The School Boy by William Blake - Poem / Poetry Appreciation / Exercises on Poem / Question-Answer on Poem / Theme and Summary of Poem / Poem Analysis

The Schoolboy

William Blake

I love to rise in a summer morn,

When the birds sing on every tree;

The distant huntsman winds his horn,

And the skylark sings with me:

O what sweet company!

But to go to school in a summer morn, -

O it drives all joy away!

Under a cruel eye outworn,

The little ones spend the day

In sighing and dismay.

Ah then at times I drooping sit,

And spend many an anxious hour;

Nor in my book can I take delight,

Nor sit in learning's bower,

Worn through with the dreary shower.

How can the bird that is born for joy

Sit in a cage and sing?

How can a child, when fears annoy,

But droop his tender wing,

And forget his youthful spring!

O father and mother if buds are nipped,

And blossoms blown away;

And if the tender plants are stripped

Of their joy in the springing day,

By sorrow and care's dismay, -

How shall the summer arise in joy,

Or the summer fruits appear?

Or how shall we gather what griefs destroy,

Or bless the mellowing year,

When the blasts of winter appear?

Theme: centers on the conflict between the joys of nature and the constraints of formal education. The speaker expresses a deep longing for the freedom and happiness that comes with summer, contrasting it with the dreary experience of attending school, which stifles joy and creativity. Ultimately, the poem highlights the detrimental effects of a rigid educational system on a child’s natural spirit and well-being, suggesting that the pressures of learning can overshadow the beauty of youth and the joys of life.

Summary: It contrasts the joys of nature with the oppressive nature of formal education. The speaker delights in the beauty of a summer morning, filled with the songs of birds, but this joy is quickly diminished by the constraints of attending school. He likens the experience of children in school to birds trapped in cages, unable to thrive in an environment that stifles their happiness and creativity. Ultimately, the poem critiques the educational system’s harshness, suggesting that if children are deprived of joy, they will struggle to embrace the fullness of life as they grow.

Paraphrasing

Stanza 1: Joy in Nature

I love to rise in a summer morn,

• I truly enjoy waking up early on a bright summer morning because it feels refreshing, peaceful, and full of new possibilities.

When the birds sing on every tree;

• As soon as I wake up, I hear the cheerful sounds of birds singing from every tree, filling the air with music that makes me feel happy and alive.

The distant huntsman winds his horn,

• Far away, I hear a hunter blowing his horn, signaling the start of his adventurous day in the woods. Even this distant sound adds to the excitement of the morning.

And the sky-lark sings with me.

• A skylark, flying high in the sky, sings a beautiful song, and it feels like it’s singing along with me, as if nature itself is my companion.

O! what sweet company.

• Oh, how delightful and comforting it is to have such company from nature—the birds, the sky, and the sounds around me make me feel connected and joyful.

Stanza 2: The Sadness of School

But to go to school in a summer morn,

• However, having to go to school on such a bright, beautiful summer morning feels like a burden. It takes me away from the freedom and happiness that nature offers.

O! it drives all joy away;

• This obligation to attend school completely ruins my mood, taking away all the joy and excitement I felt earlier.

Under a cruel eye outworn.

• At school, we are watched over by a strict, tired teacher whose harsh gaze makes us feel even more uncomfortable. The teacher seems worn out, possibly from years of teaching without enthusiasm.

The little ones spend the day,

• Young children, full of energy and curiosity, are forced to spend their entire day inside the classroom, confined and restricted.

In sighing and dismay.

• Instead of feeling happy, they often sigh deeply out of frustration and sadness, filled with disappointment because they miss the freedom of the outside world.

Stanza 3: The Child’s Struggles

Ah! then at times I drooping sit,

• At times, I sit quietly with my head down, feeling drained and emotionally exhausted because I’m not happy in this environment.

And spend many an anxious hour,

• I spend many hours feeling anxious, restless, and worried, perhaps about the pressure of schoolwork or the lack of freedom.

Nor in my book can I take delight,

• I cannot find any joy or interest in reading my textbooks because they feel dull and lifeless compared to the vibrant world outside.

Nor sit in learning’s bower,

• Even though a classroom is supposed to be a “bower” (a peaceful place for learning), I don’t feel comforted or inspired there.

