The uploaded PDF contains the complete solution set for Worksheet 2 based on two Hornbill poems for Class 11 English Core – Childhood by Markus Natten and Father to Son by Elizabeth Jennings. The document provides section-wise answers to MCQs, short-answer questions, extract-based questions, and long descriptive questions. It explains not only what the correct answers are, but also why those answers are correct, which makes it extremely useful for exam preparation.
I am writing about this solutions PDF because both poems are deeply philosophical and emotional. Students often understand the surface meaning but struggle to explain ideas like loss of innocence, individuality, generation gap, and emotional distance in clear words. A well-prepared solutions guide helps students shape their understanding and improves their answer-writing skills for board-style questions.
According to the uploaded solutions PDF Hornbill( Childhood, Father To …, the answers are arranged systematically into Section A, B, C and D, following the same structure as the worksheet.
What This Solutions PDF Covers
The document includes:
• Section A – Objective type MCQs with explanations
• Section B – Short-answer explanations
• Section C – Additional objective questions
• Section D – Long-answer and value-based responses
Each section focuses on both poems and highlights their central ideas, themes, and literary devices.
Solutions Related to “Father to Son”
Many MCQs in Section A focus on the strained relationship between father and son.
Important explanations include:
• Both father and son put out “an empty hand”, which means their efforts to connect are always in vain
• “We speak like strangers” shows complete lack of communication
• The word “prodigal” means spending money freely
• The “seed” symbolises the father’s hard work and efforts in raising his child
• Silence between them represents emotional distance and coldness
These answers clearly show that the poem deals with generation gap and breakdown of communication.
Father’s Helplessness and Desire for Reconciliation
Section B answers explain that:
• The father does not understand his son’s dreams and ambitions
• He feels he is losing touch with his own child
• He regrets the lack of emotional bonding
• He wants to forgive his son and start afresh
The father is shown as sad, regretful, and hopeful at the same time.
Generation Gap as the Root Cause
The solutions repeatedly highlight that:
• The father wants the son to live according to his values
• The son wants independence and a world of his own
• Differences in thinking create misunderstanding
This generation gap becomes the main reason for their emotional separation.
Solutions Related to “Childhood”
The answers explain that the poet is worried because he has:
• Lost his purity of thoughts
• Lost innocence
• Started thinking like an adult
The poet keeps asking, “When did my childhood go?” which becomes a refrain in the poem.
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When Did the Poet Lose His Childhood?
According to the solutions:
• The poet thinks it may have happened when he entered his twelfth year
• When he realised adults are hypocrites
• When he began to think independently
These moments mark the transition from childhood to adulthood.
Hell and Heaven as Imaginary Concepts
The poet realises that hell and heaven cannot be found in geography books. This shows:
• Rise of rational thinking
• End of blind belief
• Loss of childhood innocence
This is an important philosophical idea tested in the worksheet.
Development of Individuality
The poet understands that:
• His mind produces his own thoughts
• He does not copy others
• He has gained individuality
The solutions point out that this growth also signals the end of childhood.
Where Has Childhood Gone?
According to the PDF:
• Childhood has gone to some forgotten place
• It is hidden in an infant’s face
This means innocence exists only in babies.
Literary Devices Explained
The solutions identify devices such as:
• Alliteration – “silence surrounds us”
• Metaphor – seed representing the son
• Refrain – repeated questioning about childhood
• Personification – anger grows from grief
These devices are important for extract-based questions.
Long Answer Responses (Section D)
Section D contains well-developed answers on topics such as:
• Independent thinking as a step towards adulthood
• Importance of emotional bonding between parents and children
• Causes and effects of generation gap
• Need for flexibility and understanding in families
These answers help students learn how to structure long responses.
