Holy Thursday “Red and blue and green” The event that is happening is referred Structured in a regular heptameter
by William The bright colour imagery is contrasted with ‘grey beadles.’ The children are lively and bright, the colours to as ascension day - 39 days after suggesting the ordered procession of the
Blake - of nature and passion, showing that they are the future of the country however beadles are ages and Easter Sunday commemorating the children as they enter the Church. Blake
ascension of Jesus going back to was very much against the very
explores the devoid of life. Contrast between the bright colours the children are wearing and the dark colours of the
Heaven regimented social order of the time, so
innocence of older men. New uniforms with colour only so they could look presentable on a day they are showed off, - Charity schools were created this might reflect its prevalence.
orphans in usually they would be dirty. The colours are not for the benefit of the children but for the money being for the specific reason to
London City. paid to see them. promote christian knowledge Lots of rhetorical questions throughout -
The poem - Blake uses very simple language, he uses some rhyme but in a very obvious way almost and educate the poorer emphasises Blake’s disgust with the
explores the entirely involving common monosyllabic words families, the children talked world which is reinforced by the use of
simplicity and about go to charity schools as the explanation mark on the final line, this
angelic nature “these flowers of London town” their uniform is second hand builds up an emotional response.
and dirty. Charity schools
of the children The reference to flowers emphasises their beauty and fragility being said by lyrical voices portray that
were corrupt often forcing the The first quatrain of the poem rhymes
however this they seem perfect from the outside but contrast to their reality of everyday life in charity schools. The children at a young age to ABAB, with four stresses per line, stanza
may be used to metaphor of natural imagery glorifies them as being colourful and natural however it is ironic as the life of become chimney sweepers two however has no rhyme and then the
highlight their a flower is short and the children being all clean won’t last long. Heavenly imagery could from Blake’s third and fourth have a new rhyme -
exploitation. visions as a child of angels in a window CDED CFDF. The poet creates an
Blake is “Multitudes of lambs” - During the enlightenment organised setting of the children’s service
criticizing the Lambs are typically seen as symbols of God, purity and rebirth. This accentuates their innocence and period, the position of women but yet this chaotic rhyme scheme starts
institutions that their relationship to Christ, being linked to him as he has a special tenderness with children. ‘Multitudes’ were degraded and they were with order and then disrupts it just like
treated inferior to men how the poet is questioning the order of
are responsible can represent a large group but could also represent how all the children are just seen as one with no
Blake was closest to the 2 siblings that the service and doesn’t think it should
for helpless individuality or voice. Blake repeats this word perhaps despite the number of children, they are still weak. died so therefore the negative view happen.
children. around the children highlights the lack of
love he felt after the deaths
“Harmonious thunderings” - Blake was unable to have
This simile to describe the children’s singing is interesting as it is fairly oxymoronic. Perhaps Blake is children so therefore his
suggesting that the unity of the youth has the power of a storm against corruption in society. The portrayal of children is just
semantic field of weather imagery heightens the contrast between the unnatural world of the children and what he sees rather than has
experienced
normal world of the human experience. The phrase is almost negative highlighting the idea that the
children aren’t happy, they are almost helpless like one would be in a storm.
Holy Thursday “Rich and fruitful land” and “misery” and “usurous” - Blakean critique of the The poem is variation of a ballad form,
2 - by William Reminding us that the world is plentiful but wealth is not divided fairly because some places are in institution responsible for the which is known as common metre. This is
Blake poverty. The word ‘usurous’ pertains to the idea of lending someone money with a high interest rate helpless children because it tells the tale of ordinary
- The institution being people.
suggesting the children work hard in return for nothing.
described in the poem is a
charity schools, which was a This poem has a fragmented rhyme
“Sun never does shine” place families could send their scheme which contrasts with the other
highlight how life doesn’t resurface and there is no happiness or warmth for the children, the sibilance children for free to be Holy Thursday. The first stanza is a/b/a/b,
used emphasises the harsh treatment the children recieve. The semantic field of weather imagery educated and learn about but this breaks down in the second
throughout could highlight the lack of nature the children get to see being locked inside all the time and religious studies. Charity stanza, which emphasises the
the use of ‘rain does fall’ invites explicit contrast with the absence of the sun previously which could schools were often corrupt exclamatory “It is a land of poverty” at the
portray the difference between the unnatural world of the children and the normal life that other people and forcing the children at a end of the stanza.
young age to become
experience everyday. Blake creates the image of a barren landscape, distorting ideas of the pleasant
chimney sweepers ad other The rhyme scheme begins to build up
pastoral that the Romantics revered. Nothing can grow without light, hence the children cannot prosper. jobs that nobody else wanted. again to abcb in the final two stanzas.
