The School Boy by William Blake: A Free PDF Download and Poetic Commentary

The School Boy by William Blake: A Poem Analysis

Have you ever felt like school was killing your creativity and joy? If so, you might relate to the speaker of The School Boy, a poem by William Blake that expresses the frustration and sadness of a young boy who hates going to school. In this article, we will explore the background, summary, and analysis of this poem, and see how Blake uses poetic devices to convey his message.

the school boy by william blake pdf download

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Introduction

Who was William Blake?

William Blake (1757-1827) was an English poet, painter, and visionary who is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of English literature. He was born in London and received little formal education, but he had a natural talent for drawing and writing. He was also deeply interested in religion, mysticism, and social justice. He created his own mythology and symbolism to express his views on human nature, society, and spirituality.

What is Songs of Innocence?

The School Boy is one of the poems in Songs of Innocence, a collection of illustrated poems that Blake published in 1789. Songs of Innocence celebrates the innocence and joy of childhood, as well as the harmony and beauty of nature. However, it also hints at the dangers and challenges that children face in a corrupt and oppressive world. Blake later combined Songs of Innocence with another collection called Songs of Experience, which presents a darker and more cynical view of life. Together, they form a contrast between the two states of the human soul.

What is the theme of The School Boy?

The main theme of The School Boy is the negative impact of formal education on children's happiness and creativity. Blake criticizes the rigid and harsh system of schooling that forces children to learn in a boring and unnatural way. He argues that children should be free to enjoy their childhood and explore their interests in a natural environment. He also warns that depriving children of their joy and curiosity will have serious consequences for their future.

Summary of the poem

Stanza 1: The joy of summer morning

The poem begins with the speaker describing how much he loves to wake up in a summer morning, when the birds sing on every tree and the distant huntsman winds his horn. He feels happy and free, and enjoys listening to the skylark singing with him.

Stanza 2: The misery of school

However, his mood changes when he has to go to school in such a beautiful day. He says that going to school drives all joy away, and that he has to spend the day under a cruel eye outworn. He implies that his teacher is strict and unkind, and that he feels tired and oppressed by the school environment.

Stanza 3: The loss of interest in learning

The speaker then reveals that he has lost his interest and delight in learning, because of the way he is taught. He says that he cannot take pleasure in his book, nor sit in learning's bower, which means a place of study or knowledge. He feels worn out by the dreary shower, which suggests that he is exposed to a constant rain of boredom and misery.

Stanza 4: The comparison with a caged bird

The speaker then compares himself to a bird that is born for joy, but is trapped in a cage and forced to sing. He asks how can such a bird be happy, or how can a child, when fears annoy, but droop his tender wing and forget his youthful spring. He implies that he feels like a caged bird, who has lost his freedom and vitality, and who is afraid of the punishment and pressure that he faces at school.

Stanza 5: The plea to parents

The speaker then addresses his parents, and asks them to consider the consequences of nipping the buds and blowing away the blossoms of childhood. He says that if the tender plants are stripped of their joy in the springing day, by sorrow and care's dismay, they will not be able to grow and flourish. He appeals to his parents' love and responsibility, and asks them to protect his childhood from being ruined by school.

Stanza 6: The consequences of neglecting childhood

The speaker then warns that if childhood is neglected and destroyed, there will be no joy or fruit in the summer. He asks how can the summer arise in joy, or the summer fruits appear, or how can we gather what griefs destroy, or bless the mellowing year, when the blasts of winter appear. He suggests that if children are not allowed to enjoy their childhood, they will not be able to develop their talents and potentials, nor appreciate the beauty and bounty of life. He also implies that they will face a bleak and barren future, when the cold and harsh winter comes.

Analysis of the poem

The rhyme scheme and meter

The poem consists of six stanzas, each with six lines. The rhyme scheme is AABBCC, which creates a simple and regular sound pattern. The meter is mostly iambic tetrameter, which means that each line has four pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables. However, there are some variations and deviations from this meter, which create a sense of rhythm and emphasis. For example, in the first line of the first stanza, the word "love" is stressed, while in the second line, the word "birds" is unstressed. This creates a contrast between the speaker's love for nature and his dislike for school.

The use of imagery and symbolism

Blake uses various images and symbols to convey his message and evoke emotions in the reader. For example, he uses the image of a summer morning to represent the joy and beauty of childhood, while he uses the image of a dreary shower to represent the boredom and misery of school. He also uses the symbol of a bird to represent the speaker's desire for freedom and happiness, while he uses the symbol of a cage to represent the speaker's confinement and oppression by school. He also uses the symbol of plants to represent the speaker's growth and development, while he uses the symbol of winter to represent the speaker's loss and decay.

The tone and mood of the poem

The tone of the poem is mostly sad and bitter, as the speaker expresses his dissatisfaction and resentment towards school. He also uses words such as "cruel", "outworn", "sighing", "dismay", "drooping", "fears", "annoy", "nipped", "stripped", "griefs", and "blasts" to create a negative and gloomy mood. However, there are also some moments of contrast and hope in the poem, as the speaker describes his love for nature and his plea for change. He also uses words such as "love", "joy", "sweet", "delight", "sing", "buds", "blossoms", "summer", "fruits", and "bless" to create a positive and bright mood.

Conclusion

He also makes a strong argument for allowing children to enjoy their childhood and explore their interests in a natural environment. He warns that depriving children of their joy and curiosity will have serious consequences for their future. He appeals to his parents and society to protect and nurture his childhood, and not to let it be wasted by school.

FAQs

What is the main message of The School Boy?

The main message of The School Boy is that formal education is harmful to children's happiness and creativity, and that children should be free to enjoy their childhood and learn in a natural way.

Who wrote The School Boy?

The School Boy was written by William Blake, an English poet, painter, and visionary who lived from 1757 to 1827.

When was The School Boy published?

The School Boy was published in 1789, as part of a collection of poems called Songs of Innocence.

What is the rhyme scheme and meter of The School Boy?

The rhyme scheme of The School Boy is AABBCC, and the meter is mostly iambic tetrameter.

What are some of the poetic devices used in The School Boy?

Some of the poetic devices used in The School Boy are imagery, symbolism, tone, mood, contrast, and repetition. 71b2f0854b