Grandmother Summary Class 12

Grandmother

- Ray Young Bear

Brief Summary:

Ray Young Bear, an American Indian poet and novelist was born in a Mesquaki tribe. The theme of his writing is the contemporary American Indian’s search for identity. This poem represents the cultural identity of the Mesquaki tribe. By remembering his grandmother, he is lamenting on the loss of his cultural identity. It is a beautiful poem, which is in nostalgic tone. Here, the poet draws a clear picture of his grandmother through his words to show her affectionate and cordial nature. She was all loving, all sharing and all inspiring for him. He also draws his  grandmother’s picture through various sensory perceptions. The appearance, the dress, behaviours, suggestions, etc. of his grandmother are still fresh in his heart and mind. She was the source of love and inspiration for him. Now, his grandmother is not with him, but there are many bygone reminiscences inside him. Although she is dead, he hasn’t forgotten her love and affection yet. Therefore, he always remembers his grandmother’s four things: her purple scarf, plastic shopping handbag, warm and damp hands and her voice.  Besides,  there is still a stamp of his grandmother’s love and affection in his mind. In this way, the poetic persona shows his respect and love to his grandmother, who is not with him in this world.