v) What rhyme scheme is employed by the poet here?
Answer: The rhyme scheme is abcbdefe in this stanza and throughout the poem.
Morning Star workbook answers/solutions
Multiple Choice Questions II
1. Why did the flowers seem to be “made of light”?
(a) They were beautiful but delicate
(b) They were white but light
(c) They were of different colours
(d) They were shining in reflection
Answer: (a) They were beautiful but delicate
2. What is a laburnum?
(a) A tree with red flowers
(b) A tree with clusters of white flowers
(c) A tree with clusters of yellow flowers
(d) A shrub with pink flowers
Answer: (c) A tree with clusters of yellow flowers
3. The tree is still living.
(a) and the poet’s life is easy
(b) and the poet likes trees
(c) but the beauty of the poet’s childhood is gone
(d) but the poet dislikes trees
Answer: (c) but the beauty of the poet’s childhood is gone
4. The poet’s spirit was when he was a child and now it is
(a) heavy, light
(b) light, light
(c) heavy, heavy
(d) light, heavy
Answer: (d) light, heavy
5. What is the mood of the poem?
(a) Cheerful
(b) Regretful
(c) Nostalgic
(d) Jolly
Answer: (c) Nostalgic
6. What contrast does the poet draw by talking about the swing and the pools?
(a) The innocence of childhood and the worry-ridden life of an adult
(b) The careless attitude of a child and the cautious attitude of an adult
(c) The healthy life of a child and the woeful life of an adult
(d) There is no contrast
Answer: (a) The innocence of childhood and the worry-ridden life of an adult
7. What shows that the poet was ignorant as a child?
(a) He thought that all trees were the same
(b) He did not look at the trees
(c) He thought that the trees could grow beyond the sky
(d) He thought that the treetops were close to heaven
Answer: (d) He thought that the treetops were close to heaven
8. The poet talks about
(a) his childhood days and innocence
(b) how he enjoys being an adult
(c) his childhood friends
(d) his childhood home
Answer: (a) his childhood days and innocence
9. The poet thought that he was closer to heaven as a child because
(a) he used to pray a lot
(b) he was innocent and did not know the harsh realities of life
(c) he was able to climb a huge tree
(d) he was a responsible child
Answer: (b) he was innocent and did not know the harsh realities of life
10. What is the significance of “summer pools could hardly cool the fever on my brow”?
(a) The pool is warm and could not cool him
(b) The poet does not like to swim
(c) The things that relieved him can barely calm him now
(d) The poet was unwell
Answer: (c) The things that relieved him can barely calm him now
11. The poet’s spirit flew in feathers when he was a child as
(a) he was innocent
(b) he was reckless
(c) he was joyful
(d) he was silent
Answer: (c) he was joyful
12. The poet wishes to go back to his childhood days because
(a) his present is painful
(b) he was happy when he was a child
(c) he did not worry when he was a child
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
13. Why did the poet wish that his life had ended when he was a child?
(a) It was a difficult life as a child
(b) Because his blissful childhood days would have continued
(c) He did not wish to become an adult
(d) He did not want to live now
Answer: (b) Because his blissful childhood days would have continued
14. The poet felt the need to make a contrast between the childhood days and adult life because:
(a) childhood was a perfect time
(b) he disliked his childhood days
(c) he is happier as an adult
(d) he was forced to do so
Answer: (a) childhood was a perfect time
15. Why is there a repetition of the words “I Remember, I Remember”?
(a) To create a musical quality
(b) To emphasise his childhood memories
(c) To show poet’s memory was short-lived
(d) for no reason
Answer: (b) To emphasise his childhood memories
Context Questions
Extract 1
I remember, I remember,
The house where I was born,
The little window where the sun
Came peeping in at morn;
He came a wink too soon,
Nor brought too long a day,
But now, I often wish the night
Had borne my breath away!
(i) When did the sun come “peeping”? Why?
Answer: The sun came “peeping” in the morning through the window, symbolising the start of a new day, often associated with warmth and life.
(ii) What do the lines “never came a wink too soon” imply? What is the poet trying to indicate?
Answer: These lines suggest that, as a child, the poet never found the morning to come too early. The poet is implying that in childhood, days were perfectly balanced, never too long or too short, and filled with contentment.
(iii) Why does the poet wish “the night had borne his breath away”?
Answer: The poet wishes that night had taken his life because adulthood has brought him more hardship, and he longs to escape from his present suffering and disillusionment.
(iv) Describe in your own words the imagery portrayed in this extract.
Answer: The imagery depicts a nostalgic and peaceful morning scene from the poet’s childhood, with the sun gently peeking through the window. It contrasts with the later wish for death, showing a shift from innocence to despair.
(v) Give the significance of the first line of this extract in the poem.
Answer: The first line, “I remember, I remember,” sets the tone for the entire poem, indicating that the poet is reflecting on past memories, contrasting the joy of childhood with the sorrow of adulthood.
