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Tag: Childhood

  • Chapter – 4, English, Hornbill, Poem – 1

    Poem – Childhood

    Poet: Markus Natten

    Pre-text Questions (with answers)

    Q1. What do you think marks the end of childhood?
    Ans. Childhood ends when innocence gives way to awareness—when a child begins to question, reason, and understand the realities of life.

    Q2. Do you believe childhood is lost suddenly or gradually?
    Ans. Childhood is lost gradually; as children grow, their thinking changes and they move into maturity step by step.

    Post-text Questions (with answers)

    A. Understanding the Poem

    Q1. What questions does the poet raise about childhood?
    Ans. He asks when childhood ended—was it when he realized that adults are hypocritical, when he discovered the difference between truth and lies, or when he became aware of individuality?

    Q2. What realization did the poet have about adults?
    Ans. He realized that adults often preach love and goodness but do not practice it, which made him question their honesty.

    Q3. What truth about life did the poet discover?
    Ans. That heaven and hell are not real physical places, but only exist in the human mind and imagination.

    Q4. What is meant by “individuality” in the poem?
    Ans. It means self-awareness—the understanding that each person is unique, with an independent identity and personality.

    Q5. Where does the poet say childhood has gone?
    Ans. He says childhood has gone into some forgotten place, hidden in an infant’s face, symbolising innocence that cannot be regained.

    B. Talking About the Poem

    Q1. Do you think the poet looks at childhood with nostalgia or criticism?
    Ans. With nostalgia. He remembers childhood as a time of innocence, faith, and simplicity, which contrasts with the doubts and complexities of adulthood.

    Q2. What message does the poem convey?
    Ans. That childhood is a stage of purity and wonder, but it inevitably ends as awareness, reasoning, and individuality take over.

    C. Working with Words

    • Hypocrisy → pretending to have virtues one does not follow.

    • Individuality → uniqueness of a person.

    • Innocence → purity, absence of doubt or guilt.

    D. Noticing Form

    • The poem is written in free verse with a reflective, questioning tone.

    • Repetition of the question “When did my childhood go?” emphasises the poet’s search for answers.

    Summary of Childhood

    Markus Natten’s poem Childhood is a reflective exploration of the transition from innocence to experience. The poet contemplates when exactly childhood ends and maturity begins, raising deep philosophical questions about human growth.

    The poem begins with the poet asking when his childhood went away. He suggests several possibilities. Perhaps it ended when he realized that adults often do not practice what they preach. They talk about love and goodness but fail to live up to these ideals. This hypocrisy made the poet question the sincerity of grown-ups. Childhood, in contrast, was a stage of unquestioning faith.

    The poet then considers another possibility. Maybe childhood ended when he discovered that heaven and hell were not real physical places but mere concepts. This realization shattered a part of his innocence. As a child, he believed what he was told, but with reasoning and maturity, he understood that such stories were only symbolic.

    The third possibility is when he became aware of his individuality. Childhood is often marked by dependence and lack of self-identity, but adulthood comes with the realization that every human being is unique, with independent thoughts, choices, and responsibilities. This awareness may mark the end of innocence and the beginning of maturity.

    Despite these reflections, the poet acknowledges that childhood is never truly gone—it hides in “some forgotten place,” perhaps visible in the pure face of an infant. Childhood remains as a symbol of innocence, untouched by hypocrisy, reasoning, or self-consciousness.

    The poem captures the universal human experience of growing up. It shows how loss of innocence is both natural and inevitable. Childhood is marked by trust, simplicity, and wonder, but maturity brings doubt, logic, and individuality. This shift is not necessarily negative but highlights the complexity of human development.

    The structure of the poem—with repeated questioning—mirrors the poet’s confusion and search for answers. The use of free verse and reflective tone adds to its philosophical quality.

    In essence, Childhood is not about a specific time but about a mental shift. It reflects the bittersweet reality of growing up—where one gains self-awareness but loses the innocence of unquestioned belief. Through this poem, Markus Natten reminds readers of the beauty of childhood and the inevitability of change.

    Biography of Markus Natten

    Markus Natten is a contemporary Norwegian poet best known for his reflective poem Childhood, which is widely studied in schools and universities. Though not a very prolific poet, Natten has gained recognition for his ability to capture deep philosophical ideas in simple language.

    Born in Norway in the 20th century, Markus Natten grew up in a literary environment that valued nature, introspection, and philosophical questioning—qualities that strongly influence his writing. Details of his personal life remain relatively private, but his work reveals a deep concern with universal human experiences such as growth, innocence, and the search for meaning.

    Childhood, his most famous poem, explores the transition from innocence to awareness, questioning when exactly childhood ends. Natten uses simple, conversational language to reflect profound thoughts, making the poem accessible to young readers while still resonating with adults. This ability to balance simplicity with depth is a hallmark of his style.

    Natten’s poetry is often associated with themes of identity, philosophy, and human development. He does not use ornate language or rigid structures. Instead, he prefers free verse, allowing his ideas to flow naturally, almost like a conversation.

    His work reflects the Scandinavian tradition of introspection and simplicity, echoing broader European philosophical ideas. By blending personal reflection with universal concerns, Natten ensures that his poetry remains timeless.

    Although Childhood is part of the NCERT Class 11 English textbook Hornbill, his writings are appreciated beyond classrooms. The poem resonates globally because every individual experiences the bittersweet passage from childhood to adulthood.

    Natten’s contribution lies not in a vast body of work but in his clarity of thought and philosophical depth. Through a single poem, he has managed to provoke generations of students and readers to reflect on their own lives, questioning when and how innocence gives way to maturity.

    Even though Markus Natten is not a household name like other great poets, his poem Childhood has earned him a lasting place in literary studies. By raising questions without fixed answers, he teaches readers that growth is complex and subjective.

    Thus, Markus Natten’s legacy lies in the way his poetry helps readers explore themselves. Through Childhood, he gives voice to universal emotions, making him a significant yet understated poet of our times.