Question

which stanza best proves that the speaker in \the village blacksmith\ by henry wadsworth longfellow, sees the blacksmith as an exemplary example of how to live a meaningful life that teaches others.
1 - it sounds to him like her mothers voice,
singing in paradise!
he needs must think of her once more,
how in the grave she lies;
and with his hard, rough hand he wipes
a tear out of his eyes.
2 - toiling,-rejoicing,-sorrowing,
onward through life he goes;
each morning sees some task begin,
each evening sees it close:
something attempted, something done,
has earned a nights repose.
3 - thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend,
for the lesson thou hast taught!
thus at the flaming forge of life
our fortunes must be wrought;
thus on its sounding anvil shaped
each burning deed and thought.

Explanation:

Stanza 3 explicitly thanks the blacksmith for the lesson taught. It uses metaphors like "flaming forge of life" and "sounding anvil" to imply that the blacksmith's way of living (working on the forge, shaping things) is a model for how one should shape their life (deeds and thoughts). This shows the speaker sees the blacksmith as an exemplary figure whose life teaches others. Stanza 1 focuses on the blacksmith's personal emotion (missing his mother), and Stanza 2 focuses on the blacksmith's daily routine (toiling, rejoicing etc.) but doesn't directly state that it's a lesson for others. Only Stanza 3 has the direct expression of gratitude for a taught lesson, which ties to the idea of the blacksmith being an exemplar that teaches.

Answer:

Stanza 3.