The Grandmother

 

You wouldn’t think they’d let me live alone

Away out here in the woods, so far from town,

Old as I am, and winter coming on…

Still, I suppose, they’ve problems of their own.

They send the child sometimes, when it’s not too late,

With an extra shawl, and little a basket of food.

I like to watch her skipping through the gate

Bright as a robin in her pretty red hood.

 

I get so lonely, at the close of day.

Here by the fire, without a thing to do.

I’ve even thought of that poor mongrel stray

That skulks around, so miserable and thin,

Next time he scratches, I think I’ll let him in,

And give him a warm bed, and a bone or two.

 

 

In the first stanza, who does “They” refer to? _______________________

 

Describe the grandmother’s mood in this poem.  Use complete sentences.

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Who wears a pretty red hood? _________________________________

 

What might the grandmother do so that she is not so lonely?  Answer this using

complete sentences. _______________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

 

What is the setting of this poem? ______________________________________

 

What folk story is this poem about? ____________________________________

 

Who is the “poor mongrel stray?” ______________________________________