Warm-up Questions for A Photograph by Shirley Toulson (Class
11 NCERT)
Use these questions before teaching the poem to activate
students' prior knowledge and encourage discussion.
Personal Connection
Do you like looking at old family photographs? Why or why
not?
Which is your favourite childhood photograph? What does it
remind you of?
If you found a photograph from ten years ago, what memories
would come to your mind?
Have you ever visited a beach or a river? What did you enjoy
there?
How do photographs help us remember special moments?
Thinking Questions
Can a photograph stop time? Why or why not?
Why do people preserve old photographs for many years?
Do you think memories become more valuable as time passes?
Can a happy memory also make us feel sad? Explain with an
example.
What happens to people as time passes? Does nature change in
the same way?
Value-Based Questions
Why should we spend quality time with our parents and
grandparents?
What would you do if you had only one photograph of a loved
one?
Which is more permanent—human life or nature? Why?
What do you learn from old photographs about your family?
If you could go back to one moment from your childhood, which
moment would you choose and why?
Lead-in to the Poem
After the discussion, ask:
"Can one old photograph make us smile, remember the
past, and even bring tears to our eyes?"
Then introduce the poem:
**"Today we will study A Photograph by Shirley Toulson.
In this poem, an old photograph reminds the poet of her mother's childhood, the
passage of time, and the pain of losing a loved one. The poem beautifully
contrasts the permanence of nature with the transience of human life."
Lesson Plan – A Photograph by Shirley Toulson (Class 11
English – NCERT Hornbill)
General Information
Class: XI
Subject: English
Book: Hornbill
Poem: A Photograph
Poet: Shirley Toulson
Duration: 40–45 minutes
Teaching Method: Interactive, Discussion, Explanation,
Question–Answer
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
Understand the theme and central idea of the poem.
Explain the symbolism used in the poem.
Identify poetic devices.
Infer the meanings of difficult words from context.
Appreciate the emotions of love, memory, loss, and the
passage of time.
Answer CBSE board-style questions confidently.
Teaching Aids
NCERT Hornbill Textbook
Smart Board/Projector
Photograph of an old family picture
Whiteboard and Marker
Previous Knowledge Testing (Warm-up)
Ask students:
Do you have an old family photograph?
What memories come to your mind when you see it?
Have you ever missed someone you loved?
Can a photograph bring back old memories?
Does nature change as quickly as human life?
(Expected responses: Yes, memories, happiness, sadness,
childhood.)
Introduction (5 Minutes)
Show an old family photograph.
Ask:
What can a photograph tell us?
Can a photograph stop time?
Why do people preserve old photographs?
Introduce the poem:
"Today we are going to study A Photograph, a beautiful
poem in which Shirley Toulson remembers her late mother through an old
photograph. The poem beautifully explores childhood, memories, time, and
loss."
Model Reading (5 Minutes)
Teacher reads the poem with proper pronunciation, stress,
pause, and intonation.
Students follow silently.
Difficult words are explained.
Detailed Explanation (15 Minutes)
Explain stanza by stanza.
Stanza 1
Mother and her two cousins are enjoying a holiday.
Uncle clicks a photograph.
Mother is about twelve years old.
Sea remains unchanged.
Human life is temporary.
Stanza 2
Years later mother laughs while looking at the photograph.
She recalls childhood memories.
Poet remembers her mother's laughter.
Stanza 3
Mother is now dead.
Poet feels deep grief.
Silence expresses pain better than words.
Vocabulary Development
Teach words:
Cardboard
Paddling
Snapshot
Transient
Wry
Laboured ease
Circumstance
Silence
Poetic Devices
Students identify:
Alliteration
Personification
Oxymoron
Contrast
Imagery
Symbolism
Theme Discussion
Discuss:
Childhood memories
Love between mother and daughter
Passage of time
Permanence of nature
Transience of human life
Pain of loss
Classroom Interaction
Ask:
Why has the sea changed less than human beings?
Expected Answer: Because nature is permanent whereas human
life is temporary.
What does the photograph symbolize?
Expected Answer: It symbolizes memories and the passage of
time.
Why does the poet say "Its silence silences"?
Expected Answer: Because grief becomes so deep that words
fail.
Blackboard Work
Write:
Theme Time changes human life but not nature.
Central Idea The poem shows that photographs preserve
memories while life keeps moving forward.
Assessment Questions
Very Short Answer
Who clicked the photograph?
How old was the poet's mother?
What were they doing?
Short Answer
Why does the poet compare the sea with human life?
Long Answer
Explain the theme of the poem.
Learning Outcome
Students can:
Explain the poem confidently.
Identify poetic devices.
