Summary:
Charles Lamb’s poem “On an Infant Dying as Soon as It Was Born” is a deeply emotional and philosophical reflection on the brief life of a new born who passes away immediately after birth. The poem explores themes of innocence, fate, and the transient nature of life.
Lamb presents the infant’s death as a release from the suffering and struggles of the world, portraying it as a soul untouched by pain or corruption. The tone is both sorrowful and contemplative, as the poet mourns the loss while also finding solace in the thought that the child has been spared from earthly hardships.
The poem resonates with a sense of quiet resignation, suggesting that the infant’s short-lived existence might be a merciful escape rather than a tragic loss. It reflects Lamb’s philosophical approach to life and death, blending grief with a sense of divine reasoning.

1. : What is the main theme of the poem?
(A) The beauty of childhood
(B) The fleeting nature of life and innocence
(C) The importance of education
(D) The joy of parenthood
2. : How does the poet describe the infant’s death?
(A) As a great tragedy
(B) As a merciful escape from life’s struggles
(C) As an accident
(D) As a punishment
3. : What is the tone of the poem?
(A) Joyful and celebratory
(B) Sorrowful and contemplative
(C) Angry and bitter
(D) Humorous and sarcastic
4. : What literary device is prominent in the poem?
(A) Simile
(B) Personification
(C) Metaphor
(D) Irony
5. : What message does the poem convey about life and death?
(A) Life is always joyful
(B) Death can sometimes be a relief from suffering
(C) People should fear death
(D) The world is a perfect place
6. : Which literary era does the poem belong to?
(A) Victorian Era
(B) Romantic Era
(C) Renaissance Period
(D) Modernist Period
7. : What feeling does the poem evoke in the reader?
(A) Excitement
(B) Grief and reflection
(C) Confusion
(D) Laughter
8. : What philosophical idea does Lamb suggest in the poem?
(A) Life is full of happiness
(B) Short-lived existence may be a blessing
(C) People should never have children
(D) Fate is always cruel
9. : Why does the poet believe the infant is spared from suffering?
(A) Because it never experienced worldly pain
(B) Because it was weak
(C) Because it was too innocent to survive
(D) Because it had a loving family
10. : What is the structure of the poem?
(A) Sonnet
(B) Lyrical elegy
(C) Epic poem
(D) Free verse