Somebody’s MotherClass 9 English Chapter 2 Notes – Maharashtra Board

Summary: Somebody’s Mother

On a cold winter day, an old, poor, grey-haired woman, bent with age, stands at a busy crossing on a snowy street. Her feet are slow and she waits a long time.

The crowd hurries past, pushing her aside. Nobody notices the worried look in her eyes.

School is over, and a group of happy boys runs down the street, shouting and laughing and welcoming the deep snow. They too rush past her without helping. She is too weak and scared to move, afraid that carriages or horses will knock her down on the slippery road.

At last the most cheerful boy of the group stops, quietly offers to help, and guides her safely across on his strong young arm. He returns to his friends happy and content, and tells them that she is somebody's mother — and one day someone may help his own mother when she is old and he is far away.

That night, at home, the old woman bows her head and prays that God will be kind to that noble boy, who is also somebody's son, pride and joy.

Key points to remember

• Poet: Mary Dow Brine
• Type: narrative poem — it tells a story
• Setting: a snowy town street at a crowded crossing, on a winter afternoon when school has just ended
• The old woman: old, ragged, grey, bent, slow, weak, timid and anxious
• The crowd is careless and unheeding — nobody notices her
• The schoolboys are compared to a flock of sheep (simile)
• The 'gayest' (most cheerful) boy helps her — kindness can go with fun and joy
• The boy's reason: she is somebody's mother; someone may one day help his own mother
• The woman prays for the boy, calling him somebody's son, pride and joy
• Rhyme scheme: aabb (rhyming couplets); message — do to others what you would want done to you

Somebody’s Mother – Notes

1. The poem in simple words

• The scene: snow has just fallen. An old woman in torn clothes, shivering and bent, waits at a busy crossing for a long time.
• The crowd: people push past her carelessly. No one sees that she needs help.
• The boys: freed from school, they rush out laughing and shouting, delighted with the deep snow. They too hurry past her.
• Her fear: she is too weak and nervous to step forward, in case the wheels or the horses trample her on the slippery road.
• The helper: the merriest boy stops, whispers an offer of help, and gently leads her across. He feels proud that his own legs are young and strong.
• His words: she is somebody's mother; if his own mother were ever old, poor and alone, he would hope someone would help her.
• The prayer: at night the old woman asks God to bless the noble boy.

2. Imagery: pictures in the poem

• Old woman — 'old and ragged and gray', 'bent with the chill', feet slow with age, an 'anxious eye', 'trembling feet'.
• The street — white with fresh snow, a crowded crossing, a careless crowd, carriage wheels and horses, a slippery street.
• Schoolboys — laughter and shouts, the freedom of school being over, 'like a flock of sheep', welcoming the deep snow.

3. Figures of speech and form

• Simile: the boys came 'like a flock of sheep' — moving together in a noisy group.
• Alliteration: 'school… sheep… snow', 'without hurt or harm', 'pride… prayer'.
• Contrast: the old woman's weak, trembling feet against the boy's young, strong arm; the careless crowd against the caring boy.
• Transferred epithet: 'anxious eye' — it is the woman who is anxious.
• Rhyme scheme: aabb — e.g. gray/day, snow/slow, sheep/deep, arm/harm, boy/joy.

4. Message and values

• Every old person is someone's mother or father; treat them as you would want your own family treated.
• The golden rule: do to others what you would like them to do to you.
• Kindness takes only a moment, but it can mean a lot to someone in need.
• Being young, strong and happy gives us the power — and the duty — to help others.
• Kindness brings its own reward: the boy feels content and the woman blesses him.

Words and phrases to know

Key terms

Somebody’s Mother – Flashcards

Read the question, answer it in your head, then tap the card to check. 20 cards.

Somebody’s Mother – MCQ Quiz

15 questions. Tap an option — you will see at once if it is right and why.

How to study Somebody’s Mother

⏱ About 20 minutes

1. Read (5 min)
   Read the poem as a story: the woman waiting, the careless crowd, the boys, the helper, his words, her prayer.
2. Learn (8 min)
   Learn the word meanings, imagery of the woman, street and boys, the simile, rhymes and the message.
3. Practise (7 min)
   Answer the 'Try it yourself' questions, take the quiz and play 🎮 Play.