I remember, I remember poem questions & answers with summary (2024)

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I REMEMBER, I REMEMBER- BY THOMAS HOOD 

Thomas Hood was an English poet and author (May 23, 1799–May 3, 1845). He was best known for poems such as "The Song of the Shirt" and "The Bridge of Sighs." He was credited with writing London Magazine, Punch, and Althenaeum, and he published a magazine largely consisting of his own hard work. He died at the age of 45.

Birth	23 May 1799	London, England
Passing	3 May 1845(at 45)	London, England
Calling	Versifier, Wordsmith
Citizenship	British
Era	1820s–1840s
Style	Verse, Tale
Life Partner	Jane Hood (née Reynolds)
Offspring	Tom Hood	Frances Freeling Broderip

 

I REMEMBER, I REMEMBER-SUMMARY 

"I REMEMBER, I REMEMBER,

THE HOUSE WHERE I WAS BORN,

THE LITTLE WINDOW WHERE THE SUN

CAME PEEPING IN AT MORNING;

BUT NOW,I OFTEN WISH THE NIGHT

HAD BORNE MY BREATH AWAY!"

In the first stanza, he describes his home and its bedroom window. The morning sun used to peak in through this window every morning. The poet vividly remembers this site from his young days spent at home. He goes on to visit him each morning. 

This personification of the sun as if it has a sense of timing adds a nostalgic and vivid touch to his memory. But things have changed now, and at present, he wishes he never woke up to see the sun. This means the poet is longing to be dead (symbolic of death). His desire to die indicates his painful life.

The contrast between the past and present is clear through the perspective of the sun and daytime, which means a brighter and happier part of his life. In the present, he longs for the night, which is darkness, which means distress in life.

"I REMEMBER, I REMEMBER,

THE ROSES, RED AND WHITE,

THE VIOLETS AND THE LILY CUP

THOSE FLOWERS MADE OF LIGHT!

THE LILAC WHERE THE ROBIN BUILT

AND WHERE MY BROTHER SET

THE LABURNUM ON HIS BIRTHDAY,

THE TREE IS LIVING YET!

In the second stanza, the poet moves from his house to the garden. He then goes on to speak about the variety of flowers he had at home; they included violets, lilly-cups, roses, both white and red, and lilacs. These pretty flowers made his home the most beautiful place on the planet. 

He recollects about the laburnum tree that his brother had planted on his birthday. He also refreshed his memory of the wonderful games he played with his brother under these trees and between these flowers. 

He still remembers that the tree is still alive. Through this Stanza, the poet reflects that in childhood, small things give simple joys of life. Also, the tree is living yet might convey two meanings. The first one is that person who planted it (his brother is dead), whereas the tree is still living. The second meaning may be that the tree is living and growing while the poet is decaying.

"I REMEMBER, I REMEMBER,

WHERE I USED TO SWING, 

AND THOUGHT THE AIR MUST RUSH AS FRESH

TO SWALLOWS ON THE WING; 

MY SPIRIT FLEW IN FEATHERS THEN

THAT IS SO HEAVY NOW, 

AND SUMMER POOLS COULD HARDLY COOL

THE FEVER ON MY BROW.

The poet further goes on to recollect his days, which he spent on the swing, breathing fresh air. He understands that his spirit enjoyed these tiny moments, which are still fresh in his memory. These first five lines of the poem showcase the carefree line that he laid. Alas! He suddenly became tired of thinking about his old age and its difficulties. He has seen the world and experienced both the good and the bad in life, but is unable to find joy.

As a child, he was naughty and energetic, and he could swing very fast to feel the rush of air. He was like feathers, which fly quickly, but now that he has grown older, he has become heavy (contrast). This Stanza also talks about his physical decline. Summer is cherished in his country. Even such a wonderful summer season could not heal his fever, which might mean his sadness or physical weakness.

 

WERE CLOSE AGAINST THE AKY:

IT WAS A CHILDISH IGNORANCE,

BUT NOW 'TIS LITTLE JOY

TO KNOW I'M FARTHER OFF FROM HEAVEN

THAN WHEN I WAS A BOY!

