of white hairs and crickets Flashcards
What is the central theme of ‘Of White Hairs and Cricket’?
“The inevitability of aging
Who is the narrator of the story?
“A young boy who reflects on his relationship with his father and the process of aging.”
Why does the narrator pluck white hairs from his father’s head?
“To help his father appear younger and to delay the reality of aging.”
What does the father’s white hairs symbolize?
“The passage of time
How does the narrator feel about his father’s aging?
“He struggles to accept it
What is the significance of cricket in the story?
“Cricket represents childhood
How does the setting contribute to the theme?
“The family’s modest home reflects their struggles and the passage of time.”
What is the relationship between the narrator and his father like?
“It is affectionate yet marked by unspoken emotions about aging and change.”
Why does the narrator hesitate to pluck his father’s white hairs?
“Because he realizes that no matter what he does
What does the narrator’s realization at the end symbolize?
“His coming-of-age moment
What role does memory play in the story?
“Memory highlights nostalgia and the contrast between childhood innocence and adult awareness.”
What is the significance of the mother in the story?
“She represents resilience and practicality
How does the father react to his own aging?
“He tries to ignore it
Why is the story told from the narrator’s perspective?
“To emphasize the coming-of-age theme and the gradual realization of life’s realities.”
What does the act of plucking white hairs symbolize for the narrator?
“A futile attempt to preserve youth and delay the inevitable.”
What does the father’s appearance signify?
“The struggles of middle age
What does cricket represent in the narrator’s life?
“A temporary escape from reality and a symbol of carefree childhood.”
How does the father’s attitude towards life contrast with the narrator’s?
“The father quietly accepts aging
What does the monsoon season symbolize in the story?
“The cycles of life
How does the author use imagery in the story?
“Through vivid descriptions of the father’s white hairs
What is the significance of the father’s habit of reading the newspaper?
“It represents his routine and the mundane realities of adult life.”
How does the narrator’s perception of his father change throughout the story?
“He moves from admiration to the painful realization that his father is aging and vulnerable.”
What does the boy’s reluctance to play cricket signify?
“His growing awareness of responsibilities and the loss of childhood innocence.”
How does Mistry portray the theme of nostalgia?
“Through the narrator’s reflections on his past and the realization that time cannot be reversed.”
Why does the narrator feel helpless about his father’s aging?
“Because he realizes that time cannot be controlled or reversed
What does the house in the story symbolize?
“A place of security but also a reminder of time passing and change.”
How does the theme of generational differences appear in the story?
“The father accepts aging
What does the narrator learn by the end of the story?
“That aging is inevitable
How does Mistry use realism in the story?
“By depicting everyday family interactions and concerns about aging in a relatable way.”
Why is cricket an important metaphor in the story?
“It represents the contrast between childhood dreams and adult realities.”
What is the significance of the father’s sighs?
“They reflect his exhaustion
How does the author use contrast between youth and old age?
“By juxtaposing the boy’s vitality with the father’s aging process.”
What does the narrator’s changing attitude toward his father signify?
“A shift from seeing him as strong to recognizing his vulnerability.”
What literary technique is used in the description of the father’s white hairs?
“Symbolism
How does the narrator’s guilt manifest in the story?
“He feels guilty for noticing his father’s aging and for his inability to prevent it.”
What does the act of stopping plucking white hairs symbolize?
“The narrator’s acceptance of reality and his father’s aging.”
What does the theme of denial in the story represent?
“The human tendency to avoid confronting painful truths about time and mortality.”
How does the father’s attitude toward his white hairs differ from the narrator’s?
“The father is indifferent
What does the father’s laughter at the narrator’s attempts to pluck his hairs suggest?
“That he sees his son’s efforts as naïve and unnecessary.”
How does the father’s body language throughout the story convey meaning?
“His sighs and stillness suggest resignation and fatigue.”
How does the story explore the theme of family bonds?
“Through the unspoken love between the narrator and his father
Why is the narrator’s realization about aging bittersweet?
“Because it marks his maturity but also his loss of innocence.”
What does the title ‘Of White Hairs and Cricket’ symbolize?
“The contrast between youth and aging
