English Hornbill Notes for Chapter 6 Father to Son Class 11 - FREE PDF Download
Access the CBSE English Hornbill Chapter 6, Father to Son, to understand the difference in communication between generations. These notes include full and short summaries, key themes, and character details. This chapter, a poem by Elizabeth Jennings, explains the emotional distance and hope for connection between a father and son. Vedantu provides a FREE Revision notes PDF, offering analysis of the poem's language, imagery, and themes.
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By utilising Vedantu's Class 11 English Revision notes, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the poem's meaning. It helps you review important parts quickly, making exam preparation easier. In addition, check out the CBSE English Class 11 Syllabus for effective preparation.
FAQs on Father to Son Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 6 CBSE Notes - 2025-26
1. What is the central idea for a quick revision of the Class 11 poem 'Father to Son'?
The central idea of 'Father to Son' revolves around the generation gap and the painful communication breakdown between a father and his grown-up son. The poem summarises the father's anguish over the emotional distance that has developed despite them living in the same house.
2. Who is the poet of 'Father to Son', and what is the main perspective explored in the poem?
The poem 'Father to Son' was written by Elizabeth Jennings. The entire poem is a monologue presented from the father's perspective, focusing on his personal grief, confusion, and longing to reconnect with his son whom he now feels is a stranger.
3. What is the key concept behind the father's regret in the poem?
The father's primary regret is his failure to build and maintain a strong, understanding relationship with his son as he was growing up. He mourns the lost years and his inability to understand the person his son has become, stating, “I know nothing of him”.
4. How does the poem use the setting of the "same house" to create a sense of irony?
The irony lies in the stark contrast between physical proximity and emotional distance. Living under the same roof should imply closeness and familiarity, but for the father and son, it only serves to highlight their profound alienation and lack of understanding, making them 'strangers' to one another.
5. For revision, what is the meaning of the line: “The seed I spent or sown it where / The land is his and none of mine”?
This metaphor summarises the father's feeling of disconnect. The 'seed' represents the son, whom the father created and raised. However, the 'land' (the son's mind, personality, and life) is now completely foreign to the father. It suggests that the son has grown into his own person, separate and independent from his father's influence or understanding.
6. What key poetic devices are used in 'Father to Son' to convey the emotional theme?
The poem uses several key literary devices for a powerful summary of its theme. These include:
- Simile: The father and son speak “like strangers.”
- Metaphor: The son is compared to a “seed” sown in foreign land, representing his independent growth.
- Allusion: The reference to the “prodigal son” highlights the father's desire for reconciliation.
7. Why does the father wish for his son to return like the “prodigal son”?
The father references the biblical story of the prodigal son out of a deep desire for reconciliation and forgiveness. He is willing to forgive his son's perceived rebellion or distance if only the son would return to the loving relationship they once shared, effectively rebuilding their emotional 'home'.
8. What does the line “This child is built to my design / Yet what he loves I cannot share” reveal about the father's internal conflict?
This line reveals a profound paradox at the heart of the father's sorrow. He acknowledges the biological link and his role in shaping his son (“built to my design”), yet he feels completely shut out from his son's inner world, interests, and passions (“what he loves I cannot share”). It captures the painful conflict between creation and individuality.
9. How does the poem's unresolved ending contribute to its overall message for a quick summary?
The unresolved ending, where both father and son put out an “empty hand,” is crucial to the poem's message. It signifies that the desire for connection exists on both sides, but pride, misunderstanding, or a history of silence prevents them from bridging the gap. It leaves the reader with a sense of lingering sadness and the tragic reality that longing for reconciliation does not guarantee it.
10. For a deeper understanding, what universal sorrow does 'Father to Son' explore beyond the generation gap?
Beyond the generation gap, the poem explores the universal sorrow of human alienation and the inevitability of change. It's a poignant summary of how relationships evolve, how children grow into separate individuals, and the helplessness felt when love persists but understanding fails. It reflects a common human tragedy of being emotionally distant from those we love the most.
