Childhood 11

Childhood
by Markus Natten
Childhood-Innocence, easy going, carefree life, freedom, life full of
wonders, imagination, creativity,
journey from innocence to experience
Adulthood- Responsibility, practicality, experience, rationalism,
independence, individuality, confidence, reason, logical, materialistic
Childhood
M
Analysis
In this poem, the poet, Markus Natten wonders when and where
he lost his childhood. In this quest to find the moment he grew
up, Markus highlights the innocence and faith he lost even as he
gained rational individuality.
Adolescence is usually a confusing time for a child who is unable

to immediately come to terms with the physical and psychological
changes in his or her personality. He no longer feels like a child
but is not quite ready to call himself an adult either.
He believes that he has lost the innocence and purity of his
childhood to some unknown and unforgettable place.
Through his poem, “Childhood”, the readers are confronted with a
question as to when and where have we lost our childhood. The
answers lead to self discovery.
The poet feels disappointed because he thinks being a child
was better than being an adult. A child’s life is peaceful and
really sweet while an adult’s character is very complicated.
THE REFRAIN
The first line (which is a
question) identifies the central
The refrain of any poem theme of the poem, that is, the
s/are line (s) that repeat at attempt to identify when
regular intervals throughout exactly the poet lost his
the poem. The refrain often childhood.
carries the central message of The second line begins with a
the poem. The two lines question word but ends with
which do so in this poem are: an exclamation. Hence, it is no
When did my childhood go?.... more a mere question.
Was that the day! Rhetorical in nature, this line
brings out the poet's sense of
realisation.
1st Stanza
When did my childhood go?

Was it the day I ceased to be eleven,
Was it the time I realised that Hell and Heaven,
Could not be found in Geography,
And therefore could not be,
Was that the day!
(rationalism)
The poet is curious to know when he lost his
childhood. He tries to find out the answer of his
own question.
He feels it was perhaps that day when he discovered
the theories of Heaven and Hell and that Geography
did not provide him any information about the
existence of such places..
Education has made the poet look at the world different
with more of reason and logic.
The poet feels that he had probably lost his childhood when
he had acquired a rational thinking towards his surroundings
2nd Stanza

Was it the time I realised that adults were not
All they seemed to be,
They talked of love and preached of love,
But did not act so lovingly,
Was that the day!
(hypocrisy)
In this stanza, the poet figures out that the adults around
him did not practice what they usually preached.
They taught others to be loving and caring when they

themselves were violent and mean.
This is when the child lost his trust and faith in the adults.
The poet realizes that probably the loss of faith and trust
might have been the major steps towards losing his
childhood.
Stanza
3rd
Was it when I found my mind was really
mine,
To use whichever way I choose,
Producing thoughts that were not those
of other people, But my own, and my
alone,
Was that the day!
(individuality)
As he grew up, the poet realised that his mind was unique,
could form its own opinions and could take its own decisions.
He gained a sense of individuality which set him free from the
prejudiced opinions of others around him. His own
experiences shaped his thoughts now and he realised that this
might have been the time he lost his childhood innocence
completely.
Stanza
4th
Where did my childhood go?
It went to some forgotten

place,
That’s hidden in an infant’s
face,
That’s all I know.
In the final stanza, the poet changes his question. From
wondering at what point in time, he had lost his childhood,
the poet now wonders where it went.
The last three lines may be interpreted in two ways.
The poet claims that his childhood is nothing more than a long
lost memory. He recalls his infancy and believes that his true
childhood resides there, in that infant's face, and that
innocence cannot resurface in this lifetime.
The poet believes that his childhood has become nothing more
than a memory for him but has become the reality of some
other infant. Innocence is a cyclical process where lost from
one person, it travels to another, finding residence there.
Thus, till date, adults can easily recall and seem to almost
relive their own childhood, through an infant in their lives.
Prepare these questions:
• What are the poet’s feelings towards childhood?
• What did the speaker learn about the existence of
Heaven and Hell?
• How did the speaker realise the hypocrisy of the
adults?
• How did the realization of being the master of his
own mind helped him?
1. What question does the poet ask again and again in this poem?
2. The poet has discussed two stages of life – childhood and adulthood. How do we
differentiate one from another?
3. What did the poet realise when he crossed the age of eleven years?
4. How did the poet conclude that Hell and Heaven were imaginary places?
5. How did adults seem to the poet when he was a child?
6. Bring out the hypocrisy that the adults exhibit with regards to love.
7. What did the poet notice about independent thinking? How important was this discovery?
8. What is the poet trying to convey when he says that childhood is hidden in an infant’s
face?
9. According to Markus Natten, when does the child become an adult?
10. What is the poet’s feeling towards his childhood?
11. How does the poem expose man and present him in true colours?
Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

1. Write an article in about 150 words about childhood and the process of growing up.
2. Is independent thinking a step towards adulthood? If yes, then how? Explain with reference
to the poem ‘Childhood’.
1. In this poem the poet is really confused. He asks the question again and again about when
did his childhood go?’
2. Childhood has been considered by the poet as a blissful period in one’s life, where a child
trusts everyone.
Adulthood is marked by rational and creative thoughts, ability to perceive and differentiate and
learn new things. In this stage of life one also learns to be double faced and crafty.
3. When the poet crossed the age of eleven years, he realised that he had lost his childhood and
had developed a mind of his own. He also found out the non-existence of Hell and Heaven.
4. The poet concluded that Hell and Heaven were imaginary places because in Geography
books there is no mention of places like Hell or Heaven.
5. As a child, the poet considered all the adults as an epitome of love and sincerity. He believed
that their love was true and they were ready to do anything for their loved ones.
6. As the poet grew up, he could make out the double standards followed by adults. He
realised that though adults preached love and talked of love, their behaviour was totally
different and full of manipulation. They were all hypocrites who behaved differently from the
way they spoke.
7. The poet discovered that he was different from others and could think independently. He
could have his own opinions without getting influenced by anyone else. This discovery was
very important to him as it revealed to him his abilities for independent thinking and decision
making.
8. The poet says an infant is really innocent as he trusts everyone and does not try to fool
others. The poet brings out this fact by contrasting it with the behaviour of adults, who become
manipulative and are hypocrites. As a person develops rational thoughts, his childlike
innocence fades away.
9. Becoming an adult is a complex process which is associated with physical, mental and
social development. A child becomes an adult when he is able to live his own life and take care
of his responsibilities individually. He also develops his own thought process, using which he
can form his own beliefs and opinions.
10. The poet regards childhood as a period of innocence. A child sincerely feels that he is free
from all evils and that there is really a Hell and a Heaven. A child knows no hypocrisy. There is
no difference between his thoughts and actions. In short, childhood is a state of innocence
and purity of heart.
11. According to the poet, childhood symbolises innocence, purity, softness and love. As a
child grows up, these qualities start receding. Man adheres to lying, shrewdness, cunningness
and hypocrisy.
Adults preach about truth and honesty but themselves practise hatred and lying. The
simplicity and honesty of childhood disappears the moment man crosses the threshold of
innocent childhood.

Childhood 11

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Childhood 11

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Childhood

Adolescence is usually a confusing time for a child who is unable

When did my childhood go?

When did my childhood go?

They taught others to be loving and caring when they

Where did my childhood go?

It went to some forgotten

Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

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