Worn thro’ with the dreary shower.

• Instead, I feel emotionally worn out, as if my spirit has been drenched by a depressing, never-ending rain. Learning feels dull, like enduring bad weather.

Stanza 4: The Bird Metaphor

How can the bird that is born for joy,

• How can a bird, which is naturally meant to live freely and happily in the open sky,

Sit in a cage and sing?

• Sing joyfully if it’s trapped inside a cage, unable to fly or experience the world? The bird loses its natural spirit when confined.

How can a child when fears annoy,

• Similarly, how can a child be happy when constant fear of punishment, strict rules, or pressure from school makes life stressful?

But droop his tender wing,

• Just like the caged bird, the child’s spirit becomes weak and lifeless. His enthusiasm fades, symbolized by a bird’s drooping wing.

And forget his youthful spring.

• The child forgets the happiness, energy, and excitement that should come with youth, missing out on the “springtime” of life, which is supposed to be joyful and vibrant.

Stanza 5: A Plea to Parents

O! father & mother, if buds are nip’d,

• Oh, parents! If the young buds of a plant (symbolizing children) are damaged or cut off too early, they can’t grow properly.

And blossoms blown away,

• If the flowers (representing the children’s potential and happiness) are destroyed before they have the chance to bloom,

And if the tender plants are strip’d

• And if these fragile young plants (children) are stripped of their joy and innocence while they are still growing,

Of their joy in the springing day,

• Losing the natural happiness and curiosity that comes with the early days of childhood (compared to springtime),

By sorrow and care’s dismay.

• Because of too much sorrow, strict discipline, and overwhelming responsibilities placed on them too soon,

Stanza 6: The Consequences of Lost Joy

How shall the summer arise in joy,

• How can these children grow up (just like how spring turns into summer) to live joyful lives if their early years were filled with sadness and restrictions?

Or the summer fruits appear?

• How can we expect them to achieve success, happiness, and personal growth (symbolized by summer fruits) if their potential was stifled early on?

Or how shall we gather what griefs destroy,

• How can we expect to benefit from or “harvest” anything meaningful when grief and sadness have already destroyed the foundation of their growth?

Or bless the mellowing year,

• How can we find blessings and fulfillment in the later years of life (like the mellow season of autumn) if the early years were full of unhappiness?

When the blasts of winter appear.

• Especially when difficult times (represented by winter) come later in life, how will they cope if their spirits were weakened in childhood?

🌱 Key Message:

Blake uses nature as a metaphor to show that childhood should be full of freedom, joy, and growth. Just as plants need the right environment to thrive, children need love, freedom, and happiness—not strict rules and constant pressure. Otherwise, their natural potential will wither away.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does the schoolboy love to rise on a summer morning?

Answer:The schoolboy loves to rise on a summer morning because the world feels fresh, vibrant, and full of life. He enjoys hearing birds singing on every tree, the distant sound of the huntsman’s horn, and the skylark’s song, which makes him feel connected to nature. These natural sights and sounds bring him joy and a sense of freedom.

2. How does going to school affect the boy’s happiness?

Answer:Going to school takes away all of the boy’s happiness. Instead of enjoying the beauty of summer, he feels trapped and sad. The strict and harsh environment under the teacher’s “cruel eye” makes him anxious, leaving no space for joy, curiosity, or creativity. School feels like a prison compared to the freedom he experiences in nature.

3. What does the poet mean by "under a cruel eye outworn"?

Answer:The phrase refers to the teacher’s strict, watchful gaze in the classroom. The word “cruel” suggests the teacher is harsh and unkind, while “outworn” implies that the teacher is tired or disinterested, possibly teaching without passion. This environment feels oppressive and emotionally draining for the children.

4. How does the boy feel when he is at school?

Answer:At school, the boy feels sad, anxious, and restless. He often sits with his head down, feeling emotionally drained (“drooping sit”) and unable to enjoy his books. The learning environment feels dull and dreary, offering no inspiration or delight compared to the freedom of the natural world.

