Line 11

“Came the boys like a flock of sheep,”
1. Literal Meaning

The boys come together like a group of sheep.

2. Literary / Deeper Meaning

The comparison shows them moving as one excited group rather than as separate thoughtful individuals.

3. Poetic Devices
Simile means a comparison using ‘like’ or ‘as’
Example: “She runs like the wind.”
In the poem: “like a flock of sheep” Effect: It creates a lively picture of the boys moving together in a group.
4. Theme

Group behaviour and individuality.

5. Tone

Playful.

6. Mood

The reader imagines a lively crowd of children.

7. Rhyming Scheme

“sheep” rhymes with “deep” in the next line.

Questions for Line 11
What does the simile “like a flock of sheep” suggest about the boys? 2 Marks
How to answer: Explain both the group movement and the playful effect.
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Answer: It suggests that the boys are moving together in a lively group, much like sheep in a flock. The comparison makes the scene playful and easy to imagine.

How does the use of simile in this line add to its meaning? 3 Marks
How to answer: Explain the line first, then connect it to the effect of simile.
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Answer: The comparison shows them moving as one excited group rather than as separate thoughtful individuals. It creates a lively picture of the boys moving together in a group. The line also develops the idea of Group behaviour and individuality .

Line 12

“Hailing the snow piled white and deep.”
1. Literal Meaning

The boys happily welcome the deep white snow.

2. Literary / Deeper Meaning

The snow that creates danger for the old woman is a source of fun for the children. The same setting is experienced very differently.

3. Poetic Devices
Visual imagery means colour and depth create a picture
Example: “The red kite floated over the green field.”
In the poem: “snow piled white and deep” Effect: The reader sees the thick snow clearly.
4. Theme

Different experiences of the same world.

5. Tone

Joyful.

6. Mood

The mood is bright for the boys but uneasy because we remember the woman.

7. Rhyming Scheme

“deep” completes the rhyme with “sheep”.

Questions for Line 12
How is the snow different for the boys and the old woman? 2 Marks
How to answer: Use the poem’s details about enjoyment and danger.
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Answer: The boys enjoy the deep white snow and greet it excitedly, but the snow has made the street wet and slippery for the old woman. It is fun for them but a danger for her.

How does the use of visual imagery in this line add to its meaning? 3 Marks
How to answer: Explain the line first, then connect it to the effect of visual imagery.
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Answer: The snow that creates danger for the old woman is a source of fun for the children. The same setting is experienced very differently. The reader sees the thick snow clearly. The line also develops the idea of Different experiences of the same world .

Questions for Stanza 6
Why is the snow an important contrast in Stanza 6? 3 Marks
How to answer: Explain how the boys and the woman experience the same snow differently.
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Answer: The boys enjoy the deep white snow, but the same snow has made the street dangerous for the old woman. The contrast shows how one situation can be fun for one person and difficult for another.

How do the two lines of Stanza 6 work together to develop its main idea? 3 Marks
How to answer: Explain what each line contributes, then combine them into the stanza’s overall meaning.
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Answer: The children move together excitedly and celebrate the deep snow.

Why is Stanza 6 important to the poem as a whole? 5 Marks
How to answer: Place this couplet inside the larger story. Explain what it adds before the poem moves forward.
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Answer: Stanza 6 is important because it develops the contrast between the carefree children and the old woman’s danger. The children move together excitedly and celebrate the deep snow. This helps the poem move naturally towards its larger message of empathy, kindness and seeing the human value in another person.

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CA Maninder Singh

CA Maninder Singh is a Chartered Accountant with 16+ years of practical experience and 20+ years of teaching experience. At Teachoo, he simplifies Accounts, Tax and GST with step-by-step examples so students can apply concepts confidently in exams and real life.

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