XII English STBB - Poem # 2 - THE AGE OF INFANCY By Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal

PDF XII English Book STBB

Exercise # 2

Deduce the contextual meaning of the following words and use them in your sentences.

Vocabulary Section

1. InfancyMeaning: early stage of a child’s lifeSentence: Human habits often begin forming in infancy.

2. BosomMeaning: chest; a place of comfort and safetySentence: A child feels protected in a mother’s bosom.

3. ExpanseMeaning: a wide, open stretchSentence: The expanse of the sky looked endless.

4. MeaninglessMeaning: without sense or purposeSentence: Without context, his words seemed meaningless.

5. PlainsMeaning: large flat landsSentence: Cattle grazed peacefully across the plains.

6. PrudentMeaning: wise and carefulSentence: It is prudent to think before making decisions.

7. DevotedMeaning: deeply dedicatedSentence: She is devoted to her students’ success.

8. ProneMeaning: likely to do somethingSentence: He is prone to forgetting his homework.

9. InquisitivenessMeaning: strong desire to know or learnSentence: His inquisitiveness made him ask many questions.

10. PersonifiedMeaning: shown as having human qualitiesSentence: Courage was personified in the firefighter’s actions.

Q&A Section

Q1: How does Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal depict the theme of innocence and simplicity in the poem "The Age of Infancy"?Ans 1: In "The Age of Infancy," Dr. Allama Iqbal shows innocence and simplicity through the eyes of a child. The infant finds comfort in the mother’s presence and joy in small things like sounds or movements. The baby’s world is limited and free from worries or knowledge of the larger world. Iqbal emphasizes that infancy is a pure stage, where ordinary experiences appear magical and full of wonder.

Q2: What role does curiosity play in the poem, and how does it shape the speaker's experience of the world?Ans 2: Curiosity is central in Iqbal’s poem, driving the infant to explore and question the world. The baby is fascinated by the moon, asking about its mountains and plains. This inquisitiveness makes ordinary things exciting and helps the child gradually understand the world. Iqbal presents the infant’s mind as active, eager, and full of wonder through this natural curiosity.

Q3: How does the poem evoke feelings of nostalgia for infancy?Ans 3: The poem evokes nostalgia by describing the simple joys and security of early childhood. Iqbal recalls the warmth of a mother’s care, fascination with the moon, and delight in small sounds. These memories remind readers of the innocence and comfort of their own infancy. The poet’s reflective tone helps the audience emotionally connect to the purity and wonder of being a child.

Q4: What can be inferred about the speaker's understanding of the world during infancy from the line "The earth and sky were unknown worlds to me"?Ans 4: This line shows that the speaker had very limited understanding of the world as an infant. Everything beyond the mother and familiar surroundings was unknown and mysterious. Iqbal highlights that infancy is a stage of wonder, dependence, and gradual discovery, where curiosity helps the child begin to explore and understand the world.

Exercise 2

1. The first two lines convey the poet's acknowledgement of...

1. lack of awareness of the vast world

2. mother's lap as its entire world

3. sense of complex emotions

4. the world as blessing in disguise

2. Which of the following statements contains the use of metaphor?

1. Mother's bosom was a world to me.

2. Speech was like a meaningless word to me.

3. Door chain would comfort me.

4. Stared at the moon for long hours.

3. The phrase "meaningless word to me" in line no. 4 expresses that an infant's

1. voices without purpose;

2. sounds with complexity

3. words without any logical interpretation;

4. words without any emotions;

4. The lines 5-6 point out that a crying child gets

1. easily comforted with any sound

2. only comforted with door chain sound

3. hardly comforted with any sound

4. annoyed with the door chain sound

5. The words 'the moon' and 'silent journey among broken clouds' metaphorically points out

1. mother, mother's struggle in life

2. life, and life's ups and downs

3. peace, tranquillity in life

4. they are not metaphors

6. The phrase "that prudent lie" in line no. 10 refers to

1. the silent journey of the moon

2. the answers he got were wrong

3. the answers on mountains and plains

4. the answers he got in the school

7. What theme is primarily explored in the poem "Age of Infancy"?

1. The complexities of adulthood

2. The innocence of childhood

3. The relationship between nature and humans

4. The speaker's fear of growing up

8. The poem reflects the contrast between infancy and adulthood by/through emphasizing the child's

1. strong knowledge of the world

2. simplicity, curiosity, and reliance on sensory experiences

3. deep understanding of abstract concepts

4. communication of mature ideas and emotions