My Own True Family by Ted Hughes – Textual Questions and Answers

Ted Hughes’ poem My Own True Family is a powerful exploration of humanity’s connection with nature and the consequences of environmental neglect. Through a mystical encounter in an oakwood, the poet undergoes a profound transformation, realizing his responsibility toward trees and the natural world. This article delves into a detailed analysis of the poem, answering comprehension questions to enhance understanding. Additionally, it includes grammatical exercises to strengthen indirect speech, sentence transformation, and composition skills—essential tools for mastering the English language. Whether you’re studying poetry or refining your grammar, these questions and answers will guide you toward deeper literary and linguistic proficiency.

My Own True Family by Ted Hughes – Solved Textual Questions

1. Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:

(a) Creeping in an oakwood, the poet was looking for a (i) goat (ii) rhinoceros (iii) stag (iv) buffalo

(b) Whenever an oak tree is felled, the number of trees the poet must plant is (i) two (ii) three (iii) four (iv) five

(c) When the poet came out of the oakwood, his heart was that of a (i) stag (ii) tree (iii) human child (iv) old woman

2. State whether the following statements are True or False. Provide sentences/ phrases/ words in support of your answer.

(a) The old woman held the poet’s secrets in her little bag.
Answer: True
Supporting statement: “She said: ‘I have your secret here inside my little bag.’”

(b) The tree tribe said that the poet is bothered to see the chopping down of oak trees.
Answer: False
Supporting statement: “We are chopped down, we are torn up, you do not blink an eye.”

(c) The poet never came out of the oakwood.
Answer: False
Supporting statement: “When I came out of the oakwood, back to human company.”

3. Answer the following questions:

(a) When did the poet come twice awake?

Answer: The poet came “twice awake” when he had the vision of the tree tribe and realized his deep connection with nature. The experience changed his perspective, making him more aware of the destruction of trees.

(b) What would happen to the poet if he failed to make the promise?

Answer: If the poet failed to promise to plant two trees for every felled oak, the “black oak bark will wrinkle over” him, and he would be rooted among the oaks where he was born but never grew—implying that he would become lifeless or trapped like a felled tree.

(c) What was it that altered the poet?

Answer: The dreamlike vision of the tree tribe, their accusations, and the realization of his duty toward nature altered the poet. The experience made him aware of the harm done to trees and gave him a sense of responsibility.

4. Change the following into indirect speech:

(a) Rahul asked Dipa, “Will you go to school today?”
Answer: Rahul asked Dipa if she would go to school that day.

(b) Rita said to Ayesha, “Please give me a glass of water.”
Answer: Rita requested Ayesha to give her a glass of water.

(c) The old man told the little girl, “May you be happy!”
Answer: The old man blessed the little girl, wishing that she might be happy.

5. Do as directed:

(a) Ranjan said, “Who does not know the name of Rabindranath?” (Change into affirmative sentence)
Answer: Ranjan said that everyone knows the name of Rabindranath.

(b) Sangeeta runs faster than any other girl in her class. (Rewrite using the positive degree of ‘faster’)
Answer: No other girl in Sangeeta’s class runs as fast as she does.

(c) Kaushiki blamed her friend for the trouble. (Rewrite using the noun form of ‘blamed’)
Answer: Kaushiki put the blame on her friend for the trouble.

6. Your school is going to host the Inter-school District Sports Competition. Suppose you are the Secretary of the Sports Club of your school. Write a notice (within 100 words) calling students to participate in the competition. Mention the time, date and venue of the competition. Your notice should be countersigned by the Headmistress/Headmaster of your school.

Click here for the notice

The comprehension questions help reinforce this theme, while the grammar exercises enhance essential language skills. Understanding poetry is not just about interpretation—it also builds critical thinking and linguistic proficiency. By engaging with these questions and answers, students can develop a stronger grasp of literature and language, preparing them for academic success. Let this exploration inspire both a love for poetry and a commitment to preserving the natural world.