Amanda! NCERT Solutions Class 10 PDF Download 2026

Ans: Amanda is most likely a young teenager, around 12 to 14 years old. We can guess this because she is scolded for having "acne" (pimples), which is a common problem during puberty. Also, her behaviour—sulking, daydreaming, and rebelling against constant instructions—is highly typical of a teenager.

Ans: One of her parents, most probably her mother, is speaking to her. The instructions about posture, completing homework, cleaning the room, and worrying about what society will think ("what will people say") are classic examples of a mother's anxious parenting.

Ans: Stanzas 2, 4, and 6 are given in parentheses (brackets) to indicate that they are not spoken out loud. They represent Amanda's inner, silent thoughts, daydreams, and fantasies. The parentheses create a visual and structural separation between the harsh reality of her mother's scolding and the peaceful world of Amanda's imagination.

Ans: The speaker in stanzas 2, 4, and 6 is Amanda herself (in her mind). No, she is not listening to her mother (the speaker in stanzas 1, 3, 5, and 7). She is completely lost in her own daydreams to avoid hearing her mother's continuous nagging.

Ans: If Amanda were a mermaid, she would be the sole (only) inhabitant of a beautiful, green (emerald) sea. She would drift slowly and blissfully in the calm water, enjoying absolute peace and freedom, far away from her mother's constant instructions.

Ans: It shows that the speaker (the mother) is very authoritative, strict, and highly concerned about Amanda's physical appearance, habits, and social presentation.

Ans: Amanda is so frustrated by her mother's constant control that she ironically wishes to be an orphan. As an orphan, she imagines she would be free to roam the streets barefoot and make patterns in the dust without anyone scolding her for getting dirty.

Ans: The speaker questions Amanda if she has finished her homework, if she has tidied up her room, and specifically reminds her that she was supposed to clean her shoes.

Ans: Amanda is forbidden to eat chocolate because she has acne (pimples). Her mother believes that eating chocolate will worsen her skin condition.

Ans: Rapunzel lived isolated in a tall tower. Amanda wants that isolation because life in a tower would be "tranquil and rare" (peaceful and unique), away from her mother's nagging.

Ans: Unlike the real fairy tale Rapunzel, Amanda firmly resolves that she will "certainly never let down my bright hair." She wants to ensure that no one ever climbs up the tower to disturb her peaceful isolation.

Ans: The central theme is the psychological impact of over-parenting on a teenager. The poem highlights that while parents intend to instill good habits and discipline, constant nagging and criticism can suffocate a child. It makes the child rebellious, moody, and drives them to seek escape in an imaginary world. The poem emphasizes that children need space, freedom, and understanding to grow naturally, rather than being constantly controlled to fit societal expectations.

Ans: Amanda's relationship with her mother is highly strained and lacks emotional connection. The mother operates purely as an instructor, issuing a barrage of commands ("Don't bite your nails," "Clean your shoes," "Stop sulking"). She treats Amanda like a project to be perfected for society. Amanda, in turn, feels alienated and oppressed. Instead of arguing back, she uses passive resistance—she simply stops listening, sulks, and retreats entirely into her daydreams. There is a complete breakdown of healthy communication between them.

Ans: Amanda uses her vivid imagination to build a mental fortress against her mother's harsh reality. Every time her mother scolds her, she daydreams of a different persona that guarantees isolation and freedom.
1. When scolded for posture, she imagines being a Mermaid, the sole inhabitant of a peaceful sea.
2. When scolded for cleaning, she imagines being an Orphan, free to roam barefoot in the dust.
3. When scolded for eating chocolate, she imagines being Rapunzel, locked safely in an unreachable tower. Her imagination is her only sanctuary.

Ans: This line perfectly captures Amanda's deepest desires. In her real life, she is surrounded by the constant, irritating "noise" of her mother's instructions and scolding. She is given no freedom to act her age. Therefore, in her fantasy of being an orphan, she considers "silence" to be as precious and valuable as gold. Similarly, the "freedom" to roam without being judged or corrected tastes incredibly sweet to a girl who feels entirely caged in her own home.

Ans: Amanda's mother is not intentionally cruel; she is just an over-anxious and conventional parent. She wants her daughter to have good manners, clear skin, and a tidy room, which are standard parenting goals. However, her *method* is flawed. By constantly nagging and prioritizing "what people will say" over Amanda's mental health, she inadvertently becomes a source of trauma for her child.

Ans: The mother says this because Amanda is visibly unhappy and unresponsive. Amanda has retreated into her daydreams and is ignoring the scolding. The mother interprets this silence and lack of eye contact as "sulking" and being "moody."

Ans: This phrase reveals the mother's hypocrisy and her obsession with social image. She is literally nagging Amanda continuously throughout the poem, yet she is worried that society might *perceive* her as a nagging mother. She cares more about her reputation than her daughter's feelings.

Ans: Being barefoot and playing in the dust represents the ultimate, carefree childhood joy. Since her mother obsessively forces her to clean her shoes and stay tidy, roaming barefoot is Amanda's ultimate fantasy of rebellion and freedom.

Ans: The poet wants to convey that children should not be treated as robots programmed to follow commands. Parents need to balance discipline with love and allow children the freedom and space to grow, otherwise, they will become emotionally distant and depressed.