Understand symbolism.
Write CBSE board answers.
Appreciate the emotional message of the poem.
Home Assignment
Write the summary of the poem in 150 words.
Learn difficult words with meanings.
Write five symbols used in the poem with explanations.
Prepare five important board examination questions from the
poem.
Value-Based Learning
The poem teaches us to:
Value family memories.
Respect our parents and elders.
Understand that time never stops.
Accept that life is temporary while memories remain forever.
A Photograph – Shirley Toulson
Stanza-wise Translation, Bhavarth (भावार्थ), Deep Explanation & Word Meanings
(Class 11 NCERT – Hornbill)
Stanza 1
The cardboard shows me how it was When the two girl cousins
went paddling, Each one holding one of my mother's hands, And she the big
girl—some twelve years or so. All three stood still to smile through their hair
At the uncle with the camera. A sweet face, My mother's, that was before I was
born. And the sea, which appears to have changed less, Washed their terribly
transient feet.
Hindi Translation (Line by Line)
The cardboard shows me how it was → यह तस्वीर लगी हुई गत्ता (कार्डबोर्ड)
मुझे दिखाता है कि उस समय सब कुछ कैसा था।
When the two girl cousins went paddling, → जब मेरी माँ अपनी दो चचेरी बहनों के
साथ समुद्र के किनारे उथले पानी में खेल रही थीं।
Each one holding one of my mother's hands, → दोनों बहनें मेरी माँ का एक-एक हाथ
पकड़े हुए थीं।
And she the big girl—some twelve years or so. → मेरी माँ उनमें सबसे बड़ी थीं, लगभग बारह वर्ष की।
All three stood still to smile through their hair → तीनों कैमरे के सामने मुस्कुराने के
लिए स्थिर होकर खड़ी हो गईं। हवा के कारण बाल चेहरे पर आ रहे थे।
At the uncle with the camera. → वे अपने अंकल की ओर देख रही थीं, जिनके हाथ में कैमरा था।
A sweet face, my mother's, that was before I was born. → मेरी माँ का चेहरा बहुत प्यारा था। यह
तस्वीर मेरे जन्म से पहले की है।
And the sea, which appears to have changed less, → समुद्र आज भी लगभग वैसा ही दिखाई देता
है; उसमें बहुत कम परिवर्तन आया है।
Washed their terribly transient feet. → समुद्र की लहरें उनके उन पैरों को छू
रही थीं, जो मनुष्य के जीवन की तरह बहुत
क्षणभंगुर (अस्थायी) थे।
Deep Explanation
The poet looks at an old family photograph. It was taken
before she was born. Her mother, around twelve years old, is standing happily
with her two cousins at the beach. They are smiling innocently while their
uncle clicks the photograph.
The most important contrast in this stanza is between the sea
and human life. The sea has remained almost unchanged for decades, but the
little girls have grown up, and the poet's mother has now died. This contrast
highlights the permanence of nature and the temporary nature of human life.
Bhavarth (भावार्थ)
इस पद्यांश में कवयित्री अपनी माँ के बचपन की एक पुरानी तस्वीर देखती
है। तस्वीर में माँ अपनी दो बहनों के साथ समुद्र तट पर खेल रही हैं। वे बहुत खुश
हैं और कैमरे की ओर मुस्कुरा रही हैं। कवयित्री बताती है कि मनुष्य का जीवन क्षणभंगुर
है, जबकि प्रकृति (समुद्र) सदैव लगभग एक
जैसी रहती है।
Word Meanings
Cardboard – गत्ता
Paddling – उथले पानी में खेलना
Cousins – चचेरी/ममेरी बहनें
Sweet – प्यारा
Camera – कैमरा
Sea – समुद्र
Changed less – बहुत कम बदला
Washed – लहरों द्वारा छूना
Transient – क्षणभंगुर, अस्थायी
Stanza 2
Some twenty-thirty years later She'd laugh at the snapshot.
"See Betty And Dolly," she'd say, "And look how they dressed us
For the beach." The sea holiday Was her past, mine is her laughter. Both
wry With the laboured ease of loss.
Hindi Translation
बीस-तीस वर्ष बाद मेरी माँ इस तस्वीर को देखकर हँसती थीं।
वे कहती थीं—
"देखो, यह बेट्टी और डॉली हैं। देखो, हमें समुद्र तट पर जाने के लिए कैसे
कपड़े पहनाए गए थे।"
वह समुद्र तट की छुट्टी उनकी याद थी। मेरे लिए उनकी हँसी ही सबसे
बड़ी याद है।
दोनों यादें सुखद भी हैं और दुखद भी, क्योंकि उनमें बिछड़ने का दर्द छिपा है।
Deep Explanation
Years later, the poet's mother would laugh while looking at
this old photograph. She lovingly remembered her childhood vacation and joked
about the clothes they wore.