5. What comparison does the poet make between a caged bird and a child?

Answer:The poet compares a child in school to a bird trapped in a cage. Just as a bird born to fly and sing cannot express joy when confined, a child cannot be happy when forced into strict, fear-filled environments. Both lose their natural spirit and enthusiasm when denied freedom.

6. According to the poem, what happens if a child’s joy is taken away early in life?

Answer:If a child’s joy is taken away early in life, their growth and potential are stifled. Like a bud that’s nipped before blooming, the child’s natural curiosity, creativity, and happiness are lost. This emotional damage can affect their ability to find joy and success later in life.

7. What is the poet’s message to parents in the poem?

Answer:The poet urges parents to protect their children’s joy and freedom. He warns that if children are burdened with sorrow and strict discipline too early, it will harm their emotional and mental growth. Parents should nurture their children with care, allowing them to thrive like plants in spring.

8. How does the poet use nature imagery in the poem?

Answer:Blake uses nature imagery throughout the poem to highlight the contrast between freedom and restriction. He describes summer mornings, singing birds, blooming plants, and the seasons to represent childhood innocence and growth. In contrast, school is depicted as a cage, and sadness is compared to harsh weather like dreary showers and winter blasts.

9. What does the phrase “worn thro’ with the dreary shower” suggest?

Answer:This phrase suggests that the boy feels emotionally exhausted, as if his spirit has been soaked and weighed down by a constant, gloomy rain. The “dreary shower” symbolizes the dull, monotonous, and oppressive atmosphere of school, which drains his enthusiasm and joy.

10. What is the central theme of “The School Boy”?

Answer:The central theme of the poem is the importance of freedom, joy, and natural growth in childhood. Blake criticizes the rigid and oppressive education system that stifles creativity and happiness. He emphasizes that children, like plants or birds, need freedom and nurturing to thrive emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually.

Multiple-choice questions based on the text:

1. What does the schoolboy enjoy most in the summer morning?

• A) Playing with friends

• B) Listening to birds singing

• C) Reading books

• D) Going to school

Answer: ✅ B) Listening to birds singing

2. How does the boy feel about going to school on a summer morning?

• A) Excited

• B) Joyful

• C) Unhappy

• D) Indifferent

Answer: ✅ C) Unhappy

3. What does the phrase “under a cruel eye outworn” refer to?

• A) The boy’s sad expression

• B) The teacher’s strict gaze

• C) The sun’s heat

• D) The boy’s tiredness

Answer: ✅ B) The teacher’s strict gaze

4. In the poem, the boy compares himself to:

• A) A flying kite

• B) A blooming flower

• C) A caged bird

• D) A falling leaf

Answer: ✅ C) A caged bird

5. What emotion does the boy experience while sitting in class?

• A) Delight

• B) Confidence

• C) Anxiety

• D) Curiosity

Answer: ✅ C) Anxiety

6. According to the poem, what happens if buds are nipped early?

• A) They grow faster

• B) They become stronger

• C) They lose their chance to bloom

• D) They bloom in winter

Answer: ✅ C) They lose their chance to bloom

7. What literary device is used in comparing the child to a bird in a cage?

• A) Simile

• B) Metaphor

• C) Hyperbole

• D) Irony

Answer: ✅ B) Metaphor

8. What season is mentioned in the poem as representing sorrow and loss?

• A) Spring

• B) Summer

• C) Autumn

• D) Winter

Answer: ✅ D) Winter

9. What is the central idea of the poem?

• A) The importance of strict education

• B) The beauty of nature

• C) The value of discipline

• D) The need for freedom and joy in childhood

Answer: ✅ D) The need for freedom and joy in childhood

10. Which of the following best describes the tone of the poem?

• A) Cheerful and lively

• B) Sad and reflective

• C) Angry and aggressive

• D) Humorous and playful

Answer: ✅ B) Sad and reflective

Summary of "The School Boy" by William Blake

“The School Boy” is a reflective poem where the speaker, a young boy, expresses his deep love for the joys of nature and his strong dislike for the restrictive environment of formal schooling. The poem begins with the boy sharing his happiness in waking up on a summer morning, surrounded by the sweet sounds of birds singing on the trees and the distant horn of a huntsman. The chirping of the skylark feels like a companion to him, filling his heart with delight.

