Poem The Living Photograph: HOTs Questions + Answers
HOTs QUESTIONS:
1. Why do you think the
grandmother wore flat shoes?
Most probably because she is aging and cannot wear
heeled-shoes.
2. Why do you think the
grandmother became small?
She became small because she had aged and her back had
hunched.
3. Why did the grandmother’s
back become round and hunched?
This is because she is aging and her bones are weaker.
4. According to the persona,
where has the grandmother gone and why ‘there she is still’?
Her grandmother had passed away and gone to the awful
place.
5. Why is the smile described
as still living and breathing?
Most probably the photograph is very well taken.
6. Why did the grandmother go
to that awful place?
She became old and passed away.
7. Why was the place described
as awful?
No one has been there and persona can no longer see or
talk to her grandmother.
8. How do we know that the
grandmother looked prim and proper?
She was properly dressed in white broderie anglaise
shirt with pleated skirt and flat shoes.
9. ‘white hand in black hand’
What other feature mentioned in the stanza tell us the
grandmother’s race? Provide reason to support your answer.
Feature: Blue eyes
Reason: The persona is black and the grandmother
is white
10. ‘Her soup
forgot to boil’
What other thing do you think the grandmother was
likely to forget to do? Give a reason to support your answer.
Thing: Where she placed her spectacles or forgot
to turn on the kettle
Reason: As one gets older, its normal to be
forgetful.
......................................................................................................................................
1. Why do you think her soup
forgot to boil?
She was old and forgetful/absent-minded
2. Quality Evidence
Kind " a kind old smile"
Protective/caring " her big hands holds mine"
fearless/ courageous " look her own death in the eye"
friendly " the crinkled smile is still living"
3. 'she went to the awful place
grandmothers go...'
Do you think the persona understands about death? Provide a reason for answer,
Do you think the persona understands about death? Provide a reason for answer,
Understanding: No, I don't think she understands
death.
Reason: She mentions the place as awful, unknown and unthinkable when normally heaven is described as beautiful.
Reason: She mentions the place as awful, unknown and unthinkable when normally heaven is described as beautiful.
4. 'But there she is still'
How do you think the persona feels when she looks at the photograph? Provide a reason for your answer.
How do you think the persona feels when she looks at the photograph? Provide a reason for your answer.
Feeling : She feels happy and loved.
Reason : She mentions that the grandmother's crinkled smile is still living and breathing as though her grandmother is still standing beside her
Reason : She mentions that the grandmother's crinkled smile is still living and breathing as though her grandmother is still standing beside her
5. Give one moral value one can
learn from the poem.
The poem teaches us
that we must spend time with our loved ones because when they pass away,
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