For the mother, the photograph reminded her of a happy
holiday. For the poet, the mother's laughter while remembering that holiday has
itself become a memory because her mother is no longer alive.
The expression "Both wry with the laboured ease of
loss" means that both memories carry hidden sadness. People smile while
remembering the past, but deep inside they feel the pain of loss.
Bhavarth
इस पद्यांश में माँ अपने बचपन की तस्वीर देखकर हँसती थीं और पुरानी
यादों को याद करती थीं। लेकिन अब माँ भी इस दुनिया में नहीं हैं। इसलिए कवयित्री
के लिए माँ की हँसी ही एक अनमोल स्मृति बन गई है। सुखद यादों के साथ बिछड़ने का
दर्द भी जुड़ा रहता है।
Word Meanings
Snapshot – तस्वीर
Dressed – कपड़े पहनाना
Holiday – छुट्टियाँ
Past – अतीत
Laughter – हँसी
Wry – दुख और मुस्कान का मिश्रण
Laboured ease – कठिनाई से दिखाई गई सहजता
Loss – वियोग, खोना
Stanza 3
Now she's been dead nearly as many years As that girl lived.
And of this circumstance There is nothing to say at all. Its silence silences.
Hindi Translation
अब मेरी माँ को मरे हुए लगभग उतने ही वर्ष हो गए हैं, जितने वर्ष उन्होंने जीवित रहकर बिताए
थे।
इस परिस्थिति के बारे में कहने के लिए कुछ भी नहीं है।
इसका मौन ही मुझे भी मौन कर देता है।
Deep Explanation
The poet realizes that her mother has now been dead for almost
as many years as she lived before the photograph was taken. This thought fills
her with deep sorrow.
The grief is so intense that words become meaningless. The
line "Its silence silences" shows that true sorrow cannot always be
expressed through language. Silence itself communicates the depth of pain.
Bhavarth
इस अंतिम पद्यांश में कवयित्री अपनी माँ की मृत्यु को याद करती है।
उनका दुःख इतना गहरा है कि वह उसे शब्दों में व्यक्त नहीं कर सकती। यहाँ मौन ही
सबसे बड़ी अभिव्यक्ति बन जाता है। कविता हमें सिखाती है कि समय सब कुछ बदल देता है, लेकिन यादें हमेशा हमारे साथ रहती हैं।
Word Meanings
Dead – मृत
Circumstance – परिस्थिति
Silence – मौन
Silences – मौन कर देता है
Overall Message of the Poem
The poem beautifully contrasts the permanence of nature (the
sea) with the transience of human life. While people z
Line: "Both wry with the laboured ease of loss"
This is one of the most important and difficult lines in the
poem. It expresses mixed emotions of happiness and sadness.
Hindi Translation (अनुवाद)
"Both wry with the laboured ease of loss."
अनुवाद: दोनों यादें (माँ की समुद्र-तट की छुट्टी और कवयित्री के लिए
माँ की हँसी की याद) वियोग के दुःख को कठिनाई से छिपाते हुए हल्की-सी मुस्कान लिए
हुए हैं।
या सरल भाषा में:
दोनों स्मृतियाँ ऐसी हैं जिनमें खुशी भी है और बिछड़ने का दर्द भी
छिपा हुआ है।
Word-by-Word Meaning
Both
Literal Meaning: Both memories (mother's sea holiday and
poet's memory of her mother's laughter).
Hindi: दोनों स्मृतियाँ।
Wry
Literal Meaning: A smile mixed with sadness or irony.
Hindi: दुखभरी मुस्कान, हल्की व्यंग्यपूर्ण मुस्कान।
According to the poem: The mother smiled while remembering
her childhood. The poet also smiles while remembering her mother, but both
smiles contain hidden sorrow.
Laboured
Literal Meaning: Done with effort; difficult.
Hindi: कठिनाई से, प्रयासपूर्वक।
Ease
Literal Meaning: Comfort, naturalness.
Hindi: सहजता।
Laboured Ease
Literal Meaning: Forced or artificial ease.
Hindi: बनावटी सहजता,
कठिनाई से दिखाई गई सामान्यता।
According to the poem: Both the mother and the poet try to
appear happy while remembering the past, but deep inside they are emotionally
hurt.
Loss
Literal Meaning: Separation or death of a loved one.
Hindi: वियोग, खोना।
Deep Explanation
The poet compares two memories:
The mother's memory of her happy childhood holiday at the
beach.
