Video Lecture: My Grandmother’s House by Kamala Das | Student Presentation by Navya D. N

 
A Student-Led Poetry Analysis

Presented by: Navya D N,
II BA - 'C' Section - Optional English
Department of English
Sahyadri Arts College, Shivamogga

About the Video Lecture

Welcome to this video lecture on My Grandmother’s House, a deeply moving poem by Kamala Das, one of the prominent voices in Indian English poetry.

In this student-led learning module, Navya, a II B.A. student of Optional English at Sahyadri Arts College, explores the poem’s central themes, poetic imagery and emotional depth. The lecture examines how the memory of the grandmother’s house becomes a symbol of childhood love, emotional security, loss and loneliness.

Through a close reading of the poem, this video discusses significant images such as the silent house, the snakes among books, the frozen air, the darkness behind the bedroom door and the final metaphor of receiving love in “small change.”

The lecture also considers how Kamala Das transforms a personal memory into a universal reflection on love, belonging and the human need for emotional connection.

Learning Objectives

  • Explain the central themes of My Grandmother’s House.
  • Analyse the significance of the grandmother’s house as a symbol.
  • Identify and interpret important poetic devices, including imagery, simile, metaphor and personification.
  • Trace the movement from childhood memories of love to the speaker’s present loneliness.
  • Develop their own critical response to the poem using textual evidence.

Reflect and Respond

As you watch the video, consider the following questions:

  1. What does the grandmother’s house represent to the speaker?
  2. How do the images of silence, darkness and coldness communicate the speaker’s emotional state?
  3. What is the significance of the expression “small change” in the final lines?
  4. How does Kamala Das transform a personal memory into an experience that readers can relate to?

Learning Activity

After watching the lecture, write a short analytical response of approximately 100 words on the following topic:

“The grandmother’s house is a symbol of lost love and emotional security.” Discuss with reference to the poem.

Support your response with relevant images and expressions from the poem.

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My Grandmother’s House reminds us that places often become meaningful because of the people and memories associated with them. Through this poem, Kamala Das explores the lasting emotional impact of love, loss and the longing to belong.

Watch the lecture, reflect on the poem, and develop your own interpretation.

Presented as a student-led learning initiative by the Department of English, Sahyadri Arts College.

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