CBSE Class 9 English – The Grandmother

Chapter Overview

“The Grandmother” is a poem by Ray Young Bear, a Mesquakie American‑Indian poet. Through intimate sensory memories—sight, smell, touch, sound—the poet recreates his grandmother’s presence and uses her image to reconnect with Native American identity amid cultural loss. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Important Keywords

• Mesquakie: The American‑Indian tribe to which the poet belongs. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
• Sensory imagery: Descriptions that evoke sight, smell, touch, sound to recreate memory. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
• Cultural identity: Connection to heritage through memories of grandmother. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
• Metaphor: Comparing grandmother’s voice to light stirring ashes of a sleeping fire. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
• Legacy: Wisdom passed down through generations.