"I REMEMBER, I REMEMBER

THE FIR TREES DARK AND HIGH;

I USED TO THINK THEIR SLENDER TOPS

WERE CLOSE AGAINST THE SKY:

IT WAS A CHILDISH IGNORANCE,

BUT NOW TIS LITTLE JOY

TO KNOW I'M FURTHER OFF FROM HEAVEN

THAN WHEN I WAS A BOY!

In The Last Stanza, the poet talks about the fir trees, which are tall and high and touch the sky. This was his innocence or immature thoughts during his childhood days. 
But things have changed now; he knows the reality of the world and has experienced both the good and bad of this world. He believes that the child is closer to God, and as he grows, the distance between them increases. That's why the speaker feels sad that he is now living further from heaven.

FAQs

The poet has taken help from nature to express his feelings. Justify this statement

The poet expresses his feelings through nature by describing familiar elements such as the house, window, roses, violet, and trees. These natural images signify the poet’s memories and emotions connected with his childhood that are represented through the lilac and laburnum trees, which suggest different lives and certain events. Read more...

Explain any one Central themes of the poem, providing a suitable example.

One Theme of the Poem: ‘CHILDHOOD INNOCENCE’ Example- “I USED TO THEIR SLIM TOPS WERE CLOSE AGAINST THE SKY”This Illustrates A Time When The Speaker Saw The World With An Immature or Innocent Thoughts And Innocent Mind, Showing How Childhood Innocence Is Charming And Fascinating To Adults.

What is the line by line summary of the poem I Remember, I Remember by Thomas hood

I Remember, I Remember.........Had borne my breath away! In the first stanza, he describes his home and its bedroom window. The morning sun used to peak in through this window every morning. The poet vividly remembers this site from his young days spent at home. He goes on to visit him each morning. Read more...

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS- 
I REMEMBER,I REMEMBER-

 

IT WAS A CHILDISH IGNORANCE, BUT NOW 'TIS LITTLE JOY...

1. Identify the poet. What Is Meant By Childish Ignorance In The Above Line?

Thomas Hood is the poet of this poem.The phrase "childish ignorance" means that the speaker did not have an understanding or was having innocence thoughts while he was a kid. Hence, these lines imply that when young, the speaker possessed misunderstandings and naive beliefs, but now, as adults, he regrets those mistakes.

2. what does the poet remember about the sun?

The speaker remember the sun as punctual and not staying coming to late or not staying to long. “NEVER CAME A WINK TOO SOON, NOR BROUGHT TOO LONG A DAY”; this Personification of the Sun as if it has a sense of Timing adds a Nostalgic And Vivid Touch to the memory.

3. Explain "Little Joy," which is mentioned in the above line.

 

The term "little joy" in the poem suggests that the speaker finds minimal happiness or satisfaction in realizing certain truth or memories. 

In this context, the speaker reflects on the innocence and misconceptions of childhood and acknowledges that knowing the reality now brings only a small amount of joy. The phrase "little joy" implies a sense of nostalgic tinged with a hint of sadness.

 

4. Explain any one of the themes of the poem, providing a suitable example.

 

One Theme of the Poem: ‘CHILDHOOD INNOCENCE’
Example- “I USED TO THEIR SLIM TOPS WERE CLOSE AGAINST THE SKY”This Illustrates A Time When The Speaker Saw The World With An Immature or Innocent Thoughts And Innocent Mind, Showing How Childhood Innocence Is Charming And Fascinating To Adults.

 
5. The poet has taken help from nature to express his feelings. Justify this statement.

 

The poet expresses his feelings through nature by describing familiar elements such as the house, window, roses, violet, and trees. These natural images signify the poet’s memories and emotions connected with his childhood that are represented through the lilac and laburnum trees, which suggest different lives and certain events.

The poet also uses the changing perception of nature, such as the belief about fir trees touching the sky during childhood to convey the theme of growing up and the loss of innocence. Nature becomes a powerful tool to evoke nostalgia and illustrate the changing perspective time.

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