Important Questions and Answers for Class 11 English Chapter 6 Father to Son 2025-26

1. In the poem "Father to Son", what emotion does the father most struggle with?

• (a) Anger
• (b) Jealousy
• (c) Helplessness
• (d) Pride

Answer: (c) Helplessness. The poem repeatedly shows the father’s inability to connect with his son, which leads to feelings of helplessness.

2. The son in "Father to Son" feels closest to which feeling for his father?

• (a) Pride
• (b) Loneliness
• (c) Betrayal
• (d) Anger mixed with grief

Answer: (d) Anger mixed with grief. The son confesses he cannot understand why anger grows from grief, showing these feelings toward his father.

3. The poem "Father to Son" uses the reference of a 'prodigal' to show

• (a) Hope for reconciliation
• (b) The son's wastefulness
• (c) The father's anger
• (d) Wealth and inheritance

Answer: (a) Hope for reconciliation. The 'prodigal' is a biblical reference, expressing the father's wish for his son to return home and rebuild their bond.

4. The tone of the poem "Father to Son" by Elizabeth Jennings is best described as

• (a) Accusing
• (b) Melancholic and longing
• (c) Celebratory
• (d) Satirical

Answer: (b) Melancholic and longing. The language and imagery in the poem show sadness and a longing for understanding.

2. Very Short Answer (VSA).

1. What is the central theme of "Father to Son"?

Answer: The central theme is the emotional distance and lack of understanding between a father and his son, reflecting universal generational conflicts.

2. What does the father wish for in the poem?

Answer: He wishes his son would return to him and their relationship could be restored, much like the return of the prodigal son.

3. Short Answer Questions.

1. How does the phrase “We speak like strangers” contribute to the poem’s meaning?

Answer: The phrase reveals the emotional gap between the father and son despite living in the same house. It highlights their inability to share thoughts, feelings, and experiences, reinforcing the sense of alienation and longing for real connection.

2. Explain with reference to the poem why both father and son “put out an empty hand.”

Answer: "Put out an empty hand" suggests an effort to reach out for forgiveness and understanding. Both feel sadness and want to bridge the gap but struggle to communicate openly or offer the right gesture, keeping their relationship incomplete.

3. In what way is the poem "Father to Son" universal?

Answer: The poem is universal because it addresses the generational divide and communication barriers common in families. Its emotions of love, misunderstanding, and reconciliation are familiar to people of all backgrounds and times.

4. Long Answer Questions.

1. Analyse how the poet uses imagery and metaphor to express the father’s feelings in "Father to Son."

Answer: The poet uses strong imagery and metaphors to show the father’s struggle. For instance, referring to sowing seeds and the land "that is his and none of mine" symbolizes the father’s inability to shape or understand his son’s life. The house signifies shared space, but not shared emotions. The use of “strangers” and reaching out an “empty hand” paints a powerful image of emotional distance and longing for connection.

1. Metaphors like seeds and land show failed connection.
2. Imagery of silence and empty hands emphasize loneliness.
3. These poetic devices intensify the poem’s emotional impact.

2. Discuss the relevance of the father-son relationship in the poem for today’s youth and parents.

Answer: The poem remains relevant because it touches on ever-present issues of communication and empathy between parents and children. In today’s fast-changing world, generational gaps are becoming even more pronounced. This poem encourages open dialogue and understanding, showing the value of patience, acceptance, and the need for family bonds. Both parents and children often struggle to balance independence with connection, making the poem’s message timeless.

1. Addresses lack of communication between generations.
2. Encourages empathy and openness for reconciliation.
3. Applies across time, cultures, and family types.

5. Assertion–Reason type questions.

Assertion (A): In "Father to Son", both father and son want to rebuild their relationship.
Reason (R): The father openly blames the son for all problems.

• (a) A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
• (b) A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
• (c) A is true, but R is false
• (d) A is false, but R is true

Answer: (c) A is true, but R is false. Both want to resolve their issues, but the father does not openly blame the son; rather, he is confused and wants to reconnect.

6. Case-based questions.

Read the given extract and answer the following:
“We speak like strangers, there’s no sign Of understanding in the air. This child is built to my design Yet what he loves I cannot share.”

(i) What does the line "We speak like strangers" mean in the poem?

Answer: It means the father and son cannot relate to each other despite being family; there is emotional and communicative distance.

(ii) How does the father see his role in the son’s life?

Answer: The father feels he shaped his son’s life, yet he cannot connect with his son's choices or interests.

(iii) What mood is created by the phrase “no sign Of understanding in the air”?

Answer: It creates a mood of loneliness and frustration, emphasizing their inability to empathize or communicate.

(iv) Does the extract show more about the father or the son?

Answer: It focuses on the father’s feelings, showing his regret and disappointment at the lack of closeness.

7. Match the following.

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