The School Boy
Introduction
William Blake was a poet and painter. He had little formal education.
“Inventions to the Book of Job” is his finest work as an artist. ‘The School
Boy’ is a lyric from his work ‘Songs of Experience’.
Synopsis
‘The School Boy’ is a beautiful poem written by William Blake, a poet and
painter. This poem evokes feelings of early childhood in every reader. One
who reads the poem cannot help reflecting on one’s past and remain
regretful. The loss of freedom and absence of nature’s company during
the formative years continue to haunt the deprived souls even now. Like
the speaker of the poem, children in general love to play and learn
outdoors; the joy of sunshine and beauty of nature give them unlimited
joy and happiness. The poet here apparently raises serious questions
against formal education. However, his argument is not against education.
Theme
The school boy, the speaker of the poem, loves to wake up on a sunny
morning to the songs of the birds on every tree, to the huntsman’s horn
and to the melody of the skylark. This is the sweetest company he enjoys
most. At the same time, the school on a summer morning takes away all
the joy. The boy under the watchful eyes outworn, spend the day in
sighing and dismay. He often sits drooping, spending his time anxiously.
The school does not seem to interest the boy anymore; it is rather
stressful.
The poet compares the school boy to a bird in a cage which refers to a
classroom or school. He wonders how a bird that is born for joy can sing
Introduction
William Blake was a poet and painter. He had little formal education.
“Inventions to the Book of Job” is his finest work as an artist. ‘The School
Boy’ is a lyric from his work ‘Songs of Experience’.
Synopsis
‘The School Boy’ is a beautiful poem written by William Blake, a poet and
painter. This poem evokes feelings of early childhood in every reader. One
who reads the poem cannot help reflecting on one’s past and remain
regretful. The loss of freedom and absence of nature’s company during
the formative years continue to haunt the deprived souls even now. Like
the speaker of the poem, children in general love to play and learn
outdoors; the joy of sunshine and beauty of nature give them unlimited
joy and happiness. The poet here apparently raises serious questions
against formal education. However, his argument is not against education.
Theme
The school boy, the speaker of the poem, loves to wake up on a sunny
morning to the songs of the birds on every tree, to the huntsman’s horn
and to the melody of the skylark. This is the sweetest company he enjoys
most. At the same time, the school on a summer morning takes away all
the joy. The boy under the watchful eyes outworn, spend the day in
sighing and dismay. He often sits drooping, spending his time anxiously.
The school does not seem to interest the boy anymore; it is rather
stressful.
The poet compares the school boy to a bird in a cage which refers to a
classroom or school. He wonders how a bird that is born for joy can sing