The poet's memory of her mother's laughter while looking at
that photograph.
At first, both memories seem joyful because they are
connected with happy moments. However, underneath this happiness lies a deep
sense of loss.
The mother's childhood can never return.
The poet's mother has passed away and can never laugh again.
Therefore, both memories are "wry"—they bring a
smile, but also tears. The phrase "laboured ease" suggests that the
happiness is not completely natural; it is an attempt to hide the pain of
losing someone or something precious.
Bhavarth (भावार्थ)
इस पंक्ति में कवयित्री बताना चाहती है कि माँ की बचपन की याद और
कवयित्री की माँ की हँसी की याद—दोनों ही स्मृतियाँ बाहर से सुखद दिखाई देती हैं, लेकिन उनके भीतर गहरे वियोग का दर्द
छिपा हुआ है। वे मुस्कुराती तो हैं, पर वह मुस्कान पूरी तरह सहज नहीं है; उसमें बिछड़ने की पीड़ा भी शामिल है। इस प्रकार, यह पंक्ति यादों की मधुरता और दुःख
दोनों को एक साथ व्यक्त करती है।
CBSE Exam Point (2 Marks)
"Both wry with the laboured ease of loss" means
that both the mother's memory of her childhood holiday and the poet's memory of
her mother's laughter are sweet yet painful. They bring happiness because they
recall beautiful moments, but they also bring sorrow because those moments and
loved ones can never return. This line highlights the theme of memory, time,
and the pain of loss.
Line: "Washed their terribly transient feet."
This is one of the most significant lines in A Photograph. It
creates a contrast between the permanence of nature (the sea) and the temporary
nature of human life.
Hindi Translation (अनुवाद)
"Washed their terribly transient feet."
अनुवाद:
समुद्र की लहरें उनके अत्यन्त क्षणभंगुर (अस्थायी) पैरों को छू रही
थीं।
या
समुद्र की लहरें उनके उन पैरों को धो रही थीं, जो मनुष्य के जीवन की तरह बहुत ही
अस्थायी थे।
Word-by-Word Meaning
Washed
Literal Meaning: Covered or touched gently with water.
Hindi: धोया, लहरों से छुआ।
In the poem: The sea waves gently touched the girls' feet.
Terribly
Literal Meaning: Extremely, very.
Hindi: अत्यन्त, बहुत।
In the poem: It emphasizes how short and fragile human life
is.
Transient
Literal Meaning: Temporary; lasting for only a short time.
Hindi: क्षणभंगुर, अस्थायी।
Symbolic Meaning: Human life passes quickly, unlike nature.
Feet
Literal Meaning: The lower part of the human body used for
standing and walking.
Hindi: पैर।
Symbolic Meaning: The feet stand for the human beings
themselves and their temporary existence.
Deep Explanation
The sea waves are washing the feet of the three girls
standing on the beach. At first, this seems like a simple description of a
holiday scene.
However, the poet gives it a deeper meaning by calling their
feet "terribly transient."
The sea has existed for thousands of years and will continue
to exist long after the girls are gone. In contrast, the girls' lives are short
and temporary. Their feet symbolize human life, while the sea symbolizes
eternal nature.
Thus, the poet highlights the contrast between:
The everlasting sea (nature)
The short-lived human beings
This line foreshadows the later death of the poet's mother
and reinforces the poem's central idea that time changes human life, but nature
remains almost unchanged.
Bhavarth (भावार्थ)
इस पंक्ति में कवयित्री बताती हैं कि समुद्र की लहरें तीनों लड़कियों
के पैरों को छू रही थीं। यह केवल एक दृश्य का वर्णन नहीं है, बल्कि एक गहरा प्रतीक भी है। समुद्र
प्रकृति की शाश्वतता (स्थायित्व) का प्रतीक है, जबकि लड़कियों के पैर मनुष्य के क्षणभंगुर जीवन का प्रतीक हैं। कवयित्री
यह संदेश देती हैं कि मनुष्य का जीवन बहुत छोटा होता है, लेकिन प्रकृति सदैव बनी रहती है।
Literary Significance (Exam Point)
Sea → Symbol of eternity, permanence, and continuity.
Transient feet → Symbol of temporary human life.
The line emphasizes the poem's main theme: Nature is
permanent, whereas human life is short and fleeting.
CBSE Answer (2 Marks)
The line "Washed their terribly transient feet"
means that the sea waves gently touched the girls' feet, but the poet uses
"transient" to remind us that human life is temporary. While the sea
remains almost unchanged over time, human beings grow old and die. This
contrast between the permanent sea and the fleeting human life is the central
idea of the poem.