The School Boy

The School Boy by William Blake

From Text:

1. What kind of learning is the poet in favour of?

The poet is in favour of learning that is joyful and natural. He believes children should learn in freedom, not in fear. Education should encourage happiness and imagination. It should help children grow like plants in sunlight.

2. Why do children spend the day sighing and in dismay?

Children spend the day sighing because school makes them unhappy. The strict teacher and dull classroom take away their joy. They feel tired, afraid, and bored. So instead of enjoying learning, they feel sad and worried.

3. What message has Blake given to parents through the poem “The School Boy”?

Blake tells parents that children are like tender plants. If their happiness is destroyed early, they cannot grow properly. Childhood should be full of joy and freedom. A sad childhood will lead to a sad future.

4. Throughout the poem the speaker is sad. Why?

The speaker is sad because school destroys his happiness. He loves nature and freedom, but school confines him in a classroom. The strict system makes him anxious and tired. He feels his joyful childhood is being taken away.

5. Why is the summer filled with dismay for the speaker?

Summer should be a time of joy and freedom. But for the speaker, it becomes sad because he has to go to school. Instead of enjoying nature, he sits in a dull classroom. So even the beautiful summer feels unhappy.

6. To what does the speaker compare himself?

The speaker compares himself to a bird born for joy. He says a bird cannot sing happily in a cage. In the same way, a child cannot be happy when controlled by fear. This shows his feeling of being trapped.

Extra Questions:

1. How does the poet describe a summer morning?

The poet describes the summer morning as joyful and lively. Birds sing on every tree and the skylark sings happily. The huntsman’s horn is heard in the distance. The atmosphere is full of freshness and happiness.

2. What contrast does Blake create in the first stanza?

Blake contrasts the joy of nature with the sadness of school. The summer morning is full of music and freedom. But going to school destroys that joy. This contrast highlights the child’s suffering.

3. What does the phrase “under a cruel eye outworn” suggest?

The phrase suggests the presence of a strict and tired schoolmaster. The teacher watches the children harshly. It creates fear in the classroom. The learning environment becomes unpleasant.

4. Why does the boy feel anxious in school?

The boy feels anxious because he is not free. He cannot enjoy reading or learning. The strict discipline makes him unhappy. His natural joy is suppressed.

5. Explain the metaphor of the caged bird.

The poet compares the child to a bird in a cage. A bird is meant to fly freely and sing joyfully. In a cage, it loses its happiness. Similarly, a child loses joy in a strict school system.

6. Why does Blake compare children to buds and tender plants?

Blake compares children to buds and tender plants because they are delicate and need care. If they are damaged early, they cannot grow properly. Joy is necessary for healthy growth. This shows the importance of happy childhood.

7. What do the seasons symbolize in the poem?

Spring symbolizes childhood and innocence. Summer represents youth and happiness. Winter stands for sorrow and suffering. Blake uses these seasons to show how childhood affects adult life.

8. What is the main criticism of the poem?

The main criticism is against rigid and fear-based education. Blake believes that such education destroys creativity and happiness. He supports natural and joyful learning. The poem is a plea for humane education.

9. How does nature influence the boy’s feelings?

Nature fills the boy with happiness and energy. The singing birds and bright morning inspire him. He feels connected and alive in nature. Nature represents freedom and joy.

10. What is the overall message of the poem?

The poem teaches that children need freedom and joy. Strict discipline harms their emotional growth. Happy childhood leads to a happy future. Education should nurture, not suppress.

Short Notes:

1. A Child in School like a Bird in a Cage

In “The School Boy,” William Blake compares a child in school to a bird in a cage. A bird is born to fly freely and sing happily in nature. But when it is kept in a cage, it cannot express its joy. In the same way, a child naturally loves freedom, play, and happiness. The strict school system makes the child feel trapped and afraid. Through this comparison, Blake shows that fear-based education destroys a child’s natural growth and joy.

2. Learning Outside the Classroom

Blake believes that true learning happens outside the classroom. In the poem, the boy feels happy and alive in nature during a summer morning. Birds, sunlight, and fresh air teach him joy and freedom. Nature allows imagination and natural development. But inside the classroom, learning feels dull and forced. Blake suggests that education should be natural, joyful, and connected to life, not limited to strict rules and books.