Answers to "Somebody's Mother"
I. Arrange the events of the poem in the correct order of occurrence.
Here are the events of the poem arranged in the correct order:
1 The old woman stood alone at the crossing, hesitant to move. (Original: 2)
2 A group of schoolboys passed by, playing, and laughing. (Original: 3)
3 The children hurried past the old woman without offering help. (Original: 6)
4 The boy offered to help the old woman cross the street. (Original: 4)
5 The woman placed her hand on the boy’s arm, and he guided her safely across the street. (Original: 7)
6 The boy returned to his friends, feeling proud of what he had done. (Original: 1)
7 The boy thought about his own mother and hoped someone would help her one day. (Original: 8)
8 The woman prayed for the boy who helped her. (Original: 5)
II. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct answer from the options given.
9 The central theme of the poem is kindness and empathy. (kindness and empathy/adventure and courage)
10 The tone of the poem is sympathetic and hopeful. (humorous and playful/sympathetic and hopeful)
11 The poem is written in couplets with two lines in each stanza. (four/two)
12 The structure of the poem gives a rhythmic flow that reflects both the story’s pace and message. (narrative and emotions/story’s pace and message)
13 The poem follows a rhyme scheme of AABB. (AABB/ABAB)
III. Pick examples from the poem for the following poetic devices.
14 Simile:
◦ "Came the boys like a flock of sheep," (Line 46)
15 Alliteration:
◦ "She stood at the crossing and waited long," (Line 40)
◦ "His young heart happy and well content." (Line 63)
16 Repetition:
◦ "The woman was old and ragged and grey" (Line 20, 36)
◦ "And bent with the chill of the Winter’s day." (Line 21, 37)
◦ "Somebody’s mother" (Lines 64, 70)
IV. Complete the following sentences appropriately explaining the imagery.
17 The poem uses imagery to describe scenes of a bustling street. We know this by the phrase "amid the throng / Of human beings who passed her by".
18 The line ‘The street was wet with a recent snow’ suggests a cold and slippery weather, emphasising the woman’s helplessness.
V. Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason.
The poet repeats the phrase "Somebody’s mother" because it emphasizes the universal value of a mother and appeals to the reader's empathy, suggesting that every elderly, vulnerable woman could be someone's mother, deserving of respect and help.
VI. Complete the analogy:
The old woman: vulnerable and neglected :: The young boy: compassionate and helpful.
Let us think and reflect
I. Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow.
Extract 1:"The woman was old and ragged and grey
And bent with the chill of the Winter’s day.
The street was wet with a recent snow
And the woman’s feet were aged and slow."
(i) What does the phrase ‘ragged and grey’ refer to?
B. the woman’s old and worn-out appearance
(ii) Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason:
The woman was ‘bent’ with the chill of the Winter’s day because she wasold and frail, and the cold weather made her posture stooped.
(iii) Identify the fact and opinion from the following sentences:
A. The street was wet with recent snow.Fact
B. The woman was too weak to cross the street on her own. Opinion
(iv) Why do you think the woman’s feet were described as ‘aged and slow’?
The woman’s feet were described as ‘aged and slow’ to highlight her physical frailty and the difficulty she faced in moving, especially on a slippery, snowy street. This imagery emphasizes her vulnerability and need for assistance.
Extract 2:"He guided the trembling feet along,
Proud that his own were firm and strong.
Then back again to his friends he went,
His young heart happy and well content."
(i) What does the contrast between the ‘trembling feet’ of the old woman and the ‘firm and strong’ feet of the boy emphasise?
The contrast emphasizes the stark difference in their physical conditions and capabilities. The 'trembling feet' of the old woman signify her weakness, fear, and vulnerability, while the 'firm and strong' feet of the boy represent his youth, strength, and ability to help. It highlights the boy's capacity to provide support to someone in need.
(ii) Fill in the blank given below by selecting the correct option from the brackets.
• The poem tells us that the boy was ‘proud’ that his feet were strong.
• This tells us that the boy wasgrateful for his ability to help. (arrogant about being strong/grateful for his ability to help)
(iii) What is the boy most likely to tell his friends on getting back?
A. I’m so glad I could help her.
(iv) Rectify the false sentence given below.
The young boy’s actions were driven by a logical decision.Rectified: The young boy’s actions were driven by empathy and compassion.
II. Answer the following questions.
19 What might be the old woman’s fears as she waited for a long time at the crossing?
As she waited, the old woman likely feared being knocked down or injured by the bustling crowd, carriage wheels, or horses' feet on the slippery, snowy street. Her hesitation to stir (Line 51) suggests a deep concern for her safety and an awareness of her own physical limitations in such a chaotic environment.
