Q1.How old was the girl when her mother taught her to cycle? Was it done on a bicycle or a learner’s tricycle? How can you tell? where did the teaching take Place?
Ans1. The girl is eight years old when she learns how to ride the bicycle. She learns on a bicycle, as line 6 says, ‘along the curved path of the park’. It took place in the park.
Q2.What made the girl wobble’ as she moved forward on the bicycle?Why did the mother “lope along ” beside her?
Ans2. The bicycle wobbles because the mother has probably just let the bicycle go. She ‘lopes’ along’, in case the girl loses her balance and falls.
Q3. When, at one point, the bicycle pulled ahead and went on its own, the mother experienced two feelings, one of them was surprise.What was the other? (What did she expect and do next) ?
Ans3.The other emotion that the mother experiences is fear. The mother expects that the bicycle would crash and sprints ahead to catch up.
Q4. Did the daughter experience any anxiety or fear? Did she try to slow down or stop? wrrat oio she actually feel and do? Point out the relevant words
Ans4. The daughter did not experience any anxiety or fear. She did not try to slow down or stop. She probably experienced the joy of being able to ride a bicycle as she was screaming with laughter.
5Q. While the mother was running to catch up with the daughter’ the daughter appeared to be doing something quite different.What did she appear to be doing? What caused that impression?
Ans5. The daughter was cycling away from her, faster and faster. She appeared to be waving goodbye to her mother. Her hair, flapping behind her in the wind, caused this impression.
6Q. The poem describes how a small girl learnt to ride a bicycle with her mother,shelpandthenrodeawayonherown.Do you think the poet sees this as a metaphor for something larger that happens in life?Look at the title of the poem. what is the bicycle-riding lesson a metaphor for? Does it have anxiety and a wish to proteci on one side, and excitement and the joy of independence on the other?
Ans6.Riding a bicycle is used as a metaphor for independence and a sense of balance in life. The struggle to gain balance, confidence and independence are part of growing up, and leaving home. The anxiety and fear of the mother are depicted, as well as the daughter’s struggle, which later leads to independence.
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