Memories of Childhood Class 12 Questions and Answers 2024″ serves as a valuable resource for CBSE Class 12 students. It includes essential Q&A sourced from NCERT, supplemented by notable additional questions from ‘Vistas,’ the Class XII (Core Course) English Reader.
Summary of Memories of Childhood
Memories of Childhood” recounts the poignant experiences of Zitkala-Sa and Bama, two women from marginalized communities. Zitkala-Sa, a Native American, grapples with the forcible assimilation into Western culture, facing the erosion of her cultural identity. Meanwhile, Bama confronts racial discrimination in her South Indian upbringing. Both narratives vividly depict the struggles of oppression, loss of innocence, and the enduring impact on their lives. Yet, within these tales of hardship, resilience emerges as a powerful theme. Zitkala-Sa and Bama find strength in their adversities, using their experiences to fuel a courageous resistance against the injustices they face, showcasing the transformative power that arises from confronting and overcoming oppression.
Translation
बचपन की यादें” हाशिए पर रहने वाले समुदायों की दो महिलाओं ज़िटकला-सा और बामा के मार्मिक अनुभवों को याद करती हैं। ज़िटकला-सा, एक मूल अमेरिकी, अपनी सांस्कृतिक पहचान के क्षरण का सामना करते हुए, पश्चिमी संस्कृति में जबरन आत्मसात होने से जूझती है। इस बीच, बामा का सामना होता है उनके दक्षिण भारतीय पालन-पोषण में नस्लीय भेदभाव। दोनों कथाएँ उत्पीड़न के संघर्ष, मासूमियत की हानि और उनके जीवन पर स्थायी प्रभाव को स्पष्ट रूप से दर्शाती हैं। फिर भी, कठिनाई की इन कहानियों के भीतर, लचीलापन एक शक्तिशाली विषय के रूप में उभरता है। ज़िटकला-सा और बामा पाते हैं अपनी प्रतिकूल परिस्थितियों में ताकत, अपने अनुभवों का उपयोग करके उन अन्यायों के खिलाफ साहसी प्रतिरोध को बढ़ावा देना, परिवर्तनकारी शक्ति का प्रदर्शन करना जो उत्पीड़न का सामना करने और उस पर काबू पाने से उत्पन्न होती है।
People also ask
Q3 Memories of Childhood Class 12 Questions and Answers MCQ Extract Based 1
Read the following extract and choose the correct option.
A. I cried aloud, shaking my head all the while until I felt the cold blades of the scissors against my neck, and heard them gnaw off one of my thick braids. Then I lost my spirit. Since the day I was taken from my mother I had suffered extreme indignities. People had stared at me. I had been tossed about in the air like a wooden puppet. And now my long hair was shingled like a coward’s! In my anguish I moaned for my mother, but no one came to comfort me. Not a soul reasoned quietly with me, as my own mother used to do; for now I was only one of many little animals driven by a herder.
i ‘Then I lost my spirit’. Choose the option that DOES NOT refer to ‘spirit’.
1. resolve
2. energy
3. determination
4. indifference
5. enthusiasm
6. will power
a) 1, 2 and 5
b) 2, 4 and 6
c) 1, 3 and 6
d) 3, 4 and 6
Ans: c) 1, 3 and 6
ii Look at the given images of books. Which of the following conveys the idea of the extract? (1) (2) (3) (4)
a) Option 1
b) Option 2
c) Option 3
d) Option 4
Ans: d) Option 4
a) austere
b) apathetic
c) dismal
d) resentful
Ans: c) dismal
iv Choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below.
Statement 1: The author had been subjected to humiliation when she was separated from her mother.
Statement 2: Nobody was able to ease her distress and empathise with her.
a) Statement 1 is true but Statement 2 is false.
b) Statement 1 is false but Statement 2 is true.
c) Both Statement 1 and Statement cannot be inferred from the passage
d) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 can be inferred from the passage.
Ans: d) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 can be inferred from the passage.
Q3 Memories of Childhood Class 12 Questions and Answers MCQ Extract Based 2
Read the following extract and choose the correct option.
B. When I heard this, I didn’t want to laugh any more, I felt terribly sad. How could they believe that it was disgusting if one of us held that package in his hands, even though the vadai had been wrapped first in a banana leaf, and then parcelled in paper? I felt so provoked and angry that I wanted to touch those wretched vadais myself straightaway. Why should we fetch and carry for these people, I wondered. Such an important elder of ours goes meekly to the shops to fetch snacks and hands them reverently, bowing and shrinking, to this fellow who just sits there and stiffs them into his mouth. The thought of it infuriated me.
i The elder handing snacks reverently, bowing and shrinking to the fellow indicates that the ‘fellow’ was
1. condescending.
