"The School Boy" by William Blake is a six-stanza poem that explores the theme of the impact of formal education on children's creativity, natural curiosity, and joy. It offers a critique of traditional educational practices and emphasizes the importance of nurturing children's innate .........................................
The School Boy - Grow with words - Class 8 - English
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About the Author - The School Boy | Grow with words | Class 8 Literature | English
The poem "The School Boy" is written by the English poet, painter, and printmaker William Blake (1757-1827). Blake is considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age. His works are characterized by a unique blend of imagination, spirituality, and social critique.
In "The School Boy," Blake explores the theme of the negative impact of formal education on a child's creativity, joy, and natural curiosity. The poem presents a stark contrast between the joy of nature and the stifling atmosphere of a traditional classroom. Blake uses the imagery of a caged bird and the metaphor of a delicate plant to emphasize the vulnerability of children and the importance of nurturing their natural inclinations.
Throughout his life, Blake was critical of the institutions of his time, including the educational system. He believed that formal education often stifled creativity and independent thought, preventing children from reaching their full potential. His works, including this poem, reflect his desire for a more holistic and imaginative approach to learning.
Overall, "The School Boy" is a powerful expression of William Blake's beliefs regarding the importance of nurturing children's innate creativity, curiosity, and connection to nature, rather than suppressing them through rigid and unimaginative educational practices.
Summary - The School Boy | Grow with words | Class 8 Literature | English
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Themes - The School Boy | Grow with words | Class 8 Literature | English
The Joy of Nature:
In the poem, Blake emphasizes the happiness and freedom experienced by the young boy when he is surrounded by the beauty and harmony of nature. The summer morning, birds singing, and the skylark symbolize the natural world's ability to inspire creativity, curiosity, and joy. This theme contrasts with the oppressive atmosphere of the traditional classroom, demonstrating the importance of nurturing a child's connection to the natural world.
The Restrictive Educational System:
Blake critiques the traditional educational..
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Unlock now 🔓Symbols - The School Boy | Grow with words | Class 8 Literature | English
In "The School Boy," William Blake employs various symbols to convey his critique of the traditional educational system and emphasize the importance of nurturing children's creativity and connection to nature. Some of the symbols used in the poem include:
- Birds: The singing birds and the skylark in the first stanza represent the beauty, freedom, and harmony of the natural world. The birds symbolize the joy and creativity that children can experience when they are connected to nature and free from the constraints of a rigid educational system.
- The Caged Bird: In the fourth stanza, the caged bird serves as a metaphor for the schoolboy, who feels trapped and stifled ...
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Unlock now 🔓Poetic Devices - The School Boy | Grow with words | Class 8 Literature | English
William Blake employs various poetic devices in "The School Boy" to create a vivid and engaging critique of the traditional educational system. Some of the poetic devices used in the poem include:
- Imagery: Blake uses rich and evocative imagery to create contrasting scenes of the natural world's beauty and harmony and the oppressive school environment. Examples include the singing birds and the skylark in the first stanza, the caged bird in the fourth stanza, and the buds and blossoms in the fifth stanza.
- Metaphor: The poem employs metaphors to convey the poem's themes and messages effectively. The caged bird metaphor...
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Unlock now 🔓Vocabulary - The School Boy | Grow with words | Class 8 Literature | English
- Morn (Stanza 1, 2): Short for "morning," referring to the early part of the day, usually before noon.
Meaning: Morning - Huntsman (Stanza 1): A person who hunts games or other wild animals, usually as a sport or for food.
Meaning: Hunter - Skylark (Stanza 1): A small bird...
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Unlock now 🔓Back Questions - The School Boy | Grow with words | Class 8 Literature | English
What does the schoolboy hear when he gets up on a summer morning?
The schoolboy hears birds singing on every tree, the distant huntsman winding his horn, and the skylark singing with him on a summer morning.
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Whose company does the schoolboy enjoy?
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Unlock now 🔓How does the schoolboy feel when he goes to school on a summer morning?
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Unlock now 🔓Whose eyes have been called cruel?
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Unlock now 🔓How do the children feel in the school?
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Unlock now 🔓Why is the schoolboy anxious?
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Unlock now 🔓With whom is the little boy in school compared in the 4th stanza? Explain the comparison.
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Unlock now 🔓Explain the comparison made in the 5th stanza.
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Unlock now 🔓What does the poet say might happen if little children are stopped from enjoying the summer pleasures?
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Unlock now 🔓What are the summer pleasures?
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Unlock now 🔓Back Exercises - The School Boy | Grow with words | Class 8 Literature | English
Find one words from the following groups of words.
