Father to Son – Questions & Answers

Very Short Answer Questions (1–2 lines each)

1. Who is the poet of “Father to Son”?
   Ans. Elizabeth Jennings.
2. What is the central theme of the poem?
   Ans. The communication gap and emotional distance between a father and his son.
3. Why is the father unhappy with his son?
   Ans. Because he feels alienated and finds his son like a stranger.
4. What does the father want from his son?
   Ans. He wants understanding, communication, and a close emotional bond.
5. How does the father describe their relationship?
   Ans. He says they live under the same roof but remain apart emotionally.
6. What does the father fail to understand?
   Ans. He fails to understand his son’s thoughts, feelings, and choices.
7. What does the father mean by “silence surrounds us”?
   Ans. It means there is no communication or meaningful conversation between them.
8. What is the tone of the poem?
   Ans. The tone is sad, reflective, and pleading.
9. What does the father fear losing?
   Ans. He fears losing his son’s love and companionship completely.
10. What is the father’s final request?
    Ans. That his son should stretch out his hand and rebuild their relationship.

Short Answer Questions (30–50 words)

1. Why does the father feel a sense of loss in the poem?
   Ans. The father feels a sense of loss because he cannot connect with his son emotionally. Though they live together, their thoughts and feelings are different. This distance makes the father feel helpless and sad.
2. Explain the meaning of “I do not understand this child.”
   Ans. The father expresses his helplessness. He feels his son has grown into a different person whom he cannot recognise or understand, despite raising him since birth.
3. What does the father want to restore in the relationship?
   Ans. The father wants to restore love, understanding, and communication. He wishes to overcome the silence and emotional gap, hoping to rebuild a bond of trust with his son.
4. How does the poem highlight the generation gap?
   Ans. The poem shows the clash of values, thoughts, and emotions between father and son. The father represents traditional ways, while the son follows his own path. This difference creates a communication gap, reflecting the universal problem of the generation gap.
5. What makes the poem universal in appeal?
   Ans. The poem touches upon a common issue in families—distance between parents and children. Every generation experiences such emotional gaps, making the theme relevant to all societies and cultures.

Long Answer Questions (120–150 words)

1. Discuss the theme of communication gap in “Father to Son.”
   Ans. The poem revolves around the communication gap between a father and his son. The father feels alienated, as though he does not know his own son. Despite living together, they seem like strangers because their thoughts and emotions do not connect. The father regrets the silence that has grown between them and longs for understanding and closeness. He pleads for reconciliation, showing his helplessness and love. The poem highlights how lack of communication can create distance in relationships, especially between parents and children. It also conveys that love and reconciliation are always possible if both sides are willing.
2. How does Elizabeth Jennings present the father’s emotions in the poem?
   Ans. Jennings portrays the father as sad, helpless, and longing for affection. He confesses that he does not understand his son, despite raising him. His tone is reflective and pleading, as he regrets the silence that separates them. The father wants to bridge the gap and rebuild their bond. He fears losing his son completely, yet expresses hope by asking his son to reach out. This emotional conflict between love and helplessness is the essence of the poem, making it both touching and relatable.