Understanding
1. Which aspect of old age is conveyed in stanza 1?
Stanza 1 shows that old age can be lonely. The old woman lives alone, and all she hears are the sounds of a cricket and a mouse.
2. Which stage of life is suggested in stanzas 2 and 3?
These stanzas talk about the woman’s childhood and youth. She used to play, dance, run to her mother, and enjoy music and singing.
3. Which line in stanza 4 suggests that everyone gets old?
The line “But age apace / Comes at last to all;” suggests that everyone grows old eventually.
4. Which part of the day is suggested by the expression ‘dusk of day’?
“Dusk of day” means evening, the time just before night falls.
5. Pick out the rhyming words from the poem.
Here are some rhyming pairs from the poem:
- house/mouse
- play/popinjay/day
- in/chin/wren
- all/call/wall
6. What is an old person’s company in the end?
In the end, the old woman is only left with the sounds of the cricket and the mouse for company.
7. What is being compared in the last two lines of stanza 3?
The sound of the woman’s singing is being compared to the soft, gentle twittering of a small wren (a kind of bird).
Follow-up
Do old grandparents in your home feel as lonely as the old woman mentioned in the poem? Give at least three reasons for your answer.
Sample Answer:
No, my grandparents do not feel as lonely as the old woman in the poem. Here are three reasons why:
- Family Time: We spend time with our grandparents every day. We talk to them, share meals, and celebrate festivals together, so they feel included and loved.
- Activities and Hobbies: My grandparents enjoy doing activities like gardening, reading, and watching TV with us, which keeps them happy and busy.
- Care and Support: Whenever they need anything, someone in the family is always there to help. They don’t have to depend only on the sounds of the house like the woman in the poem.
If someone’s grandparents do feel lonely, maybe because everyone is busy or they live alone, it’s important to spend more time with them, talk to them, and include them in family activities. This will make them feel happier and less lonely.