Poetry · Chapter
Help in Need explained
A poor man is injured when his horse runs away, leaving him with a broken leg.
What happens
A poor man is injured when his horse runs away, leaving him with a broken leg. While many express sympathy, only one truly poor man offers tangible help by contributing a pound, highlighting the value of genuine compassion over empty words.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the boy’s childish joy and naive belief that he can see Ameri…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Moral Lessons and Domestic Virtue
The poem contrasts empty sympathy with true charity, teaching that actions, not words, define virtue.
- Community and Social Gatherings
The scene of bystanders responding to an accident reflects the social dynamics and communal bonds in a rural setting.
Characters to notice
- Poor Tom
The injured man whose horse ran away, leaving him with a broken leg.
- John Grant
The poorest man among the three who freely contributed a pound to help the afflicted.
Key passages
“A poor man’s horse it ran away, Soon man upon the roadside lay, With his leg all badly broken, Of sympathy some gave token.”
A poor man's horse bolted, causing him to fall and break his leg; some onlookers expressed sympathy.
Sets up the accident and the initial response of the crowd.
“But a good true hearted man, His heart with kindness it o’er ran, The poorest man among the three, A pound he did contribute free.”
A genuinely kind man, the poorest of the three, freely gave a pound to help.
Highlights the contrast between the wealthy sympathizers and the truly generous poor man.
