Class 8 English - GUJARAT
Poetry: Somebody's Mother
The poem 'Somebody's Mother' by Mary Dow Brine tells a touching story of an elderly, ragged woman waiting anxiously to cross a busy, icy street. A group of schoolboys pass by indifferently until one thoughtful boy stops to help her safely across, acting out of kindness and respect. For Gujarat (GSEB) Class 8 students, this chapter is very important because it imparts essential moral values like empathy, compassion, and responsibility towards the elderly. Board exams frequently test comprehension of the poem's central theme, character motivations, and the moral lesson through short and long-answer questions.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Theme of Empathy and Kindness
The poem highlights how a small act of kindness can bring immense joy to others and leaves a lasting positive impact on the doer.
Respect for the Elderly
It teaches students to care for and assist elderly people who may struggle with physical limitations in public spaces.
Poetic Devices (Rhyme and Rhythm)
The poem uses a clear AABB rhyming scheme and a steady rhythm to make the narrative engaging and easy to recite.
Character Contrast
The contrast between the careless schoolboys who ignore the old woman and the helpful boy who assists her emphasizes the choice of being kind.
Karma and Goodwill
The final stanza reflects the idea that if we help someone else's mother today, someone else will look after our own mother in her time of need.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In Gujarat (GSEB) Class 8 English exams, this chapter typically carries around 4 to 6 marks. Common question types include short answer questions based on the old woman's situation, extract-based questions with reference to context (RTC), vocabulary exercises, and paragraph-writing on the theme of helping others.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central message of the poem 'Somebody's Mother'?
The central message is that we should always help people in need, especially the elderly, because kindness always comes back to us.
Why was the old woman afraid to cross the street?
The old woman was aged, ragged, and weak, and she was afraid of being trampled by the fast-moving horses and carriages on the slippery, crowded street.
What did the boy say to his friends after helping the old woman?
The boy told his friends that he helped her because someday someone else might lend a helping hand to his own mother, who is old, poor, and grey.
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