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The School Boy Summary

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 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 classroom or school. He wonders how a bird that is born for joy can sing in a cage and how a child annoyed by fears at school can open his tender wings. This will take away the most precious childhood of the boy.
William Blake further addresses the parents on the necessity of considering child’s freedom and creative expression. According to him, if budding children are nipped of their joyful childhood, they will not have a fruitful summer; their youth. Before long, they will have no strength left in them to withstand the blasts of winter; their old age.

Conclusion

The poem thus, is critical of formal education that drives away the joy of children. They lose their freedom and creativity. The growth of a child in the company of nature without the fears of authoritative learning approaches is stressed through this poem. One wonders if the ideology of the poet holds practical in the modern context owing to the pressures of academic success. But, the concerns expressed by the poet are universal.


Comments

  1. Unknown28 July 2019 at 12:16

    It is a very useful and it is a helpful to
    student.it is a very naughty poem.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous12 February 2020 at 02:10

    😎cool...

    ReplyDelete

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