Extract 2
I remember, I remember;
The roses, red and white,
The violets, and the lily-cups,
Those flowers made of light!
The lilacs where the robin built,
And where my brother set
The laburnum on his birthday,
The tree is living yet!
(i) What does “flowers made of light” mean?
Answer: “Flowers made of light” symbolises the beauty and purity of the flowers in the poet’s childhood garden, possibly hinting at an ethereal or magical quality.
(ii) What does the building of its nest by a robin in the lilacs suggest? How is the poet affected by its absence now?
Answer: The robin building its nest suggests a sense of life and activity in the garden, representing a time of happiness and life. The absence of the robin now reflects the poet’s feeling of loss and detachment from the simplicity and joy of childhood.
(iii) What memories does he have of his brother? Which tree is “living”? What does this signify?
Answer: The poet remembers his brother planting a laburnum tree on his birthday. The tree is still living, signifying the lasting nature of childhood memories, even as life moves on and changes.
(iv) Briefly describe the garden of the poet’s childhood.
Answer: The poet’s childhood garden was filled with vibrant flowers like roses, violets, and lilies. There were lilacs where robins nested, and the laburnum tree planted by his brother. The garden seems full of life and innocence.
(v) Give the meaning of:
(a) The roses, red and white
Answer: The roses symbolise the beauty and contrast of life, with the red representing vitality or passion and the white symbolising purity or peace.
(b) Where my brother set / The laburnum
Answer: This refers to the poet’s brother planting the laburnum tree on his birthday, a symbolic act that connects the poet’s memories of family and childhood.
Extract 3
I remember, I remember,
Where I was used to swing,
And thought the air must rush as fresh
To swallows on the wing;
My spirit flew in feathers then,
That is so heavy now,
And summer pools could hardly cool
The fever on my brow!
(i) What does the poet think when he was swinging? Which figure of speech is used in line 3 of this extract?
Answer: When swinging, the poet felt as free as the swallows in the air. The figure of speech in line 3 is a simile, as it compares the fresh air rushing to him with the air that swallows experience during flight.
(ii) What do you understand by swallows on the wing? Who are swallows? Why are they mentioned here?
Answer: Swallows are birds known for their graceful, high-speed flight. They are mentioned to evoke a sense of freedom and lightness that the poet associated with his own spirit in childhood.
(iii) How did the poet’s spirit fly? What is the state of his spirits now?
Answer: In childhood, the poet’s spirit felt light and carefree, symbolised by “flying in feathers.” Now, however, his spirit is heavy and burdened by the weight of life, reflecting his loss of joy and innocence.
(iv) How does this extract show the theme of saudade?
Answer: This extract captures the theme of saudade, a deep emotional state of nostalgic longing for something that is lost. The poet yearns for the carefree spirit of his youth, which contrasts with the heaviness and weariness he feels now.
(v) “And summer pools could hardly cool / The fever on my brow!” Explain what the poet meant by these lines.
Answer: These lines suggest that even the soothing elements of nature, like cool summer pools, are no longer enough to bring the poet relief or peace. The “fever” represents the emotional and mental anguish of adulthood.
Extract 4
I remember, I remember,
The fir trees dark and high;
I used to think their slender tops
Were close against the sky:
It was a childish ignorance,
But now ’tis little joy
To know I’m farther off from heaven
Than when I was a boy.
(i) What did the poet think about the fir trees as a child?
Answer: As a child, the poet thought the tops of the fir trees reached the sky, reflecting the wonder and imagination of childhood.
(ii) Identify any two literary devices used in this extract.
Answer: Two literary devices used are:
- Imagery: The description of the tall fir trees evokes a vivid image of the poet’s childhood perspective.
- Metaphor: “Farther off from heaven” is a metaphor for the poet feeling more distant from joy, innocence, or spiritual closeness as an adult.
(iii) What does he refer to as “childish ignorance”? What is the “joy” referred to in the extract?
Answer: “Childish ignorance” refers to the innocent beliefs and perceptions the poet had as a child, such as thinking the fir trees touched the sky. The “joy” is the carefree happiness of childhood, which the poet now feels is lost.
(iv) Why did the poet feel closer to heaven earlier? Why does he feel farther off heaven now?
Answer: The poet felt closer to heaven as a child because he was filled with innocence, wonder, and joy. Now, he feels farther from heaven because adulthood has brought disillusionment and a loss of that purity and happiness.
(v) The last three lines suggest that the poet has lost his youthful joy and optimism. Do you agree? Elaborate with reference to the poem.
Answer: Yes, the last three lines suggest the poet has lost his youthful joy and optimism. He reflects on the contrast between his childhood, filled with hope and wonder, and his present state, marked by sorrow, heaviness, and a sense of disconnection from the innocence and happiness of his youth.
Ron’e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger. He manages Online Free Notes and reads Victorian literature. His favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and he hopes to travel the world. Get in touch with him by sending him a friend request.
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