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About the poet
Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888) was an American novelist and poet, best known as the author of the novel Little Women (1868)
and its sequels Little Men (1871) and Jo’s Boys (1886). She wrote poems, short stories, thrillers and tales under the pen name
Flora Fairfield.
In 1862, she also adopted the pen name A M Barnard.

Time to answer
A. Choose the correct option.

1. Which line of the poem tells us that it is night time?

While I sit beside the hearthstone

Caps and nightgowns, caps and nightgowns,

My three antic shadows wear;

And no sound they make in playing,
2. What is the theme of the poem?

happy family childhood

mother’s love happiness

3. How does the imagery contribute to the overall atmosphere of the poem?

I. It creates a sense of nostalgia.

II. It defines the love among the siblings.
III. It adds a sense of laughter and happiness.

IV. It creates a disillusioned image of childhood.

I, II and III I and IV

I, III and IV II and III

4. What is the mood of the speaker?

B. Answer these questions.

1. What do the other children do when one of them falls down?

2. What are the shadows compared to in the second stanza?
3. What do the shadows do to the mother?

4. Where is the mother and what is she doing?

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