Somebody's Mother Summary, Line-by-Line Explanation, Themes & Question Answers | Class 8 English
Summary Of The Poem "Somebody's Mother"
1. Kindness and Compassion
The central theme of the poem is kindness and compassion. While everyone ignores the helpless old woman, one young boy stops to help her cross the road. His small act of kindness brings comfort and hope to her.
2. Empathy
The poem highlights the importance of empathy—understanding and caring about another person's feelings. The boy imagines that the old woman could be someone's mother, just as his own mother might one day need help.
3. Respect for the Elderly
The poem teaches us to respect and care for elderly people. The old woman is weak and lonely, and the boy treats her with dignity and kindness, setting an example for others.
4. Humanity and Selflessness
The boy helps the old woman without expecting any reward or praise. His selfless act reflects true humanity and shows that helping others is a noble responsibility.
Text
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.
She stood at the crossing and waited long,
Alone, uncared for, amid the throng
Of human beings who passed her by
Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eyes.
Down the street, with laughter and shout,
Glad in the freedom of “school let out,”
Explanation
The poem begins by describing an old woman who is poor, weak, and worn out by age. The cold winter weather and the snowy, slippery street make it even more difficult for her to walk. She stands alone at a busy crossing, waiting for someone to help her cross the road. Although many people pass by, no one notices her worried expression or offers assistance. At the same time, a group of cheerful schoolboys comes down the street, enjoying their freedom after school. This contrast between the lonely old woman and the happy children prepares the reader for the important lesson that follows.
Text
Came the boys like a flock of sheep,
Hailing the snow piled white and deep.
Past the woman so old and grey
Hastened the children on their way.
Nor offered a helping hand to her —
So meek, so timid, afraid to stir
Lest the carriage wheels or the horses’ feet
Should crowd her down in the slippery street.
At last came one of the merry troop,
The gayest laddie of all the group;
Explanation
The boys rush past the old woman, excitedly enjoying the snowfall and paying no attention to her helpless condition. They fail to notice that she is too frightened to step into the busy street because she fears being knocked down by horses or carriages. Her fear and helplessness highlight the difficulties faced by elderly people. Finally, one cheerful and kind-hearted boy separates himself from the group. His decision to stop marks a turning point in the poem and shows that true kindness often begins with a single person's compassionate action.
Text
He paused beside her and whispered low,
“I’ll help you cross, if you wish to go.”
Her aged hand on his strong young arm
She placed, and so, without hurt or harm,
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.
“She’s somebody’s mother, boys, you know,
For all she’s aged and poor and slow”,
Explanation
The kind boy politely offers to help the old woman cross the street. She gratefully places her weak hand on his strong arm, and he carefully leads her safely across. The contrast between her trembling feet and his youthful strength symbolises the support that the young can provide to the elderly. After helping her, the boy feels happy because he has done a good deed. He tells his friends that the old woman is "somebody's mother," reminding them that every elderly person deserves love, respect, and care, regardless of their appearance or condition.
Text
“And I hope some fellow will lend a hand
To help my mother, you understand”,
“If ever she’s poor and old and grey,
When her own dear boy is far away.”
And “somebody’s mother” bowed low her head
In her home that night, and the prayer she said
Was “God be kind to the noble boy,
Who is somebody’s son, and pride and joy!”
— Mary Dow Brine
Explanation
The boy explains that he helped the old woman because he hopes that if his own mother ever becomes old, weak, and alone, someone will show her the same kindness. His words reveal his empathy, gratitude, and deep respect for all mothers. That night, the old woman sincerely prays to God to bless the noble boy for his compassionate act. She calls him "somebody's son, and pride and joy," reminding readers that every child is precious to someone. The poem ends with a powerful message that kindness, empathy, and humanity create a more caring and compassionate society.
Textual Question Answers
Let us discuss
I Arrange the events of the poem in the correct order of occurrence.
Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
- The boy returned to his friends, feeling proud of what he had done.
- The old woman stood alone at the crossing, hesitant to move.
- A group of schoolboys passed by, playing, and laughing.
- The boy offered to help the old woman cross the street.
- The woman prayed for the boy who helped her.
- The children hurried past the old woman without offering help.
- The woman placed her hand on the boy’s arm, and he guided her
safely across the street.
- The boy thought about his own mother and hoped someone would
help her one day.
Correct Order:
2 → 3 → 6 → 4 → 7 → 1 → 8 → 5
- The old woman stood alone at the crossing, hesitant to move.
- A group of schoolboys passed by, playing and laughing.
- The children hurried past the old woman without offering help.
- The boy offered to help the old woman cross the street.
