Welcome to “I Remember I Remember Workbook Solution: ICSE Treasure Chest,” where we embark on a journey through the captivating narrative of ICSE English Literature Treasure Chest Part 1. Within these pages, we meticulously unravel the essence of “I Remember I Remember” through comprehensive workbook solutions. This post offers comprehensive answers to multiple-choice and contextual questions, deepening your understanding of this timeless tale. Meet the characters and delve into the nuances of character development and thematic exploration. Each question serves as a gateway to dissecting the text, urging readers to analyze subtle nuances and extract deeper meanings. Contextual inquiries broaden our canvas for exploration, encouraging critical engagement with socio-cultural backdrops and universal themes. Through this examination, readers sharpen analytical skills and develop a profound appreciation for literary craftsmanship. Whether a student navigating ICSE English Literature or an avid reader unraveling beloved stories, “I Remember I Remember Workbook Solutions” promises valuable companionship. Join us on this literary journey as we illuminate the path to understanding, one workbook solution at a time.
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Table of Contents
Poem Summary :
The Poem in Detail
Stanza 1
The poet reminisces his childhood days spent in the house in which he was born and grew up. He remembers a little window in his house through which sunlight I used to peep in. He would see the sun rising and setting at the same time every day. The poet has personified the sun by describing it as ‘He never came a wink too soon/Nor brought long day.’ In the present, the speaker wishes that his life had ended when he was still a child. This shows that the poet believed that his childhood was better than adulthood.
Stanza 2
The poet remembers the beautiful garden in his house full of colourful variety of flowers he enjoyed appreciating as a child. He talks about the red and white roses, the violets, the lily-cups and the lilacs with the robin’s nest. He found the flowers so delicate that he believed that they were made of light. He then remembers the laburnum tree that his brother had planted on one of his birthdays. He adds that though the tree still survives, he misses the time when he had the opportunity to stop and smell the flowers, i.e., appreciate the simple joys of life. This stanza shows how children have the simplicity to enjoy the little joys of life in nature.
Stanza 3
The poet talks about the carefree life of childhood. He recollects the swing from his childhood, which would lift both him and his spirits up. While enjoying the breeze that he could experience when he was on the swing, he wondered if the swallows felt the same rush of air while flying. He thinks that as a child he was free from the burdens of adult life and so felt light. The dip in the summer pools that cooled him as a child can barely calm the heat in his brows. This shows the regrets and sorrows one feels as life moves on. Once again, a contrast is drawn in this stanza between the innocent abandon of childhood and the worry-ridden life of an adult.
Stanza 4
In the last stanza, the poet talks about how as a child, he used to think that the top of a tall fir tree could almost touch the skies i.e., heaven. Now as an adult he knows better. But there is little joy in knowing that the heaven is farther away from what he had imagined it to be as a child. Ignorance is bliss, which is perhaps why children are blissful-and they are protected from a lot of harsh realities of life.
Workbook MCQs :
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
(c) heavy, heavy
(b) light, light
(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 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 tree tops were close to heaven.
Answer: (d) He thought that the tree tops 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: ( For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View )
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: ( For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View )
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: ( For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View )
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: ( For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View )
14. The poet felt the need to make a contrast between the childhood days and adult life because:
(a) childhood was a perfect time.
(c) he disliked his childhood days.
(b) he is happier as an adult.
(d) he was forced to do so.
Answer: ( For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View )
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: ( For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View )
Workbook 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 bome my breath away!
(i) When did the sun come “peeping”? Why?
Answer : In the poem, the sun is described as coming “peeping in at morn.” i.e. the sun comes peeping in the morning. The speaker reminisces about the time when the sun would appear through a little window in their house, suggesting that it came peeping in at an early hour of the morning. The sun’s arrival is depicted as timely and punctual, never coming “a wink too soon” or “bringing too long a day.” The specific time of day is not mentioned, but it can be inferred that the sun would typically rise early in the morning, as is common.
(iI) What do the lines “never came a wink too soon” imply? What is the poet trying to indicate?
Answer : The line “never came a wink too soon” implies that the sun always appeared at the right time, depicted as timely and punctual. The poet is indicating the sun’s consistent and dependable nature, emphasizing a sense of stability and nostalgia.
(iII) Why does the poet wish “the night had borne his breathe away”?
Answer : The line “the night had borne my breath away” suggests the poet for the night to suffocate him to take his breath away. This reveals a more delicate relation that the poet has with his younger self that goes beyond the idea of just a casual fondness for childhood. His yearning for death is a reflection of his extremely tiring and difficult present. The pain that life is causing him is evident in his desire to be gone with the night. It becomes a symbol that represents Hood’s, depressive and gloomy adult self.
