Question

Only fire makes fine steel. What lesson do you think the boy learnt from his experience?
(The Lost Child)

Answer 1

Answer:

Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob. and stand and fight if thinks he is right. Treat him gently, but do not cuddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel. Let him have the courage to be impatient. Let him have the patience to be brave

Explana

The line refers to the way the poet wants his son to be trained in school. Literally, the line means that when steel is tempered with fire it gets harder. Similarly, if his son is put through rigorous training, he too could grow up to be tough as steel. The virtue that the poet is trying to uphold in this line is of discipline which moulds character. I personally think that discipline goes a long way in moulding character and imbibing values.