A Child to His Sick Grandfather – Grade 9 Study Guide for Edexcel Relationships

Introduction
Ace your exam with this analysis of Joanna Baillie's 'A Child to His Sick Grandfather'.

Analysis
Joanna Baillie’s poem A Child to His Sick Grandfather explores themes of love, innocence, and the inevitability of death. The speaker, a child, expresses deep concern for his ailing grandfather, whose illness has led to physical and emotional distance. Through the child’s innocent perspective, Baillie highlights the contrasting emotional states of youth and old age, as the child’s love and tenderness stand in stark contrast to the grandfather’s suffering. The poem reflects on the fragility of life and the pain of seeing a loved one decline, while also portraying the child’s hope for recovery and emotional connection.

00:00 Intro
00:05 Context
01:51 Structural overview
06:49 Title
07:27 Line-by-line analysis

Additional resources
For more exam tips, resources, and one-to-one tutoring, visit my website: www.clairesnotes.com
Check out the rest of my videos on the poems from the Edexcel Relationships anthology:    • Edexcel Relationships Cluster  

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The Poem
'A Child to His Sick Grandfather' by Joanna Baillie

Grand-dad, they say you're old and frail,
Your stiffened legs begin to fail:
Your staff, no more my pony now,
Supports your body bending low,
While back to wall you lean so sad,
I'm vex'd to see you, Dad.

You used to smile and stroke my head,
And tell me how good children did;
But now, I wot not how it be,
You take me seldom on your knee,
Yet ne'ertheless I am right glad,
To sit beside you, Dad.

How lank and thin your beard hangs down!
Scant are the white hairs on your crown:
How wan and hollow are your cheeks,
Your brow is crossed with many streaks;
But yet although his strength be fled,
I love my own old Dad.

The housewives round their potions brew,
And gossips come to ask for you;
And for your weal each neighbour cares;
And good men kneel and say their prayers,
And every body looks so sad,
When you are ailing, Dad.

You will not die and leave us then?
Rouse up and be our Dad again.
When you are quiet and laid in bed,
We'll doff our shoes and softly tread;
And when you wake we'll still be near,
To fill old Dad his cheer.

When through the house you change your stand,
I'll lead you kindly by the hand:
When dinner's set I'll with you bide,
And aye be serving by your side;
And when the weary fire burns blue,
I'll sit and talk with you.

I have a tale both long and good,
About a partlet and her brood,
And greedy cunning fox that stole
By dead of midnight through a hole,
Which slyly to the hen-roost led,--
You love a story, Dad?

And then I have a wondrous tale
Of men all clad in coats of mail,
With glittering swords,--you nod,--I think
Your heavy eyes begin to wink;--
Down on your bosom sinks your head:--
You do not hear me, Dad.

About Me
I’m an experienced English teacher with over 25 years of classroom and private tutoring experience. My videos are tailored to help students achieve top marks in AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas/WJEC, CCEA and Cambridge IGCSE English exams.

Please note that any literature analysis is highly subjective and may disagree with analysis by another person. All interpretations are valid if they can be justified by reference to the text. This interpretation is my own: it is not exhaustive and there are alternatives!

Let's Discuss!
How does the child’s changing perception of his grandfather throughout the poem reflect his growing awareness of mortality? In what ways does the boy’s use of direct address and repeated vocative “Dad” shape our understanding of their relationship? How does Baillie’s portrayal of the wider community’s concern for the grandfather reinforce the idea of his significance beyond just the family unit?

Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear your interpretations!