PUNISHMENT IN KINDERGARTEN
KAMALA
DAS
In the poem Punishment in Kindergarten,
Kamala Das retains a childhood experience that was very difficult for her. She
was scolded by her teacher for being separated from everyone else and her
classmates also laughed at her that made her weep. The poem has been divided
into three parts. In the first part, the poet examines how her teacher scolded
her. In the second part, she retains her classmates laughing her making her to
weep and in the last part she says that being an adult there is no requirement
for her to memorize this experience.
The poet starts with the line "Today the
world is a little more my own" that clarifies that she will discuss a
previous event that was not wonderful for her. Then, she starts by portraying
the day in her childhood (in Kindergarten) when she went to an excursion along
with other students. The poet utilizes plentiful of images like a blue-frocked
women for her teacher, throwing words at me like pots and pans, to make us to
feel the intensity of teacher's words, the honey-colored for the day which was
demolished by the cruel expressions of her teacher. While other students were
fun and playing together, Kamala Das was sitting alone that was not loved by
her blue-frocked teacher and she scolded her by calling her a peculiar child.
The in the first part the poet portrays the day which was very charming and at
last demolished by her teacher.
In the second part, the poet says when the teacher
scolded her; other students who were tasting sugarcane began laughing at her.
The children, as per Kamala are interesting creatures. They laugh at others'
agonies and they did the same when she was scolded without acknowledging the
amount she was harmed. Being harmed, she concealed her face in the sun-warmed
hedge and smelt the flowers and the pain. The poet associates flowers with
pain. I think she has attempted to compare her childhood and the flower which
is very sensitive. Henceforth she presumably needs to convey that this event
shook her guiltless childhood.
In the last stanza, the poet says that since
she is grown up, the memory of that event has disappeared because that there
isn't anything in her childhood to appreciate and craving for. She enjoys now
found adult peace for example incidentally be saying over and over "No need
to remember" her helplessness in failing to remember it is very
noticeable. The memory has not disappeared yet very clear to her as she recalls
very well everything of that day.
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
1) What does the line, “Today, the world is a
little more my own” mean?
Ans: The poet who is currently an adult has acquired confidence and more
prominent command over her life. She is currently happy with her life. She
experiences acquired an adult peace of mind. Painful incidents in childhood
don't hurt any more. There is nobody like the old teacher who can hurt her due
to her adult perspective.
2) Who was the blue-frocked woman? Why does
the poet remember her?
Ans: A teacher was the blue-frocked woman who scolded the narrator for not
playing with other children. The poet remembers her because she insulted her
with harsh words which put a deep cut on her heart.
3) What hurts more physical punishment or
harsh words?
Ans: The physical pain caused by a physical punishment heals over time, but
harsh words make a more profound cut. Words can make someone extremely upset.
They can make profound hurt that doesn't heal up rapidly. In this manner, harsh
words I think hurt more than physical punishment.
5) Why do you think the
words of the blue rocked woman are muffled now?
Ans: The years have
diluted the intensity of the pain and the adult narrator is able to recount the
incident with an “adult peace”. The years have decreased the power and cruelty
of the destructive incident. Time and an adult perspective have healed the
hurt. The angry Words and laughing faces are ambiguous and hazy.
6) How different is
the world today to the poet?
Ans: The poet is
currently an adult and experiences acquired an adult peace of mind. Painful
incidents in childhood don't hurt any more. She has now acquired confidence and
greater command over her life.
14) What drained the
peace of the “honey colored day”?
Ans: The teacher’s angry words drained the peace of the “honey-colored
day”.
21) What do you
understand by the phrase “adult peace”?
Ans: The phrase “adult peace” means the child is now an adult and has
gained an adult peace of mind. Painful incidents in childhood do not hurt any
more.
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1)
Describe the painful, incident the child experienced in kindergarten?
Ans: On a lovely peaceful day, the kindergarten children were out on a
picnic. The adult narrator recalls this event which occurred during her
childhood. Though the wide range of various children tasted, sugarcane squeeze
and having a great time, the kid was sitting alone and aside from the others.
The blue-frocked teacher who saw this noticed scolded the child and called her
peculiar for not joining others in their good times. On seeing this other
children laughed at her and her tears. Incapable to bear the disgrace and
shame, the child covered her head in the support. The hurt and the pain of that
day waited in the mind of a child. Presently, the years have weakened the power
of the pain and the adult narrator can relate the episode with an "adult
peace".