20 How does the poet show the helplessness of the old woman? Support your answer with evidence from the poem.
The poet shows the old woman's helplessness through several descriptions:
◦ Her physical state: "old and ragged and grey / And bent with the chill of the Winter’s day... her feet were aged and slow." (Lines 20-21, 39)
◦ Her isolation: "Alone, uncared for, amid the throng / Of human beings who passed her by / Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eyes." (Lines 41-43)
◦ Her fear: "So meek, so timid, afraid to stir / Lest the carriage wheels or the horses’ feet / Should crowd her down in the slippery street." (Lines 51-53)
These lines collectively paint a picture of a vulnerable individual overwhelmed by her surroundings and unable to navigate them safely on her own.
21 Why does the boy decide to help the old woman? What does this tell us about him?
The boy decides to help the old woman out of a sense of empathy and a realization that she is "somebody's mother" (Line 64). He imagines his own mother in a similar predicament and hopes someone would help her. This tells us that the boy is compassionate, thoughtful, and possesses a strong sense of responsibility and kindness, going against the indifference shown by his peers.
22 How was the boy’s approach towards the old woman different from that of the other boys in the group?
The other boys "hastened... on their way" (Lines 48-49) and "Nor offered a helping hand to her" (Line 50), showing indifference and a lack of concern. In contrast, the boy "paused beside her and whispered low, / 'I’ll help you cross, if you wish to go.'" (Lines 56-57). His approach was marked by direct engagement, gentleness, and a proactive offer of assistance, demonstrating a profound difference in empathy and action.
23 Justify the appropriateness of the title of the poem.
The title "Somebody's Mother" is highly appropriate because it encapsulates the central theme of empathy and universal human connection. The boy's motivation to help stems from the thought that the old woman is someone's mother, just as his own mother might one day need help. This phrase elevates the woman from an anonymous figure to a person with inherent value and a familial connection, urging readers to extend kindness to all, recognizing their shared humanity.
24 What does the poem suggest about the role of empathy and humanity in society?
The poem strongly suggests that empathy and humanity are crucial for a compassionate society. It highlights the negative impact of indifference (shown by the passing crowd and other boys) and celebrates the positive power of a single act of kindness. The boy's actions, driven by empathy, not only help the old woman but also bring him personal satisfaction and serve as a moral lesson. The poem implies that recognizing the shared humanity in others, especially the vulnerable, is fundamental to fostering a caring community.
Let us learn
I. The grid given below has the antonyms of the words from the text. Locate these words in the grid horizontally, vertically, and diagonally.
Words from the text and their antonyms (to be found in the grid):
• firm (from 'firm and strong') -> fragile
• meek (from 'So meek, so timid') -> bold
• merry (from 'merry troop') -> sad
• kind (from 'God be kind') -> cruel
• anxious (from 'anxious eyes') -> peaceful / calm / easeful
• bent (from 'bent with the chill') -> straight
Antonyms found in the grid:
• FRAGILE (G M F R A G I L E) - Horizontal
• BOLD (C A P U K N D F H - B is in the 3rd column, 4th row, then O, L, D diagonally up-right) - Diagonal
• SAD (G M F R A G I L E - S is in the 4th column, 5th row, then A, D diagonally down-right) - Diagonal
• CRUEL (C R U E L - C is in the 1st column, 3rd row, then R, U, E, L horizontally) - Horizontal
• PEACEFUL (P E A S E F U L F) - Horizontal
• CALM (C A L M - C is in the 1st column, 4th row, then A, L, M horizontally) - Horizontal
• EASEFUL (P E A S E F U L F - E A S E F U L is part of peaceful) - Horizontal
• STRAIGHT (S T R A I G H T L) - Horizontal
(Note: The grid provided is a visual puzzle. I've identified the antonyms and indicated where they might be found. A visual representation would be needed to actually circle them.)
II. Match the words from the text given in Column 1 with the underlined phrases in Column 2.
25 hastened - (iii) The students worked quickly to complete the project and submit it on time.
26 heeded - (vi) The stranded people were brought to safety because they paid attention to our advice.
27 stir - (i) The mother heard the baby move slightly in the cradle at night.
28 lend - (v) They came forward to help us when we were in need.
29 piled - (iv) All the boxes were kept in a heap at one place.
30 offered - (ii) It is our duty to give support to the poor.
III. Match these idioms with their meanings in Column 2.
31 get out of hand - (iv) become difficult to control
32 try your hand at something - (i) do something new
33 give somebody a free hand - (vi) allow somebody to do something with full freedom
34 give somebody a big hand - (ii) applaud somebody
35 work hand in hand - (iii) work together
36 have your hands full - (v) be very busy
IV. Complete the following analogy by filling in the blanks with the correct words from the poem.
37 chill : winter :: heat : summer
38 hurt : harm :: old: aged
39 whispered : shouted :: humble : proud
40 eyes : glance :: legs : walk
41 having a lot of money: wealthy :: densely packed people: throng
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