However, this natural joy quickly fades when he has to attend school. The thought of sitting in a dull, controlled classroom under the watchful and strict eyes of teachers drains his enthusiasm. School, to him, feels like a place where children are trapped, much like birds caged against their will, unable to spread their wings and sing freely. The boy feels anxious and sad, unable to enjoy his lessons or find comfort in books because the environment is so oppressive.

In the later part of the poem, the boy uses powerful imagery, comparing children to delicate plants and budding flowers. He warns that if these "buds" are "nipped" or if young minds are stripped of their joy and freedom, they will never fully bloom. The poem suggests that when childhood is robbed of happiness and natural growth, it affects not only the present but also the future. Just as summer fruits can’t ripen without sunlight and warmth, children can’t thrive without freedom, joy, and a connection to nature.

🌱 Theme of "The School Boy"

The main theme of “The School Boy” is the conflict between natural freedom and the restrictions of formal education. William Blake highlights how rigid schooling suppresses a child’s natural curiosity, joy, and creativity. The poem celebrates the innocence of childhood, the beauty of nature, and the importance of allowing children to learn freely without harsh constraints. It also reflects on how forced education can stifle personal growth, just like a plant withers when deprived of sunlight and care.

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Bangla Translation (Summary)

"দ্য স্কুল বয়" -এর সারাংশ উইলিয়াম ব্লেকের লেখা

"দ্য স্কুল বয়" একটি প্রতিফলিত কবিতা যেখানে বক্তা, একজন ছোট ছেলে, প্রকৃতির আনন্দের প্রতি তার গভীর ভালোবাসা এবং আনুষ্ঠানিক শিক্ষার সীমাবদ্ধ পরিবেশের প্রতি তার তীব্র অপছন্দ প্রকাশ করে। কবিতাটি শুরু হয় গ্রীষ্মের সকালে ঘুম থেকে ওঠার আনন্দ ভাগ করে নেওয়ার মাধ্যমে, গাছে পাখির মিষ্টি শব্দ এবং দূরবর্তী শিকারীর শিং দ্বারা বেষ্টিত। স্কাইলার্কের কিচিরমিচির তার কাছে সঙ্গীর মতো মনে হয়, তার হৃদয় আনন্দে ভরে দেয়।

যাইহোক, যখন তাকে স্কুলে যেতে হয় তখন এই প্রাকৃতিক আনন্দ দ্রুত ম্লান হয়ে যায়। শিক্ষকদের সতর্ক এবং কঠোর দৃষ্টিতে একটি নিস্তেজ, নিয়ন্ত্রিত শ্রেণীকক্ষে বসে থাকার চিন্তা তার উৎসাহকে নিঃশেষ করে দেয়। স্কুল, তার কাছে এমন একটি জায়গার মতো মনে হয় যেখানে শিশুরা আটকা পড়ে, অনেকটা তাদের ইচ্ছার বিরুদ্ধে খাঁচায় বন্দী পাখির মতো, ডানা মেলে স্বাধীনভাবে গান গাইতে অক্ষম। ছেলেটি উদ্বিগ্ন এবং দুঃখিত বোধ করে, তার পাঠ উপভোগ করতে বা বইয়ে সান্ত্বনা পেতে অক্ষম কারণ পরিবেশ এত নিপীড়নমূলক।

কবিতার শেষ অংশে, ছেলেটি শক্তিশালী চিত্রকল্প ব্যবহার করে, শিশুদেরকে সূক্ষ্ম উদ্ভিদ এবং ফুটন্ত ফুলের সাথে তুলনা করে। তিনি সতর্ক করে বলেন যে যদি এই "কুঁড়ি" "ছিঁড়ে ফেলা হয়" অথবা যদি তরুণ মন তাদের আনন্দ এবং স্বাধীনতা কেড়ে নেওয়া হয়, তাহলে তারা কখনই পুরোপুরি প্রস্ফুটিত হবে না। কবিতাটি পরামর্শ দেয় যে যখন শৈশব সুখ এবং প্রাকৃতিক বৃদ্ধি থেকে বঞ্চিত হয়, তখন এটি কেবল বর্তমানকেই নয়, ভবিষ্যতেও প্রভাবিত করে। ঠিক যেমন গ্রীষ্মের ফল সূর্যের আলো এবং উষ্ণতা ছাড়া পাকতে পারে না, তেমনি শিশুরা স্বাধীনতা, আনন্দ এবং প্রকৃতির সাথে সংযোগ ছাড়া বেড়ে উঠতে পারে না।