2. unassuming.
3. submissive.
4. disdainful.
5. aggressive
6. domineering.
a) 2, 3 and 6
b) 1, 4 and 5
c) 1, 4 and 6
d) 2, 3 and 4
Ans: c) 1, 4 and 6
a) at the end of one’s tether
b) be in a black mood
c) up in arms
d) throw up one’s hands
Ans: d) throw up one’s hands
iii Based on the given context, choose the option that illustrates when a person can be provoked, out of the examples given below.
| 1. The employees organised a peaceful protest outside the firm. | 2. The manager ill-treated one of the employees and wrongfully terminated him. |
| 3. The employees wrote a letter of complaint against the manager. | 4. The director of the firm scheduled a meeting for reconciliation. |
a) Option 1
b) Option 2
c) Option 3
d) Option 4
Ans: b) Option 2
iv The given extract DOES NOT talk about
a) author’s realisation of her misconception.
b) elders being ill-treated in her society.
c) the haughtiness of the ‘fellow’.
d) how the author was enraged.
Ans: b) elders being ill-treated in her society.
Q 5 Memories of Childhood Class 12 Questions and Answers Stand Alone MCQs
i The chapter ‘We Too are Human Beings’ is __________ the book named ‘Karukku’ by Bama.
a) a preface to
b) the blurb for
c) an excerpt from
d) the foreword of
Ans: c) an excerpt from
ii “Among our people, short hair was worn by mourners, and shingled hair by cowards!” This statement is an example of
a) a belief
b) an opinion
c) a myth
d) a fallacy
Ans: a) a belief
iii In the light of the following statement, choose the option that lists the characteristics of Zitkala-Sa.
“No I will not submit! I will struggle first!”
1. servile
2. audacious
3. cocky
4. brash
5. resolute
6. gutsy
a) 1, 2 and 5
b) 2, 5 and 6
c) 1, 3 and 5
d) 2, 4 and 6
Ans: b) 2, 5 and 6
iv “At times, people from various political parties would arrive put up a stage and harangue us through their mikes.” In which of the following options is the word ‘harangue’ NOT used correctly?
a) The director would often harangue his employees.
b) The professor had no right to harangue by the student.
c) The harangue of the student was applauded by the audience.
d) As the man moved closer, he began to harangue uncontrollably.
Ans: c) The harangue of the student was applauded by the audience
Q11 Memories of Childhood Class 12 Questions and Answers in 30-40 words
i Zitkala-Sa mentions the indignities she had to suffer as a child. How do such indignities break the morale of a child?
Ans: Zitkala-Sa and Bama both recount childhood memories marked by indignities, describing how such experiences can shatter a child’s morale. The emotional and psychological impact of these hardships lingers, affecting self-esteem and resilience, ultimately shaping the individual’s perception of themselves and the world.
ii Bama’s innocence was lost when she came face to face with the ugly truth of racial discrimination. Do you think children who have a difficult childhood become even more resolute than children who have a comfortable one?
Ans: Experiencing the harsh reality of racial discrimination, Bama lost her innocence. While difficult childhoods can foster resilience, it’s not universal. Some children may become more resolute, drawing strength from adversity, while others may struggle to overcome the challenges, impacting their resilience.
iii “Where there is oppression, there will be resistance.” Comment on this statement with reference to the story.
Ans: In the context of the story, the statement holds true. Zitkala-Sa and Bama’s narratives reveal how oppression sparks resistance. Whether facing cultural suppression or racial discrimination, both women respond with resilience, asserting their identities and fighting against the injustices they encounter.
iv Children relish the small pleasures of life just like Bama did when she dawdled along on her way back from school, enjoying all the novelties. Elaborate.
Ans: Bama’s joy in the simple pleasures of life is evident as she leisurely strolls home from school, relishing the novelties around her. This highlights the resilience of a child’s spirit, finding delight in ordinary moments despite any challenges or hardships they may face.
Q 13 Memories of Childhood Class 12 Questions and Answers in 120-150 words
i Imagine your school has organised a panel discussion on ‘Oppression and Its Evils.’ You are one of the speakers. As part of your address, you are required to reflect on the lessons and ideas from the story, ‘Memories of Childhood’. Draft the address.
You may begin like this:
Good morning ladies and gentlemen! It is a pleasure to be given an opportunity to speak today. I would like to begin by quoting James Baldwin, ‘Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.’ Tolerating oppression in any form is…
Ans: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak today. I’ll start by quoting James Baldwin, who said, ‘Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.’ Tolerating oppression in any form is a grave injustice that requires our attention and action.
