Maharashtra Board Class 9 English Unit Two Chapter 2.3 Somebodys Mother PDF Download

Somebody's Mother

Warming Up!

Read the following proverb that has a biblical reference.

'Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.'

Now find at least 5 other proverbs/axioms/quotations which convey the same message. Search the internet/dictionary of proverbs.

Teacher's Note

This proverb teaches us to be kind to others. In India, we say "जैसी करनी वैसी भरनी" which means the same thing.

Exam Trick

Remember: This is about kindness. If you help others, others will help you too. It is like sharing lunch with your friend - they will share with you next time.

Points to Remember

Always be kind to people.
Help others when they need help.
Treat people the way you want to be treated.
This teaching is found in many religions and cultures.
Being good to others makes the world a better place.

Study the following sets of words:

Set A – pleased, happy, joyful, ecstatic

Set B – letter, word, sentence, paragraph

Note: The words in these sets are arranged in an ascending order. Each word shows a higher degree than the previous one. Now rearrange the following groups of words in the ascending order.

(a) (1) adult (2) aged (3) infant (4) youth

(b) (1) cold (2) freezing (3) cool (4) chill

(c) (1) brilliant (2) genius (3) bright (4) intelligent

(d) (1) mountain (2) peak/summit (3) mound (4) hill

Teacher's Note

This exercise teaches us about degrees of meaning. In India, children learn that a baby is an infant, then youth, then adult, then aged - each stage is different.

Exam Trick

Remember: Start from the weakest or smallest. Then go to the strongest or biggest. Like water can be cold, then chill, then cool, then freezing - from least to most cold.

Points to Remember

Words can show different levels of the same thing.
Start from the weakest level.
End with the strongest level.
This helps us understand meanings better.
We can arrange words by their strength or size.

Prepare similar word chains using the following ideas.

rain – drizzle

wind – breeze

sunshine – warm

waterbody – pool

size – big

size – small

Somebody's Mother

Warming Up!

Guess the following, using references from the poem:

The setting - the region, the locality

The time - the time of the year and the day.

The woman was old and ragged and gray,

And bent with the chill of a winter's day;

The streets were white with a recent snow,

And the woman's feet with age were slow.

At the crowded crossing she waited long,

Jostled aside by the careless throng

Of human beings who passed her by,

Unheeding the glance of her anxious eye.

Down the street with laughter and shout,

Glad in the freedom of 'school let out',

Came happy boys, like a flock of sheep,

Hailing the snow piled white and deep;

Past the woman, so old and gray,

Hastened the children on their way.

None offered a helping hand to her,

So weak and timid, afraid to stir,

Lest the carriage wheels or the horses' feet

Should trample her down in the slippery street.

At last came out of the merry troop

The gayest boy of all the group;

He paused beside her and whispered low,

'I'll help you across, 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 young and strong;

Then back again to his friends he went,

His young heart happy and well content.

Teacher's Note

This poem teaches us about helping old people. In India, we respect our elders and should always help them when they are in need.

Exam Trick

Remember: One kind boy helped the old woman. This shows that being kind makes you feel happy inside. Think of this story when you see an old person who needs help.

Points to Remember

The poem is set in winter with snow on the streets.
An old woman was trying to cross a busy street.
Most people did not help her.
One kind schoolboy stopped and helped her.
Helping others makes your heart happy.

'She's somebody's mother, boys, you know,

For all she's aged, and poor and slow;

And someone, some time, may lend a hand

To help my mother - you understand? -

If ever she's old and poor and gray,

And her own dear boy so far away.'

'Somebody's mother' bowed low her head

In her home that night, and the prayer she said

Was: 'God be kind to that noble boy,

Who is somebody's son and pride and joy.

- Mary Dow Brine

Teacher's Note

The boy helped the old woman because he thought about his own mother. This teaches us to treat others as we would want someone to treat our own parents.

Exam Trick

Remember: The boy said "she's somebody's mother" - meaning every old person is important to someone. Think of them as someone's grandmother or mother, then help them.

Points to Remember

Every old person is somebody's mother or father.
We should help others like we help our own family.
Kindness comes back to us in different ways.
The old woman prayed for the boy who helped her.
We should treat everyone with respect.

English Workshop

Pick out lines from the poem that help create images of the following in our mind and write them in the table.

Teacher's Note

When we read poetry, we should imagine the scenes in our mind like a movie. This helps us understand the poem better and remember it longer.

Exam Trick

Remember: Look for words that describe how things look, sound, and feel. Words like "white with snow," "happy boys," and "old and gray" help us see the picture in the poem.

Points to Remember

Poems use special words to create pictures in our mind.
Words about colors help us see the scene.
Words about feelings help us understand the story.
We should read slowly and imagine as we read.
This makes reading poetry more fun and interesting.

Write at least 5 rhymes from the poem.

Teacher's Note

Rhyming words are fun to find. In India, many traditional songs and poems use rhyming words to make them easy to remember and sing.

Exam Trick

Remember: Rhyming words sound the same at the end. In this poem, "gray" rhymes with "day." Listen to the last words of lines to find rhymes.

Points to Remember

Rhymes are words that sound the same at the end.
Poems use rhymes to make them musical.
Rhyming words are easy to remember.
We can find rhymes by looking at line endings.
Rhymes make poems fun to read aloud.

Give, in your own words, TWO reasons for each of the following:

(a) The woman was reluctant to cross the street by herself.

(b) The schoolboys were in a happy mood.

(c) One of the schoolboys helped the old woman cross the street.

(d) We must help those who are in need.

Teacher's Note

When we answer questions, we should think about the reasons and explain them in our own simple words. This shows that we understand the poem well.

Exam Trick

Remember: Use words like "because" to explain reasons. For example: "The woman did not cross because she was weak and afraid." This is a good way to write your answer.

Points to Remember

Always give complete reasons for your answers.
Use simple words that you understand.
Think about the story before you write.
Use the word "because" to explain reasons clearly.
Write your own ideas in your own words.

Think and write in 5-6 lines, why most of the people on a road/street ignore those in need of help. What about you? Write about your feelings after you have helped/not helped, when needed.

Teacher's Note

This exercise helps us think about our own behavior. In India, we are taught to help others, but sometimes people are too busy or don't notice. It is important to stop and help when we can.

Exam Trick

Remember: When you write about your own feelings, be honest. Tell the truth about what you felt - happy if you helped, or sad if you did not help. Teachers like honest answers.

Points to Remember

Many people are too busy and do not notice others in need.
Some people are shy to help strangers.
Fear and worry can stop us from helping.
Helping others makes us feel good and happy.
Not helping can make us feel sad or guilty.

Read the poem: 'Home they brought her warrior dead' by Alfred Lord Tennyson

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