Active Poems – Current Syllabus (2025–2026)
- My Mother at Sixty-six – Kamala Das
- Keeping Quiet – Pablo Neruda
- A Thing of Beauty – John Keats
- A Roadside Stand – Robert Frost
Priority Ranking – Most Important Poems (Based on 2021–2025 PYQs)
| Priority | Poem | Expected Marks | Most Repeated Question Types |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | My Mother at Sixty-six | 6–8 marks | Extract-based (pale moon, smiling), theme of separation & ageing, poet's feeling |
| 2 | Keeping Quiet | 5–7 marks | Poet's appeal for silence, significance of "huge silence", what happens if we keep quiet |
| 3 | A Thing of Beauty | 5–6 marks | Extract on eternal joy, list of beautiful things, how nature helps man |
| 4 | A Roadside Stand | 4–6 marks | Poet's attitude towards city people, pain of rural folk, irony & contrast |
Poem-wise Important Questions & Keywords
1. My Mother at Sixty-six
- Most Repeated 6-mark Extracts
- "Driving from my parent's home to Cochin… pale as a late winter's moon"
- "and felt that old familiar ache… smiling and smiling and smiling"
- Most Repeated Questions
- What does the poet feel when she looks at her mother?
- Significance of "late winter's moon" and "young trees sprinting"
- Why does the poet keep smiling? What does it hide?
- Central theme / idea of the poem
- Important Keywords: ageing, fear of separation, mother-daughter bond, pale winter's moon, young trees sprinting, merry children, airport security, smiling and smiling and smiling, acceptance of mortality
2. Keeping Quiet
- Most Repeated Questions (5–6 marks)
- What is the poet's appeal? What will happen if we keep quiet for a moment?
- Significance of "for once on the face of the Earth" and "let's not speak in any language"
- What does the poet mean by "a huge silence" and "what I want should not be confused with total inactivity"?
- Important Keywords: introspection, silence, stillness, fisherman, wars, wars with oneself, green wars, man gathering salt, those who prepare green wars, life in peace, counting to twelve
3. A Thing of Beauty
- Most Repeated Questions (5–6 marks)
- "A thing of beauty is a joy forever…" – What is a source of eternal joy according to Keats?
- How does nature help man in the poem?
- List the beautiful things that give joy forever.
- Important Keywords: eternal joy, joy forever, loveliness increases, bower, flowery band, shady boon, clear rills, grandeur, daffodils, endless fountain of immortal drink
4. A Roadside Stand
- Most Repeated Questions (4–6 marks)
- What is the poet's attitude towards the city people?
- What is the pain / suffering of the rural folk?
- Explain the irony in "trusting Sorrow" and "polished traffic passed with a mind ahead"
- Important Keywords: rural poverty, city indifference, polished traffic, trusting Sorrow, pity, money, paint, signboard, old stock, out of the world
Exam Writing Strategy – Poetry Section (2026 Boards)
-
Extract-based (6 marks): Always write in this order:
• Paraphrase / explain the lines (1–2 marks)
• Central theme / idea (2 marks)
• 2–3 poetic devices with example (2 marks)
• Poet's attitude / message (1–2 marks) - Most repeated devices to quote: simile, metaphor, contrast, repetition, symbolism, irony, imagery, paradox, personification
- Time suggestion: 8–10 minutes per 6-mark extract question
- Tip: Quote 1–2 exact lines in every answer. Keep answers structured and to the point (120–150 words for long answers).
This guide includes only the current syllabus poems.
Best of luck for your CBSE Class 12 English Board Exam 2026!