Reflecting on ‘Memories of Childhood,’ the narratives of Zitkala-Sa and Bama vividly illustrate the enduring impact of oppression. These stories underscore the importance of acknowledging the harsh realities faced by individuals subjected to cultural suppression and racial discrimination. Zitkala-Sa and Bama’s resilience in the face of adversity teaches us that the spirit can endure, but it also compels us to question why such oppression exists in the first place.
The stories emphasize the need for empathy, understanding, and collective action to dismantle systems of oppression. As we engage in this panel discussion, let us commit ourselves to confronting the evils of oppression, fostering environments of inclusivity, and working towards a future where no child has to endure the hardships depicted in these powerful narratives. Thank you.
Write down their discussion in a creative way, with reference to their experiences.
Ans: Underneath the shade of a sprawling oak tree, Zitkala-Sa and Bama found solace in sharing their stories, the echoes of their marginalized lives intertwining like the roots beneath the earth.
Zitkala-Sa spoke of the forced assimilation, of being torn from her Native American heritage. “But from the ashes of cultural suppression,” she said, “rose the flames of my resilience.”
Bama, with eyes reflecting her own struggles, recounted the harsh truths of racial discrimination. “In those moments of despair,” she explained, “I discovered an unyielding strength within.”
As the two women exchanged experiences, they realized that oppression, though bitter, had been the crucible that forged their spirits. They found in each other’s tales not just shared pain, but a common resolve—a testament to the indomitable strength that arises when the marginalized unite against the forces that seek to diminish them.
Extra Memories of Childhood Class 12 Questions and Answers
What scene made Bama laugh loudly?
Ans: In Bama’s narrative, the scene that made her laugh loudly occurred when her grandmother imitated a fussy schoolteacher, mimicking the strictness and peculiar mannerisms. The humor in this moment provided Bama with a joyous respite from the challenges of her South Indian childhood.
What did Bama’s brother want her to do why?
Ans: Bama’s brother wanted her to marry the man of his choice because he believed it would secure her future and protect her from the economic hardships the family faced.
Practical considerations and concern for Bama’s well-being drove the decision.The decision was driven by practical considerations and concern for Bama’s well-being.
What advice did Bama’s brother give her so that she may overcome from any situation in her life?
Ans: Bama’s brother advised her to prioritize education and be self-reliant, emphasizing that knowledge would empower her to overcome any challenges in life. This counsel reflected a belief in the transformative power of education for resilience and independence.
What type of child was Bama?
Ans: Bama was a resilient and curious child. Despite facing hardships and discrimination as a Dalit girl in South India, she maintained a spirited outlook. Her willingness to question societal norms and pursue education showcased her determination to break free from oppressive circumstances.
What is Bama’s brother name?
Ans: The information available to me does not explicitly mention Bama’s brother by name. You may find the specific name of Bama’s brother in the detailed content of the text or source material related to Bama’s life and experiences.
What made Bama sad and angry?
Ans: Caste-based discrimination saddened and angered Bama as a Dalit girl in South India. The unjust treatment, social prejudices, and restrictions imposed on her due to her lower caste status fueled her emotions of sorrow and frustration.
What made Bama laugh?
Ans: Bama found laughter in her grandmother’s amusing imitation of a strict schoolteacher. The comedic portrayal, complete with exaggerated mannerisms, provided a brief but joyous escape from the challenges and hardships of Bama’s life as a Dalit girl in South India.
How was Bama inspired?
Ans: Her brother’s advice to prioritize education and be self-reliant inspired Bama. This guidance fueled her determination to overcome societal prejudices and pursue knowledge, shaping her resilience and commitment to breaking free from oppressive circumstances as a Dalit girl in South India.
Why did Bama feel terribly?
Ans: Bama felt terribly due to the caste-based discrimination and social prejudices she encountered as a Dalit girl in South India. The unjust treatment and restrictions imposed on her because of her lower caste status caused deep emotional distress and frustration.
Did Bama experience untouchability?
Ans: Yes, Bama did experience untouchability. As a Dalit girl in South India, she faced discrimination and social prejudices associated with her caste. The practice of untouchability, rooted in traditional hierarchies, influenced her daily life and interactions within the community.
Why was Bama’s brother not amused?
Ans: Bama’s brother likely did not find amusement because Bama questioned societal norms and resisted the traditional expectations imposed on her as a Dalit girl. His seriousness reflected the challenges and societal constraints they faced due to their caste status.
How did Bama enjoy while coming from her school?
Ans: Bama enjoyed her journey home from school by dawdling along the way, relishing the simple pleasures and novelties around her. This leisurely stroll provided a joyful respite, allowing her to appreciate the small delights of life despite the challenges she faced as a Dalit girl in South India.
