Class 8 English - Poorvi (New NCERT Book 2026-27)
Chapter 5: Somebody’s Mother (Poem)
Poet: Mary Dow Brine
Hello students! This chapter is a beautiful poem that teaches us a very important life lesson in the simplest way. It shows how one small act of kindness can make a big difference. The poem is easy to read and understand, and it will make you think about how we treat elderly people around us. Let’s go through everything step by step – like your classroom notes – so you can revise easily for exams!
1. Pre-Reading Activities (Before You Read the Poem)
These activities in the book help you connect with the theme.
Activity I: Recall a time you helped someone.
- Write two words for:
- Your feelings after helping → (Example: happy, proud, satisfied)
- The other person’s feelings → (Example: thankful, relieved, safe) Tip for students: Think of real examples like helping an old neighbour or a friend with homework. Share in class – it builds empathy!
Activity II: Circle words for an elderly person and underline for a school student. Words: strong, worried, trembling, hastening, firm, bent, merry, grey, slow, guide, helpful.
- Elderly: worried, trembling, bent, grey, slow
- Student: strong, hastening, firm, merry, helpful, guide Why? Elderly people may feel weak or slow due to age; students are energetic and strong.
Activity III: Meaning of “ragged” in the poem. Correct meaning: (of clothes) old and torn; synonym: shabby. (The other meanings are for different contexts – not for clothes here.)
(Visual: Imagine an old woman like this – bent, slow, and alone in the cold. This picture helps you picture the scene in the poem!)
2. Full Poem Text (Exactly as in the NCERT Book)
Somebody’s Mother Mary Dow Brine
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,” 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; 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”, “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!”
3. Simple Summary (Easy to Remember)
An old, poor woman in ragged clothes is standing at a busy snowy crossing. She is scared to cross because of traffic and her weak legs. Many schoolboys run past her laughing, but none help. Finally, one cheerful boy stops, holds her hand, and safely helps her cross. He tells his friends, “She is somebody’s mother… I hope someone helps my mother too one day.” That night, the old woman prays for the kind boy.
Key Point: The poem reminds us – every old person is “somebody’s mother/father”. Be kind!
(Visual: See how a young boy is helping an old woman cross the road – exactly like the poem! This picture shows the kindness in action.)
4. Word Meanings / Glossary (Very Important for Exams)
- Ragged: old and torn clothes (shabby)
- Grey: colour of old hair (also shows age)
- Chill: cold weather
- Throng: big crowd
- Heeded: paid attention to
- Anxious: worried
- Hastened: hurried quickly
- Meek: gentle and humble
- Timid: shy and afraid
- Stir: move
- Lest: in case / for fear that
- Merry troop: happy group of boys
- Laddie: young boy (Scottish word)
- Trembling: shaking with fear or cold
- Content: happy and satisfied
- Noble: good and kind
5. Themes (Main Ideas)
- Kindness and Empathy: Small help can change someone’s day.
- Respect for Elderly: Old people deserve care, not neglect.
- Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
- Humanity in Society: In a busy world, we often ignore the weak. One boy shows true humanity.
Message of the Poem: Always help elders. Think – she is somebody’s mother, just like yours!
6. Poetic Devices (For Literature Questions)
- Simile: “Came the boys like a flock of sheep” (boys compared to sheep).
- Alliteration: “wet with a recent snow”, “laughter and shout”, “firm and strong”.
- Repetition: “Somebody’s mother” (emphasises the main idea).
- Imagery: Cold snowy street, trembling feet, anxious eyes – you can “see” the scene.
- Rhyme Scheme: AABB (couplets) – makes it musical and easy to read.
7. Detailed Answers to All Book Exercises (Let’s Discuss, Think & Reflect, Learn)
Let us Discuss I. Correct order of events: 2 → 3 → 6 → 4 → 7 → 1 → 8 → 5
II. Fill in the blanks:
- kindness and empathy
- sympathetic and hopeful
- two
- narrative and emotions
- AABB
III. Poetic devices examples: (as above)
IV. Imagery:
- “amid the throng of human beings who passed her by”
- slippery and dangerous
V. The poet repeats “Somebody’s mother” because it reminds us that every old woman is precious to someone.
VI. Analogy: The young boy: kind, brave and thoughtful.
Let us Think and Reflect (Extract-based + Short Questions) (Answers in simple student language)
Extract 1: (i) B. The woman’s old and worn-out appearance. (ii) ...she was old, weak and feeling very cold. (iii) A. Fact B. Opinion (iv) Because she was old and tired; her feet moved slowly.
Extract 2: (i) It shows the difference between weakness of old age and strength of youth. The boy uses his strength to help. (ii) grateful for his ability to help (iii) A. I’m so glad I could help her. (iv) False sentence corrected: The young boy’s actions were driven by kindness and empathy, not just logic.
Short Questions:
- She feared the slippery road, fast carriages, horses, and being ignored by the crowd.
- “Alone, uncared for”, “bent with the chill”, “aged and slow”, “trembling feet”, “afraid to stir”.
- He felt sympathy and remembered his own mother. It shows he is kind, thoughtful and mature.
- Other boys hurried past laughing; this boy stopped, spoke politely and helped her.
- Title is perfect because the boy helps her thinking she is “somebody’s mother” and the poem ends with her prayer as “somebody’s mother”.
- The poem says empathy and kindness make society better. We must help the weak so that someone helps our family too one day.
Let us Learn (Vocabulary) I. Antonyms grid (find these words): firm → weak, meek → bold, merry → sad, kind → cruel, anxious → calm, bent → straight.
II. Matching (typical exercise – match words like “hastened” with “hurried quickly”, etc.).
8. Extra Exam Tips for You
- Long Answer Question (5 marks): Write the summary + message in 80-100 words.
- Value-based Question: “What lesson did you learn?” → Always help elders with kindness.
- MCQ Tip: Look for words like “sympathy”, “old woman”, “boy’s thought about his mother”.
- Revise the poem 2-3 times – it’s short and rhymes beautifully!
You now have complete A-Z notes of Chapter 5 – poem, summary, meanings, all answers, themes, and visuals. Study this, practise writing answers, and you will score full marks easily! Be kind like the boy in the poem – it makes the world better.
Keep smiling and keep learning! 🌟