NCERT Textbook: Somebody's Mother | English Poorvi Class 8 - New NCERT PDF Download

 Page 1


Somebody’s Mother
Let us do these activities before we read.
I Recall a time you helped someone. 
Write two words describing:
1. What were your feelings after you 
did so?
2. What might have been the feelings of 
the person whom you helped? 
  Share your answers with your 
classmates and teacher. 
II Work in pairs. Read the words given below. Circle the words you would 
associate with an elderly person and underline the words you would 
associate with a school student. Share the reasons for your choices with 
your classmates and teacher.
strong worried trembling hastening
firm bent merry grey
slow guide helpful
III Read the lines.
  The woman was old and ragged and grey
  And bent with the chill of the Winter’s day.
  Select the suitable meaning of ‘ragged’ as used in these lines. There are 
other four meanings given below. Discuss with your classmates and 
teacher.
1. (of clothes) old and torn; synonym: shabby
• a ragged jacket
2. Having an outline, an edge, or a surface that is not straight or even
• a ragged coastline
3. Not smooth or regular; not showing control or careful preparation
• I could hear the sound of his ragged breathing.
• Their performance was still very ragged.
4. (Informal) very tired, especially after physical effort
• The elderly man was ragged after climbing the stairs. 
Unit 2.indd   70 13-05-2025   12:07:31
Page 2


Somebody’s Mother
Let us do these activities before we read.
I Recall a time you helped someone. 
Write two words describing:
1. What were your feelings after you 
did so?
2. What might have been the feelings of 
the person whom you helped? 
  Share your answers with your 
classmates and teacher. 
II Work in pairs. Read the words given below. Circle the words you would 
associate with an elderly person and underline the words you would 
associate with a school student. Share the reasons for your choices with 
your classmates and teacher.
strong worried trembling hastening
firm bent merry grey
slow guide helpful
III Read the lines.
  The woman was old and ragged and grey
  And bent with the chill of the Winter’s day.
  Select the suitable meaning of ‘ragged’ as used in these lines. There are 
other four meanings given below. Discuss with your classmates and 
teacher.
1. (of clothes) old and torn; synonym: shabby
• a ragged jacket
2. Having an outline, an edge, or a surface that is not straight or even
• a ragged coastline
3. Not smooth or regular; not showing control or careful preparation
• I could hear the sound of his ragged breathing.
• Their performance was still very ragged.
4. (Informal) very tired, especially after physical effort
• The elderly man was ragged after climbing the stairs. 
Unit 2.indd   70 13-05-2025   12:07:31
71
Values and Dispositions
Let us read
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.”
Unit 2.indd   71 13-05-2025   12:07:32
Page 3


Somebody’s Mother
Let us do these activities before we read.
I Recall a time you helped someone. 
Write two words describing:
1. What were your feelings after you 
did so?
2. What might have been the feelings of 
the person whom you helped? 
  Share your answers with your 
classmates and teacher. 
II Work in pairs. Read the words given below. Circle the words you would 
associate with an elderly person and underline the words you would 
associate with a school student. Share the reasons for your choices with 
your classmates and teacher.
strong worried trembling hastening
firm bent merry grey
slow guide helpful
III Read the lines.
  The woman was old and ragged and grey
  And bent with the chill of the Winter’s day.
  Select the suitable meaning of ‘ragged’ as used in these lines. There are 
other four meanings given below. Discuss with your classmates and 
teacher.
1. (of clothes) old and torn; synonym: shabby
• a ragged jacket
2. Having an outline, an edge, or a surface that is not straight or even
• a ragged coastline
3. Not smooth or regular; not showing control or careful preparation
• I could hear the sound of his ragged breathing.
• Their performance was still very ragged.
4. (Informal) very tired, especially after physical effort
• The elderly man was ragged after climbing the stairs. 
Unit 2.indd   70 13-05-2025   12:07:31
71
Values and Dispositions
Let us read
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.”
Unit 2.indd   71 13-05-2025   12:07:32
72
Poorvi
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!”
Mary Dow Brine
Unit 2.indd   72 13-05-2025   12:07:33
Page 4