(iV) Describe in your own words the imagery portrayed in this extract.
Answer : In this extract, the poet recalls a vivid image of a small window through which the morning sun would gently peek into their house. The imagery captures a sense of innocence and simplicity. The sun’s arrival is described as timely and reliable. The poet’s remembering his birthplace, implies a strong connection between their existence and the house. The phrase “Had borne my breath away” suggests a deep emotional attachment to the house, representing the poet’s very being. The imagery evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing for the past.
(v) Give the significance of the first line of this extract in the poem.
Answer : The first line of the extract, “I remember, I remember,” is significant in setting the nostalgic and reflective tone of the poem. It indicates that the speaker is reminiscing about past memories and experiences. This line serves as a gateway into the speaker’s introspective journey, inviting readers to delve into the poet’s nostalgic reflections and the vivid imagery that follows.
Extract 2
I remember, I remember;
The roses, red and white,
The vi’lets, 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 : The phrase “flowers made of light” is a metaphorical description used by the poet. It suggests that the roses, violets, and lily cups mentioned in the poem possess a radiant and luminous quality. The imagery implies that these flowers exude beauty and brightness, symbolizing their vibrant and enchanting nature. It emphasizes the visual impact and the uplifting effect that these flowers had on the speaker’s memory.
(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 building of a nest by a robin in the lilacs suggests a vibrant and lively environment in the poet’s childhood. The robin’s choice to build its nest in the lilacs highlights the beauty and appeal of the flowers and the nurturing aspect of nature. The absence of the nest now evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing for the past, symbolizing a loss of innocence and a more somber present reality.
(iII)what memories does he have of his brother? Which tree” is living? What does this signify?
Answer : The poet has memories of his brother setting a laburnum tree on his birthday. The specific tree mentioned, the laburnum, is still living. This signifies that despite the passage of time and the changes in the poet’s life, there is still a tangible connection to their past. The living laburnum tree serves as a symbol of continuity and endurance, representing the lasting presence of cherished memories and relationships. It reinforces the poet’s nostalgia and the significance of their brotherly bond, even in the poet’s present-day reflections.
(iV) Briefly describe the garden of the poet’s childhood.Â
Answer : The garden of the poet’s childhood is described through various elements. It is adorned with roses in red and white, violets, and lily-cups, which are portrayed as radiant and luminous. The lilacs in the garden are associated with the robin’s nest and symbolize the vitality of nature. The presence of a living laburnum tree, planted by the poet’s brother on his birthday, adds to the imagery of the garden. Overall, the garden represents a vibrant and harmonious space filled with colorful flowers, the songs of birds, and the enduring beauty of nature.Â
(v) Give the meaning of
(a) The roses, red and white
Answer: This refers to the different colored roses in the poet’s childhood garden, symbolizing the diversity and beauty of his memories.
(b) where my brother set/The laburnum
Answer: This refers to the memory of the poet’s brother planting a laburnum tree in their garden on his birthday, signifying cherished family memories.
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 the poet was swinging, they thought that the air rushing past them must feel as fresh as it does for swallows flying in the sky. The poet imagines the exhilarating sensation of the wind and the freedom it represents. In line 3 of this extract, the figure of speech used is a simile. The poet compares the feeling of the air rushing past them while swinging to the fresh sensation experienced by swallows on the wing.
(iI) What do you understand by swallows on the wing? Who are swallows? Why are they mentioned here?
Answer : ( For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View )
(iII) How did the poet’s spirit fly? What is the state of his spirits now?
Answer : ( For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View )
(iV) How does this extract show the theme of saudade.
Answer : ( For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View )
(v) “And summer pools could hardly cool The fever on my brow!” Explain What the poet meant by these lines.
Answer : ( For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View )
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 heav’n
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 that the slender tops of the fir trees were closely touching or reaching the sky. The poet perceived the trees as being tall and dark, with their tops seemingly connected to the heavens. This perception reflects the innocent imagination and wonder of childhood, where the boundaries between the natural world may have appeared blurred or intertwined.
(iI) Identify any two literary devices used in this extract.
Answer : ( For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View )
(iII) What does he refer to as “childish ignorance”? What is the ‘joy” referred to in the extract?
Answer : ( For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View )
(iV) Why did the poet feel closer to heaven earlier? Why does he feel farther off heaven now?Â
Answer : ( For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View )
(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.Â
Answer : ( For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View )