- Blake’s negative view of these This creates an uncomfortable sense of
The use of anaphora and repetition of ‘and their’ in the poem highlights how the children are being schools and the people in closure at the end of the poem, as it
grouped together and their individuality is being taken away which highlights although they are a big charge could be because as comes to a natural finish, though we
group, they have no right to any power or speech in the schools. Blake had 6 siblings and he was closest an adult he was unable to know the theme itself is not resolved.
to one of them that died which could portray the sympathy he feels towards the children as he wants have children
them to lead a long and happy life unlike his sibling so therefore he frowns upon the charity schools. - Blake thought the church was The interrogative mood is also used in
, corrupt so because the this poem, where it wasn’t in the other. By
“rich and fruitful land” contrasted with “misery” and “usurous.” schools were run by the asking rhetorical questions of the reader,
These lines highlight the idea of suffering as they remind the reader that the world is plentiful with wealth Church he is disgusted by the Blake makes them feel complicit in the
idea of them. mistreatment of the poor.
however it is not divided fairly as some areas are poverty stricken. The word ‘usurous’ pertains to the
- Blake engraved poems by
idea of lending someone money with a very high interest rate suggesting that the children work hard in hand so no two copies were
return for nothing as the families are too poor to send them to private schools. the word ‘babes’ exactly the same
reinforces the children’s fragility and also highlights their innocence because they don’t know any better.
The Sick Rose “Crimson joy” - Blake scholars has shown that The length of the poem being only
by William This is suggestive of blood and and perhaps a women’s virginity. We might interpret the poem as being in fact Blake was deeply two stanzas can reinforce the idea of
Blake - about intercourse, though it is darkly suggestive of an unwanted advancement. The use of colour responsive to the events of his transience, which is also explored
times (the American revolution
explores the imagery and the juxtaposition of ‘crimson’ with ‘joy’ helps to highlight the contemporary societal view that through the sickening and eventual
and the french revolution)
theme of love, sex can be destructive and likes roses, sexual desire can be transient. although his interest was destruction of the rose.
destruction and always bringing these events
suffering “the invisible worm” into alignment with his own The opening sentence is also very
The worm acts as a contrast to the purity of the rose which links to phallic imagery and biblical serpents. ideas about how the cosmos short which acts as a distinctive
For example in the romantic period, references to God and the Bible are very prominent, Adam and Eve worked at a deeper level opening to the poem, helping the
being tempted by a serpent leads to the destruction of their surroundings so the use of this similar - When Blake was living in reader understand that the rose is
imagery helps to highlight the destructive force of the worm particularly as a result of it being ‘invisible’. England there was a lot of the key subject.
poverty and prostitution which
The fact that it cannot be seen suggests that the owner is concealing it suggesting that the worm arrives
likely led him to see England
without the woman’s consent. as ‘sick.’ It is also likely that
female sexuality was
“Howling storm” demonised hence the idea
This line emphasises typical negative connotations of weather and storms were particularly dangerous at that sex leads to death
the time of writing as society lacked today’s modern technology and materials to predict and adapt to a pervades the poem.
storm. In addition, some readers may interpret ‘howling’ to signify pain and and the destruction brought - Blake was not concerned with
about by love. Alternatively, the howling storm can be representative of the industrial revolution and the the depiction of the ‘natural
world’ but wanted instead to
‘sick rose’ is the disintegrating country that Blake once loved. The invisible worm might suggest the
portray the world of the
parasitic power of industry as worms in the bible connote to the devil. imagination
- Blake was part of
If the poem is looked through feminist perspective, the worm can be patriarchy. Patriarchy is all-powerful interventions on political
and capable to destroy woman race. The worm symbolically presents Biblical serpent and it is the debates, one was affecting an
symbol of corruption, moral degradation and it is something that is a destroyer and an exploiter. The entire society in which the
male worm and female rose have a Freudian significance. The worm is invisible, a hidden and repulsive church had resigned it’s duty
thing. of care and decisively sided
with the ruling classes
by William The bright colour imagery is contrasted with ‘grey beadles.’ The children are lively and bright, the colours to as ascension day - 39 days after suggesting the ordered procession of the
Blake - of nature and passion, showing that they are the future of the country however beadles are ages and Easter Sunday commemorating the children as they enter the Church. Blake
ascension of Jesus going back to was very much against the very
explores the devoid of life. Contrast between the bright colours the children are wearing and the dark colours of the
Heaven regimented social order of the time, so
innocence of older men. New uniforms with colour only so they could look presentable on a day they are showed off, - Charity schools were created this might reflect its prevalence.