Somebody’s Mother
Let us do these activities before we read.
I Recall a time you helped someone. 
Write two words describing:
1. What were your feelings after you 
did so?
2. What might have been the feelings of 
the person whom you helped? 
  Share your answers with your 
classmates and teacher. 
II Work in pairs. Read the words given below. Circle the words you would 
associate with an elderly person and underline the words you would 
associate with a school student. Share the reasons for your choices with 
your classmates and teacher.
strong worried trembling hastening
firm bent merry grey
slow guide helpful
III Read the lines.
  The woman was old and ragged and grey
  And bent with the chill of the Winter’s day.
  Select the suitable meaning of ‘ragged’ as used in these lines. There are 
other four meanings given below. Discuss with your classmates and 
teacher.
1. (of clothes) old and torn; synonym: shabby
• a ragged jacket
2. Having an outline, an edge, or a surface that is not straight or even
• a ragged coastline
3. Not smooth or regular; not showing control or careful preparation
• I could hear the sound of his ragged breathing.
• Their performance was still very ragged.
4. (Informal) very tired, especially after physical effort
• The elderly man was ragged after climbing the stairs. 
Unit 2.indd   70 13-05-2025   12:07:31
71
Values and Dispositions
Let us read
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.”
Unit 2.indd   71 13-05-2025   12:07:32
72
Poorvi
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!”
Mary Dow Brine
Unit 2.indd   72 13-05-2025   12:07:33
Values and Dispositions
73
Let us discuss
I Arrange the events of the poem in the correct order of occurrence. 
Share your answers with your classmates and teacher. 
1. The boy returned to his friends, feeling proud of what he had done.
2. The old woman stood alone at the crossing, hesitant to move.
3. A group of schoolboys passed by, playing, and laughing.
4. The boy offered to help the old woman cross the street.
5. The woman prayed for the boy who helped her.
6. The children hurried past the old woman without offering help.
7. The woman placed her hand on the boy’s arm, and he guided her 
safely across the street.
8. The boy thought about his own mother and hoped someone would 
help her one day.
II Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct answer from the options given 
in the brackets.
1. The central theme of the poem is _____________. (kindness and empathy/
adventure and courage)
2.The tone of the poem is _____________. (humorous and playful/
sympathetic and hopeful)
3. The poem is written in couplets with _____________ lines in each stanza. 
(four/two)
4. The structure of the poem gives a rhythmic flow that reflects both the 
_____________. (narrative and emotions/story’s pace and message)
5. The poem follows a rhyme scheme of _____________. (AABB/ABAB)
III Pick examples from the poem for the following poetic devices.
1. Simile
2. Alliteration
3. Repetition
IV Complete the following sentences appropriately explaining the imagery.
1.The poem uses imagery to describe scenes of a bustling street. 
We know this by the phrase _______________________.
2. The line ‘The street was wet with a recent snow’ suggests 
a cold and _______________________ weather, emphasising the 
woman’s helplessness. 
Unit 2.indd   73 13-05-2025   12:07:34
Page 5


Somebody’s Mother
Let us do these activities before we read.
I Recall a time you helped someone. 
Write two words describing:
1. What were your feelings after you 
did so?
2. What might have been the feelings of 
the person whom you helped? 
  Share your answers with your 
classmates and teacher. 
II Work in pairs. Read the words given below. Circle the words you would 
associate with an elderly person and underline the words you would 
associate with a school student. Share the reasons for your choices with 
your classmates and teacher.
strong worried trembling hastening
firm bent merry grey
slow guide helpful
III Read the lines.
  The woman was old and ragged and grey
  And bent with the chill of the Winter’s day.
  Select the suitable meaning of ‘ragged’ as used in these lines. There are 
other four meanings given below. Discuss with your classmates and 
teacher.
1. (of clothes) old and torn; synonym: shabby
• a ragged jacket
2. Having an outline, an edge, or a surface that is not straight or even
• a ragged coastline
3. Not smooth or regular; not showing control or careful preparation
• I could hear the sound of his ragged breathing.
• Their performance was still very ragged.
4. (Informal) very tired, especially after physical effort
• The elderly man was ragged after climbing the stairs. 
Unit 2.indd   70 13-05-2025   12:07:31
71
Values and Dispositions
Let us read
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.”
Unit 2.indd   71 13-05-2025   12:07:32
72
Poorvi
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!”
Mary Dow Brine
Unit 2.indd   72 13-05-2025   12:07:33
Values and Dispositions
73
Let us discuss
I Arrange the events of the poem in the correct order of occurrence. 
Share your answers with your classmates and teacher. 
1. The boy returned to his friends, feeling proud of what he had done.
2. The old woman stood alone at the crossing, hesitant to move.
3. A group of schoolboys passed by, playing, and laughing.
4. The boy offered to help the old woman cross the street.
5. The woman prayed for the boy who helped her.
6. The children hurried past the old woman without offering help.
7. The woman placed her hand on the boy’s arm, and he guided her 
safely across the street.
8. The boy thought about his own mother and hoped someone would 
help her one day.
II Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct answer from the options given 
in the brackets.
1. The central theme of the poem is _____________. (kindness and empathy/
adventure and courage)
2.The tone of the poem is _____________. (humorous and playful/
sympathetic and hopeful)
3. The poem is written in couplets with _____________ lines in each stanza. 
(four/two)
4. The structure of the poem gives a rhythmic flow that reflects both the 
_____________. (narrative and emotions/story’s pace and message)
5. The poem follows a rhyme scheme of _____________. (AABB/ABAB)
III Pick examples from the poem for the following poetic devices.
1. Simile
2. Alliteration
3. Repetition
IV Complete the following sentences appropriately explaining the imagery.
1.The poem uses imagery to describe scenes of a bustling street. 
We know this by the phrase _______________________.
2. The line ‘The street was wet with a recent snow’ suggests 
a cold and _______________________ weather, emphasising the 
woman’s helplessness. 
Unit 2.indd   73 13-05-2025   12:07:34
Poorvi
74
V Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason.
  The poet repeats the phrase Somebody’s mother because it 
_______________________.
VI Complete the analogy:
  The old woman: vulnerable and neglected :: The young boy: 
_______________________.
Let us think and reflect
I Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow.
1. 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.
(i) What does the phrase ‘ragged and grey’ refer to ?
A. The woman’s emotional state that day.
B. The woman’s old and worn-out appearance.
C. The weather conditions of the particular day.
D. The colour of the street and the surroundings.
(ii) Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason:
  The woman was ‘bent’ with the chill of the Winter’s day because 
she was _______________________.
(iii) Identify the fact and opinion from the following sentences:
A. The street was wet with recent snow. _______________________
B. The woman was too weak to cross the street on her own. 
_______________________
Unit 2.indd   74 13-05-2025   12:07:36