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Line 25
He carefully leads the woman’s shaking feet across.
The focus stays on her feet because they represent the weakness that made crossing difficult in the first place.
Practical compassion.
Caring and gentle.
The reader feels protective but relieved.
“along” rhymes with “strong” in the next line.
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Answer: It suggests that the woman is physically weak and also frightened as she crosses the slippery street.
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Answer: The focus stays on her feet because they represent the weakness that made crossing difficult in the first place. The reader can picture the slow, careful crossing. The line also develops the idea of Practical compassion .
Line 26
The boy feels proud that his own feet are steady and strong.
His pride is not arrogance. He is grateful that his strength allows him to help someone weaker.
Gratitude for the ability to help.
Proud but humble.
The reader feels admiration.
“strong” completes the rhyme with “along”.
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Answer: He is proud because his strong feet allow him to guide the weak old woman safely. His pride comes from being useful, not from feeling superior.
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Answer: His pride is not arrogance. He is grateful that his strength allows him to help someone weaker. The contrast highlights the boy’s ability to help. The line also develops the idea of Gratitude for the ability to help .
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Answer: Strength is not shown as something to boast about. The boy values his firm, strong feet because they allow him to support someone weaker. Strength becomes a way to serve.
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Answer: He carefully supports her trembling feet while feeling grateful for his own strength.
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Answer: Stanza 13 is important because it develops the turning point in which one boy notices, helps and feels the reward of kindness. He carefully supports her trembling feet while feeling grateful for his own strength. This helps the poem move naturally towards its larger message of empathy, kindness and seeing the human value in another person.