Adapted for both land and water A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (10)
All the people working on a ship/plane _ _ _ W (4)
Assembly of listeners _ U _ _ _ _ _ _ (B)
Blessing given by a priest B _ _ _ _ _ C _ _ _ _ (11)
Bring back to life _ _ V _ _ _ (6)
Amphibious
Crew
Audience
Benediction
Revive
Write two paragraphs about an incident when you wanted to go out but had to stay put in the classroom and were forced to study. Say how you felt and what you would have done had you been able to go out.
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Unlock now 🔓Making compound sentences with the same subject: Join the following simple sentences to make compound sentences. Use the conjunctions given in the brackets. One has been done for you.
a. I took the shoes back to the shop. I complained about them. (and)
I took the shoes back to the shop and complained about them.
b. Your mother phoned this morning. She didn’t leave a message. (but)
__________________________
c. I can leave now. I can stay for another hour. (I can either...or)
__________________________
d. Jim built his own house. He designed it himself. (Jim not only ... but ... as well)
__________________________
e. I don’t know what happened to him. I don’t care. (I neither ..... nor)
__________________________
f. My new assistant can type very well. He hasn’t much experience with computers. (but)
__________________________
g. He will either eat at McDonalds. He will not eat at all. (either .... or)
__________________________
h. He recognized me. He did not tell the authorities. (but)
__________________________
i. He ate the toffee. He ate a part of the wrapper. (not only .... but also)
__________________________
j. She first ate her sandwiches. She started her unpacking. (and then)
__________________________
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Unlock now 🔓Making compound sentences with different subjects: Join the following simple sentences to make compound sentences in your notebook. Use the conjunctions given in the brackets.
a. The Taxi stopped at the station. Two men got out of it. (and)
b. You can give me advice. Your colleague can give me advice. (either you ... or)
c. We got ready to get on the train. It didn’t stop. (but)
d. No one was in when we called. We left a message. (so)
e. We didn’t want to get home late after the film. We went straight back. (so)
f. The old lady was nervous. She wasn’t used to strangers calling late at night. (for)
g. I’ve always wanted to live in the country. My parents prefer to live in town. (but)
h. The letter has been lost. The postman has delivered it to the wrong address. (or)
i. for a moment the top of the mountain was visible. A cloud covered it. (and then)
j. Jenny was a successful career woman. Her mother wanted her to be a housewife. (yet)
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Unlock now 🔓Choose the right word from the brackets to fill the blanks.
(NOT SO) Merry – go – round!
The customers at the funfair were leaving (a) ____ (and/but) the lights were going out. The last two people on cars paid (b) ____ (and/so) left. The big wheel stopped (c) ____ (for/and) the merry-go-round stopped (d) ____ (as well/not only). The stalls closed down (e) ____ (so/and) the stall-owners went home. At 2 a.m. four night watchmen walked round the funfair, (f) ____ (but/so) there was no one to be seen. “I’m fed up of walking round,” one of them said, (g) ____ (yet/and) what can we do?” “We can (h) ____ (or/either) play carks (i) ____ (either/or) sit and talk.” They were bored, (j) ____ (so/for) there was nothing to do on this quiet warm night. “We can have a ride on the merry-go-round!” one of them cried. “That’ll be fun!” Three of them jumped on merry-go-round horses, (k) ____ (yet/and) the fourth started the motor. Then he jumped on too, (l) ____ (and/but) round they went. They were having the time of their lives, (m) ____ (but/so) suddenly realized there was no one there.
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Unlock now 🔓Quiz - The School Boy | Grow with words | Class 8 Literature | English
Extra Questions - The School Boy | Grow with words | Class 8 Literature | English
I love to rise on a summer morn,
When the bird sing on every tree;
The distant huntsman winds his horn
And the skylark sings with me
O what sweet company!
I love to rise on a summer morn,
When the bird sing on every tree;
The distant huntsman winds his horn
And the skylark sings with me
O what sweet company!
a. Name the poem and the poet.
b. What does the schoolboy hear when he gets up on a summer morning?
c. Whose company does the schoolboy enjoy?
a. The poem is named “The School Boy”, and the poet is William Blake.
b. The schoolboy hears the sounds of birds singing on every tree and the huntsman winding his horn when he gets up on a summer morning.
c. The schoolboy enjoys the company of the skylark singing.
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But to go to school on -a summer morn,
O it drives all joy away! Under a cruel eye outworn,
The-little ones spend the day In sighing and dismay.
a. How does the schoolboy feel when he goes to school on a summer morning?
b. Whose eyes have been called cruel?
c. How do the children feel in the school?
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Build your English conversation skills by talking with William Blake about their works, their lives and anything else you wish!
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Vocabulary - Flashcards - The School Boy | Grow with words | Class 8 Literature | English
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