THE SCHOOL BOY
William Blake
Comprehension
I.
1) Who, do you think, “I” refers to in the
poem?
Ans: “I” refers to a school-going boy in the poem.
2) “Sweet Company” refers to
(a) skylark
(b) huntsman’s horn
(c) bird’s song
(d) all of the above.
Ans: (d) all of the above.
3) What drives the boy’s joy
away?
Ans: The possibility of
going to class drives the boy’s joy away.
4) How do the little ones spend the day in
the school?
Ans: The little ones spend the day in the
school in a dull way as they are loaded with disappointment and anxiety.
5) What does “cage” metaphorically refer to
in the poem?
Ans: School is referred to a cage
metaphorically in the poem.
6) Pick
the phrase from the following which does not refer to formal schooling:
(a) buds are nipped
(b) fruits are gathered
(c) plants are stripped
(d) blossoms are blown away.
Ans:
(b) fruits are gathered.
7) Relate
the Seasons mentioned under column A with the stages of life under column B.
Ans: 1) Spring :
Childhood
2) Summer : Youth
3) Winter : Old
Age
II.
1) What does the schoolboy love to do on a
summer morn? What drives his joy away?
Ans: The schoolboy loves to wake up early with the birds’ songs and huntsman blows
his horn and skylark sings with him. He was enjoying the company of them.
However, he isn't permitted to do this as he needs to go to class and the
school drives all delight away.
2) Describe the boy’s experience in the
school.
Ans: The boy's involvement with school is
brimming with dread and demoralization. The tyrant method of showing makes the
kid moan with consternation. His fatigue and dread are reflected in the hanging
way in which he sits and the anxiety that he shows. The books give him no satisfaction
and the school causes him to feel exhausted.
3) According to the poet, how does formal
education curb a learner’s potential?
Ans: According to the poet formal education
controls the capability of the youngster as it detracts from the kid its
opportunity. The kid resembles a confined fowl in school and simply like the
wings of the confined feathered creature hang, the soul of the youngster droops
in school which imparts in the kid a feeling of dread. Youngsters, similar to
plants, should be supported and given consideration, on the off chance that
they are to age effectively and prove to be fruitful later on. In the event
that youngsters are not permitted to have a characteristic adolescence, which
is spent in playing unreservedly among the normal things: slopes, glades, sheep,
winged animals, and so forth, at that point they will wilt before they can
bloom into develop grown-ups. Spring represents new development and that is the
reason the artist utilizes the allegory of the spring to contend that a school
doesn't permit spring to prosper.
III.
1) Formal schooling not only takes away the
joy of childhood but also hinders the child’s growth forever. Explain.
Ans: Formal schooling not only takes away the
joy of childhood but also hinders the child’s growth forever. To feature the
point that proper instruction removes the delight of youth as well as impedes
the kid's development always, the writer compares the periods of the year with
various stages throughout everyday life. He calls attention to that what occurs
in youth has its effect on adulthood and mature age. He inquiries with regards
to how there can be development in summer if the buds, blooms and plants themselves
are pulverized in spring. As such, the artist reveals to us that a glad youth
makes adulthood and mature age pleasurable. Yet, on the off chance that the
youth itself is without satisfaction, there isn't anything to anticipate in
adulthood and mature age. Hence the writer makes it completely clear that youth
encounters are essential to lead an upbeat. life and school have a significant
task to carry out in deciding if youth encounters are helpful for development
or not.
2) Do you think the poet is
arguing against education? Discuss.
Ans: No, the poet isn't
against training. He is just against undesirable practices in instruction. He
clarifies that instruction ought to be offered in a free and sound air.
Youngsters ought not to be caused to feel like confined winged animals. They
ought not to feel shaky and fretful. They ought not to discover the entire
experience of figuring out how to be bleak and dull. There ought to be
sufficient chances to tap their inventive potential and transform them into
gainful people.