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Theme

This poem highlights Blake's affinity for alternative methods of education. Consistently repeated is the draining element of schoolroom education and how it causes students to contribute poor learning and retention for students. Blake instead promotes learning outside the classroom, specifically learning in nature where he believes spontaneous and natural creativity flourishes. The analogy of the bird and the boy is also evidence of the recurring theme of nature within this poem. As a poet of Romanticism , Blake puts an emphasis on nature, the subjective self and on emotions. Within this poem, the allusions to nature are everywhere referencing things such as summer, wind, blossoms, rain showers, birds and spring. [3] Blake equates the seasons of the Earth to the seasons of the boy's life. Blake also analogizes the boy with a caged bird unable to sing, to attain its free place in nature, just like the boy.

📚 50 Vocabulary Words from "The School Boy" with Meanings

Word	Meaning (English)	Meaning (Bengali)
Rise	To get up or stand up	উঠা
Summer	The warmest season of the year	গ্রীষ্ম
Morn	Morning	সকাল
Sing	To produce musical sounds with the voice	গান গাও
Distant	Far away	দূর
Huntsman	A person who hunts animals	শিকারি
Winds	To blow air	বাতাস বয়ে যাওয়া
Horn	A device that makes a loud sound	শিঙা
Skylark	A small songbird known for singing while flying	আকাশচিল পাখি
Company	Companionship or being with others	সঙ্গ
School	A place where children go to learn	বিদ্যালয়
Drives	Forces or pushes someone to do something	প্রেরণা দেয়
Joy	A feeling of great happiness	আনন্দ
Cruel	Unkind or harsh	নির্মম
Eye	The organ used for seeing	চোখ
Outworn	No longer fresh or effective	পুরাতন হয়ে গেছে
Little ones	Small children	ছোট ছোট বাচ্চারা
Sighing	Letting out a deep breath in sadness	দীর্ঘশ্বাস ফেলা
Dismay	Feeling of disappointment or sadness	হতাশা
Drooping	Hanging down or bending due to weakness	ঝুলে পড়া
Anxious	Feeling worried or nervous	উদ্বিগ্ন
Delight	Great pleasure or joy	আনন্দ
Learning	The process of gaining knowledge	শেখা
Bower	A shady place under trees or plants	ছায়াময় স্থান
Dreary	Dull, gloomy, or depressing	নিরানন্দ
Shower	A brief fall of rain	বৃষ্টি
Bird	A feathered animal that can fly	পাখি
Born	Brought into life	জন্মগ্রহণ করা
Cage	A structure of bars to keep animals inside	খাঁচা
Sing	To produce musical sounds with the voice	গান গাওয়া
Child	A young human being	শিশু
Fears	Feelings of being afraid	ভয়
Annoy	To bother or irritate	বিরক্ত করা
Droop	To bend or hang down limply	ঝুলে পড়া
Tender	Soft and delicate	কোমল
Wing	The part of a bird used for flying	ডানা
Forget	To fail to remember	ভুলে যাওয়া
Youthful	Young or having qualities of youth	যুবক
Spring	The season after winter, a time of growth	বসন্ত
Buds	Young, developing parts of plants	কুঁড়ি
Nipped	To pinch or break off sharply	ছিঁড়ে ফেলা
Blossoms	Flowers that bloom	ফুল
Blown away	Carried off by wind	উড়ে যাওয়া
Tender	Delicate and soft	কোমল
Plants	Living organisms that grow in the soil	গাছ
Stripped	To remove or take away	ছিনিয়ে নেওয়া
Sorrow	Deep sadness	দুঃখ
Care	Attention and concern	যত্ন
Arise	To come into being or appear	উদ্ভূত হওয়া
Fruits	Edible products of plants	ফল
Grief	Deep sadness caused by loss	শোক
Mellowing	Becoming softer or more gentle	কোমল হওয়া
Winter	The coldest season of the year	শীত

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