- Who do you think the ‘rough boys’ were?
- Which of the activities of the rough children do you think Stephen envied?
- Which of the activities hurt him:
- Physically
- Emotionally
- What clues can you find in the poem that suggest that the rough children were healthy?
- What you understand by “ourworld” in line 11. Briefly state how it would differ from the world of the rough boys.
- What hint is there of the author’s religious upbringing?
- Why did it fail him in practice?
- Do you think his parents were right in their attitude to the rough children? Give reasons for your answer.
- What do you think is meant by:
- Threw like words like stones
- Stripped by country streams
- Salt coarse pointing
- What word in verse 3 suggests that the author’s real feelings were being controlled?
- Suggest a title for the poem that sums up its theme.
well said
The answers for my parents