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Line 13
The children pass the elderly woman.
The repeated description reminds us that the children can see her age and weakness, yet most still do not respond.
Seeing versus caring.
Critical but restrained.
The reader feels frustration.
“grey” rhymes with “way” in the next line.
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Answer: It reminds us that the woman’s age and weakness are obvious. The repetition makes the children’s failure to help more noticeable.
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Answer: The repeated description reminds us that the children can see her age and weakness, yet most still do not respond. It keeps the woman’s vulnerability in the reader’s mind. The line also develops the idea of Seeing versus caring .
Line 14
The children hurry along their way.
The strong verb shows that the boys are focused on their own movement and enjoyment rather than on the woman beside them.
Self-absorption versus awareness.
Slightly critical.
The reader notices the unfair contrast.
“way” completes the rhyme with “grey”.
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Answer: “Hastened” shows that the children move quickly and easily, while the woman’s aged feet are slow. The contrast highlights her physical weakness.
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Answer: The strong verb shows that the boys are focused on their own movement and enjoyment rather than on the woman beside them. It makes the children’s quick movement contrast with the woman’s slow feet. The line also develops the idea of Self-absorption versus awareness .
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Answer: The children can hasten easily, while the old woman’s feet are aged and slow. Their easy movement makes her physical difficulty stand out.
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Answer: The children move quickly past the old and grey woman.
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Answer: Stanza 7 is important because it develops the contrast between the carefree children and the old woman’s danger. The children move quickly past the old and grey woman. This helps the poem move naturally towards its larger message of empathy, kindness and seeing the human value in another person.
