NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 1 Poem A Photograph

Author at PW
September 10, 2025
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NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 1 Poem A Photograph:- The poem A Photograph in Class 11 English Hornbill talks about memories, love, and the passage of time. It tells the story of a boy who finds an old photograph of his father as a child. Looking at it, he remembers the past and thinks about how his father’s life has changed over the years. The poem is emotional and shows both the innocence of childhood and the feelings of growing up.

Before solving A Photograph class 11 questions and answers, it is very important to read the poem carefully. Understanding what the poet wants to say helps a lot. Students should pay attention to the feelings of the characters and small details in the poem. This makes it easier to solve the photograph class 11 questions and answers because sometimes the questions are written in a tricky way. They are based on the poem, but the way they are asked can be different.

By reading and understanding the poem first, students can answer a class 11 English a photograph question and answer and a class 11 a photograph question and answer correctly. The NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 1 Poem A Photograph will help explain the meaning of lines, themes, and the poet’s message. They also guide students to think about the characters and their emotions. 

Check Out: Class 11th Books

NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 1 Poem A Photograph

Get the class 11 the Photograph question answer from here:-

 Page No. 11

Infer the meanings of the following words from the context

          paddling                                                                                                                                                                                                                   transient

Now look up the dictionary to see if your inference is right.

Answer:

Paddling is rowing a boat or walking in shallow water.

Transient refers to temporary.

Dictionary Meaning:

Paddling is standing or walking in shallow water with bare feet.

Paddling also means rowing a boat.

Paddling is swimming with short movements of feet or hands up and down.

Transient is staying in a place for a short period of time.

Think it Out

1. What does the word ‘cardboard’ denote in the poem? Why has this word been used? 

Answer: In the poem, the word cardboard refers to the photograph, which is stuck on a thick and sturdy paper. This was a common practice in the past when photos were glued onto cardboard and framed with glass to keep them safe and lasting.

 2. What has the camera captured? 

Answer: The photograph shows three girls – the poet’s mother and her two cousins, Dolly and Betty. They are wearing swimsuits, with the poet’s mother in the middle, holding their hands as they walk in the shallow sea water.

3. What has not changed over the years? Does this suggest something to you? 

Answer: Over the years, the sea has remained the same. Its waves are always moving, bright, and fresh, just like in the past. In contrast, the aging of a human face over time is highlighted by the unchanging nature of the sea.

4. The poet’s mother laughed at the snapshot. What did this laugh indicate? 

Answer: This laugh indicates her joy at remembering the incident that connected with her past life, when she was young and free from worries and tensions of life.

5. What is the meaning of the line “Both wry with the laboured ease of loss.” 

Answer: The poet’s mother’s laughter and the sea holiday are memories from the past, bringing both joy and sadness. They are enjoyable yet bittersweet because the happiness felt now seems unnatural or forced.

This feeling of loss is difficult to bear. The phrase laboured ease is an oxymoron, as it combines two opposite ideas—effort and relaxation—to express the deep and conflicting emotions of loss.

6. What does “this circumstance” refer to? 

Answer: “This circumstance” refers to the death of the poet’s mother.

7. The three stanzas depict three different phases. What are they?

Answer:

1. Girlhood of the poet’s mother – The phase before the poet’s birth.

2. Middle age – The phase during the poet’s childhood.

3. Death – The phase after the death of the poet’s mother.

Class 11 Chapter-Wise NCERT Solutions
NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Chapter 1
NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Chapter 2
NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English Chapter 3
NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English Chapter 4
NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English Chapter 5
NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English Chapter 6

How to Use NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English?

Check how to use NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English below:-

1. Read the Poem Carefully

The poem A Photograph is about a boy named Anand who finds an old photograph of his father as a child. Looking at it, he remembers the past and feels emotional. Before attempting a photograph class 11 questions and answers, it is important to read the poem carefully and understand the story and the emotions of the characters.

2. Understand the Characters

The main character is Anand, the boy who recalls memories of his father. His father, although not directly present, is shown through the photograph and Anand’s memories. Understanding the feelings of Anand and his father is important for solving the photograph class 11 questions and answers.

3. Focus on Key Incidents

The poem describes Anand seeing the photograph, remembering his father’s childhood, and realising the passage of time. He notices the differences between his father as a child and as an adult. Remembering these incidents helps in answering a class 11 English a photograph question and answer correctly.

4. Learn the Themes

The poem highlights themes like childhood memories, love, loss, and the passage of time. These themes are often asked in class 11 a photograph question and answer. Students should link lines from the poem to these ideas for better answers.

5. Notice Literary Devices

The poet uses imagery, similes, and metaphors to show emotions and memories. Words like “old photograph” and “childhood smile” create a picture in the reader’s mind. Noting these devices helps in solving the class 11 English poem A photograph question answer effectively.

6. Use NCERT Solutions Wisely

After reading and understanding the poem, the NCERT solutions can be used to check answers and clarify doubts. They explain lines, themes, and incidents clearly. Following these solutions helps students answer class 11 English chapter a photograph question answer with confidence.

Check Out: Class 11th Question Banks

Poem A Photograph in Class 11 English FAQs

1. What is the poem A Photograph about?

The poem tells the story of a boy named Anand who finds an old photograph of his father as a child. He remembers his father’s childhood and feels emotional about the passage of time.

2. Who is the main character in the poem?

The main character is Anand, the boy who recalls memories of his father through the photograph.

3. What is the theme of the poem?

The poem deals with themes like memories, childhood, love, loss, and the passage of time.

4. Why is the photograph important in the poem?

The photograph helps Anand remember his father’s childhood and the changes over time. It is a symbol of memories and emotions.

5. What literary devices are used in the poem?

The poet uses imagery, similes, and metaphors. For example, descriptions of the photograph and Anand’s feelings create vivid pictures in the mind.

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NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 1 Poem A Photograph