The Bean Eaters BY Gwendolyn Brooks They eat beans mostly, this old yellow pair.
Dinner is a casual affair.
Plain chipware on a plain and creaking wood,
Tin flatware.
Two who are Mostly Good.
Two who have lived their day,
But keep on putting on their clothes
And putting things away.
And remembering ...
Remembering, with twinklings and twinges,
As they lean over the beans in their rented back room that
is full of beads and receipts and dolls and cloths,
tobacco crumbs, vases and fringes.
After reading The Bean Eaters, please respond to the following questions.

1. The poem presents a picture of two old people who are poor. Give at least two examples from the poem that show this.

2. These two "have lived their day" (line 6). What do you think is the meaning of this line?

3. The old couple remember their past "with twinklings and twinges" (line 10). What do these words tell the reader about the kind of memories they have?

4. The speaker of the poem says this couple is "Mostly good." How do you think the speaker feels toward them? Is the speaker suggesting they deserve something better than their poverty? Defend your response. This is an opinion question. Take a guess.