Class 8 English - MAHARASHTRA
Poetry: Somebody's Mother
The poem 'Somebody's Mother' by Mary Dow Brine is a touching narrative about kindness, empathy, and respect for elders. For Class 8 Maharashtra Board (MSBSHSE) students, this chapter is crucial as it tests reading comprehension, poetic devices, and moral reasoning. Students will explore how a young schoolboy helps an old, frail woman cross a slippery, crowded street, teaching us that treating others with care reflects our own character. Board exams frequently feature questions on stanza comprehension, figure of speech, and character analysis from this heartwarming poem.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Theme of Empathy and Compassion
The poem highlights how a small act of kindness towards a stranger can make a huge difference and bring inner joy.
Poetic Structure and Rhyme
The poem is written in four-line stanzas (quatrains) with an AABB or similar rhyming scheme that gives it a musical flow.
Visual Imagery
Descriptive phrases like 'ragged grey hair' and 'chill on a winter's day' create vivid mental pictures for the reader.
Character Contrast
The poem contrasts the indifferent crowd of young boys with the compassionate schoolboy who stops to help.
Universal Message
The old woman's night prayer reminds us that everyone is 'somebody's mother' and deserves care and protection.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Maharashtra (MSBSHSE) Class 8 English paper, this chapter typically carries about 4 to 6 marks. Questions often include extract-based reading comprehension, appreciation of poetic devices, short answer questions on the boy's actions, and personal response questions about helping elders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central message of the poem 'Somebody's Mother'?
The central message is that we should always help those in need, especially elderly people, treating them with the same respect and care we would want for our own mothers.
Why did the old woman hesitate to cross the street?
The old woman was old, weak, and ragged, and she was afraid of being trampled or hurt by the fast-moving horse carriages and the crowd on the slippery, snowy street.
What did the boy say to his friends before helping the woman?
The boy told his friends, 'I'll help her across, if you keep on, because she's nobody's mother, and perhaps she's old, aged and poor.'
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