- The woman placed her hand on the boy's arm, and he guided her safely across the street.
- The boy returned to his friends, feeling proud of what he had done.
- The boy thought about his own mother and hoped someone would help her one day.
- The woman prayed for the boy who helped her.
II Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct answer from the options given in the brackets.
1. The central theme of the poem is _____________. (kindness and empathy/
adventure and courage)
2. The tone of the poem is _____________. (humorous and playful/
sympathetic and hopeful)
3. The poem is written in couplets with _____________ lines in each stanza.
(four/two)
4. The structure of the poem gives a rhythmic flow that reflects both the
_____________. (narrative and emotions/story’s pace and message)
5. The poem follows a rhyme scheme of _____________. (AABB/ABAB)
Answer:
- The central theme of the poem is kindness and empathy.
- The tone of the poem is sympathetic and hopeful.
- The poem is written in couplets with two lines in each stanza.
- The structure of the poem gives a rhythmic flow that reflects both the story's pace and message.
- The poem follows a rhyme scheme of AABB.
III Pick examples from the poem for the following poetic devices.
1. Simile
2. Alliteration
3. Repetition
Answer:
Simile: "Came the boys like a flock of sheep."Alliteration: "strong young arm" / "poor and slow".Repetition: "Somebody's mother".
IV Complete the following sentences appropriately explaining the imagery.
1. The poem uses imagery to describe scenes of a bustling street.
We know this by the phrase _______________________.
2. The line ‘The street was wet with a recent snow’ suggests
a cold and _______________________ weather, emphasising the
woman’s helplessness.
Answer:
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."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
_______________________.
Answer:
The poet repeats the phrase "Somebody's mother" because it reminds us that every elderly person is loved by someone and deserves kindness and respect.
VI Complete the analogy:
The old woman: vulnerable and neglected :: The young boy:
_______________________.
Answer:
The old woman : vulnerable and neglected :: The young boy : kind, compassionate and helpful.
Let us think and reflect
I Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow.
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 ?
A. the woman’s emotional state that day
B. the woman’s old and worn-out appearance
C. the weather conditions of the particular day
D. the colour of the street and the surroundings
Answer: 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 becauseshe was _______________________.
Answer: The woman was 'bent' with the chill of the Winter's day because she was old, weak, and affected by the cold weather.
(iii) Identify the fact and opinion from the following sentences:
A. The street was wet with recent snow. _______________________
B. The woman was too weak to cross the street on her own. _______________________
Answer:
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’?
Answer: Her feet were described as "aged and slow" because she was elderly, weak, and found it difficult to walk safely on the slippery road.
2. "He guided the trembling feet along,
Proud that his own were firm and strong.
hen 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?
Answer: The contrast emphasises the difference between old age and youth, showing how the young can use their strength to help those who are weak and helpless.
(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 was ________. (arrogant about being strong/grateful for his ability to help)
Answer: The boy was 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.
B. I’m worried about her safety.
C.
I’m surprised she forgot to thank me.
D. I’m thankful for all your support.
Answer: 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.
Answer: The young boy's actions were driven by kindness, empathy, and compassion, not merely by logical thinking.
II Answer the following questions.
1. What might be the old woman’s fears as she waited for a long time at the crossing?
Answer: The old woman feared that she might slip on the snowy road or be knocked down by the carriage wheels or horses' feet. Being old and weak, she was afraid to cross the busy street alone.
2. How does the poet show the helplessness of the old woman? Support your answer with evidence from the poem.
Answer: The poet describes the old woman as "old and ragged and grey" with "aged and slow" feet. She stands alone at the crossing for a long time, afraid to move because of the slippery road and passing traffic. These details clearly show her helplessness.
3. Why does the boy decide to help the old woman? What does this tell us about him?
Answer: The boy helps the old woman because he imagines that one day his own mother might become old and need someone's help. This shows that he is kind, thoughtful, compassionate, and respectful towards the elderly.
4. How was the boy’s approach towards the old woman different from that of the other boys in the group?
Answer: While the other boys hurried past the old woman without noticing her, the boy stopped, spoke to her politely, and helped her cross the street safely. His behaviour shows empathy and responsibility.
5. Justify the appropriateness of the title of the poem.
Answer: The title "Somebody's Mother" is appropriate because it reminds us that every elderly woman is someone's mother and deserves love, care, and respect. It encourages readers to treat all elderly people with kindness, just as they would treat their own mothers.
6. What does the poem suggest about the role of empathy and humanity in society?
Answer: The poem teaches that empathy and humanity make society more caring and compassionate. Even a small act of kindness can bring comfort and hope to someone in need. It encourages everyone to help others without expecting anything in return.