orphans in usually they would be dirty. The colours are not for the benefit of the children but for the money being for the specific reason to
London City. paid to see them. promote christian knowledge Lots of rhetorical questions throughout -
The poem - Blake uses very simple language, he uses some rhyme but in a very obvious way almost and educate the poorer emphasises Blake’s disgust with the
explores the entirely involving common monosyllabic words families, the children talked world which is reinforced by the use of
simplicity and about go to charity schools as the explanation mark on the final line, this
angelic nature “these flowers of London town” their uniform is second hand builds up an emotional response.
and dirty. Charity schools
of the children The reference to flowers emphasises their beauty and fragility being said by lyrical voices portray that
were corrupt often forcing the The first quatrain of the poem rhymes
however this they seem perfect from the outside but contrast to their reality of everyday life in charity schools. The children at a young age to ABAB, with four stresses per line, stanza
may be used to metaphor of natural imagery glorifies them as being colourful and natural however it is ironic as the life of become chimney sweepers two however has no rhyme and then the
highlight their a flower is short and the children being all clean won’t last long. Heavenly imagery could from Blake’s third and fourth have a new rhyme -
exploitation. visions as a child of angels in a window CDED CFDF. The poet creates an
Blake is “Multitudes of lambs” - During the enlightenment organised setting of the children’s service
criticizing the Lambs are typically seen as symbols of God, purity and rebirth. This accentuates their innocence and period, the position of women but yet this chaotic rhyme scheme starts
institutions that their relationship to Christ, being linked to him as he has a special tenderness with children. ‘Multitudes’ were degraded and they were with order and then disrupts it just like
treated inferior to men how the poet is questioning the order of
are responsible can represent a large group but could also represent how all the children are just seen as one with no
Blake was closest to the 2 siblings that the service and doesn’t think it should
for helpless individuality or voice. Blake repeats this word perhaps despite the number of children, they are still weak. died so therefore the negative view happen.
children. around the children highlights the lack of
love he felt after the deaths
“Harmonious thunderings” - Blake was unable to have
This simile to describe the children’s singing is interesting as it is fairly oxymoronic. Perhaps Blake is children so therefore his
suggesting that the unity of the youth has the power of a storm against corruption in society. The portrayal of children is just
semantic field of weather imagery heightens the contrast between the unnatural world of the children and what he sees rather than has
experienced
normal world of the human experience. The phrase is almost negative highlighting the idea that the
children aren’t happy, they are almost helpless like one would be in a storm.
Holy Thursday “Rich and fruitful land” and “misery” and “usurous” - Blakean critique of the The poem is variation of a ballad form,
2 - by William Reminding us that the world is plentiful but wealth is not divided fairly because some places are in institution responsible for the which is known as common metre. This is
Blake poverty. The word ‘usurous’ pertains to the idea of lending someone money with a high interest rate helpless children because it tells the tale of ordinary
- The institution being people.
suggesting the children work hard in return for nothing.
described in the poem is a
charity schools, which was a This poem has a fragmented rhyme
“Sun never does shine” place families could send their scheme which contrasts with the other
highlight how life doesn’t resurface and there is no happiness or warmth for the children, the sibilance children for free to be Holy Thursday. The first stanza is a/b/a/b,
used emphasises the harsh treatment the children recieve. The semantic field of weather imagery educated and learn about but this breaks down in the second
throughout could highlight the lack of nature the children get to see being locked inside all the time and religious studies. Charity stanza, which emphasises the
the use of ‘rain does fall’ invites explicit contrast with the absence of the sun previously which could schools were often corrupt exclamatory “It is a land of poverty” at the
portray the difference between the unnatural world of the children and the normal life that other people and forcing the children at a end of the stanza.
young age to become
experience everyday. Blake creates the image of a barren landscape, distorting ideas of the pleasant
chimney sweepers ad other The rhyme scheme begins to build up
pastoral that the Romantics revered. Nothing can grow without light, hence the children cannot prosper. jobs that nobody else wanted. again to abcb in the final two stanzas.
