By Mary Dow Brine

Somebody’s
Mother
z

STANZA 1
 RHYME SCHEME
STANZA 1 – aabbcc
STANZA 2 – aabb
STANZA 3 – aabbcc
STANZA 4 – aabb
z
STANZA 5 – aabb
STANZA 6 – aabbcc
STANZA 7 – aabb

regular rhyme scheme

STANZA 2

z
 z

Simile like a flock of sheep

playing / throwing /welcoming
enjoying the weather
happy that school is over.
 z STANZA 1 STANZA 2
• The old woman • Young schoolboys

• At the crossing • Down the street

• Anxious and worried • Full of laughter and
happiness
• Alone among the crowd of • Group like a flock of sheep
human beings and they feel like they
belong.
• She is weak and old. • Full of energy
 STANZA 3

z
 “Ill help you
across, if you
z

wish to go.”
THE CHEERFUL
BOY/ THE BOY
WHO HELPED
THE OLD WOMAN

STANZA 4
 STANZA 1

He guided the trembling

(SHAKING /SHIVERING) feet
along

Glad that his own were firm and

strong – GRATEFUL

Then back again to his friends

he went

His young heart happy and

content.
 She’s somebody’s mother, boys,
z you know
Although she’s aged and poor and
slow;
And I hope some fellow will lend a
hand HELP
To help my mother, you
understand
If ever she’s poor and old and grey
When her own dear boy is far away.
MATURE – HE THINKS INTO THE FUTURE
AND WANTS HIS MOTHER ALSO TO BE
TREATED WELL JUST LIKE THE WAY HE
TREATS THE OLD WOMAN.

STANZA 6
 “God be kind to the noble
z boy who is somebody’s
son and strength and
joy.”

STANZA 7
 z

THEMES 1. HELPFULNESS

2. GRATEFULNESS

3. RESPECTING
ELDERS
 Somebody’s Mother by Mary Dow Brine
1. Rhyme scheme – Regular
2. Characters (speakers) :

1) Somebody’s mother/ old woman

2) The happy lad / The boy who helped the old woman.
z

3. Themes
1) Helpfulness
2) Gratefulness
3) Respecting elders

4. Messages -
 MESSAGES
z

1. TO READILY HELP THE

ELDERLY.

2. TO BE A GOOD
INFLUENCE AMONG YOUR
FRIENDS.

3. TO ALWAYS WISH FOR

OTHERS WHAT YOU WISH
FOR YOURSELF.
z
CHARACTER TRAITS OF THE BOY

1. Helpful /concerned

2. Polite

3. Good influence
4. Grateful
5. optimistic/cheerful
z
CHARACTER TRAITS OF THE OLD
WOMAN
1. PATIENT

2. GRATEFUL

3. THOUGHTFUL
 z

LITERARY DEVICES
1. Simile – “like a flock of sheep”

2. Alliteration – helping hand/Slippery street /Her

z
head/Heart happy
 z

RHYME SCHEME

z
AABBCC – AABB- AABBCC-AABB-AABB-AABBCC-
AABB
(REGULAR RHYME SCHEME)
z

z
THE END!!!