- Blake’s negative view of these This creates an uncomfortable sense of
The use of anaphora and repetition of ‘and their’ in the poem highlights how the children are being schools and the people in closure at the end of the poem, as it
grouped together and their individuality is being taken away which highlights although they are a big charge could be because as comes to a natural finish, though we
group, they have no right to any power or speech in the schools. Blake had 6 siblings and he was closest an adult he was unable to know the theme itself is not resolved.
to one of them that died which could portray the sympathy he feels towards the children as he wants have children
them to lead a long and happy life unlike his sibling so therefore he frowns upon the charity schools. - Blake thought the church was The interrogative mood is also used in
, corrupt so because the this poem, where it wasn’t in the other. By
“rich and fruitful land” contrasted with “misery” and “usurous.” schools were run by the asking rhetorical questions of the reader,
These lines highlight the idea of suffering as they remind the reader that the world is plentiful with wealth Church he is disgusted by the Blake makes them feel complicit in the
idea of them. mistreatment of the poor.
however it is not divided fairly as some areas are poverty stricken. The word ‘usurous’ pertains to the
- Blake engraved poems by
idea of lending someone money with a very high interest rate suggesting that the children work hard in hand so no two copies were
return for nothing as the families are too poor to send them to private schools. the word ‘babes’ exactly the same
reinforces the children’s fragility and also highlights their innocence because they don’t know any better.
The Sick Rose “Crimson joy” - Blake scholars has shown that The length of the poem being only
by William This is suggestive of blood and and perhaps a women’s virginity. We might interpret the poem as being in fact Blake was deeply two stanzas can reinforce the idea of
Blake - about intercourse, though it is darkly suggestive of an unwanted advancement. The use of colour responsive to the events of his transience, which is also explored
times (the American revolution
explores the imagery and the juxtaposition of ‘crimson’ with ‘joy’ helps to highlight the contemporary societal view that through the sickening and eventual
and the french revolution)
theme of love, sex can be destructive and likes roses, sexual desire can be transient. although his interest was destruction of the rose.
destruction and always bringing these events
suffering “the invisible worm” into alignment with his own The opening sentence is also very
The worm acts as a contrast to the purity of the rose which links to phallic imagery and biblical serpents. ideas about how the cosmos short which acts as a distinctive
For example in the romantic period, references to God and the Bible are very prominent, Adam and Eve worked at a deeper level opening to the poem, helping the
being tempted by a serpent leads to the destruction of their surroundings so the use of this similar - When Blake was living in reader understand that the rose is
imagery helps to highlight the destructive force of the worm particularly as a result of it being ‘invisible’. England there was a lot of the key subject.
poverty and prostitution which
The fact that it cannot be seen suggests that the owner is concealing it suggesting that the worm arrives
likely led him to see England
without the woman’s consent. as ‘sick.’ It is also likely that
female sexuality was
“Howling storm” demonised hence the idea
This line emphasises typical negative connotations of weather and storms were particularly dangerous at that sex leads to death
the time of writing as society lacked today’s modern technology and materials to predict and adapt to a pervades the poem.
storm. In addition, some readers may interpret ‘howling’ to signify pain and and the destruction brought - Blake was not concerned with
about by love. Alternatively, the howling storm can be representative of the industrial revolution and the the depiction of the ‘natural
world’ but wanted instead to
‘sick rose’ is the disintegrating country that Blake once loved. The invisible worm might suggest the
portray the world of the
parasitic power of industry as worms in the bible connote to the devil. imagination
- Blake was part of
If the poem is looked through feminist perspective, the worm can be patriarchy. Patriarchy is all-powerful interventions on political
and capable to destroy woman race. The worm symbolically presents Biblical serpent and it is the debates, one was affecting an
symbol of corruption, moral degradation and it is something that is a destroyer and an exploiter. The entire society in which the
male worm and female rose have a Freudian significance. The worm is invisible, a hidden and repulsive church had resigned it’s duty
thing. of care and decisively sided
with the ruling classes
