Analysis of poem quotes Flashcards
The Echoing Green:
“Many sisters and brothers, // Like birds in their nest, // Are ready for rest
The use of the simile likens the sisters and brothers to birds that have gone into hiding to rest.
Innocence is depicted, as likening the siblings to birds resting portrays the children as young and naïve in the world.
The Lamb:
“He is meek & he is mild”
“Softest clothing wooly bright”
Quote evokes image of children symbolised as lamb, being innocent followers of God, which evokes a biblical illusion.
The adjective shows the appearance of the lamb and symbolising it as young through wearing soft wooly clothing.
Chimney Sweeper Innocence: “Though the morning was cold, Tom was happy and warm;”
“So, if all do their duty they need not fear harm”
Change in persona that makes light of the situation. “morning was cold, Tom was happy and warm” this shows that despite the terrible circumstances of weather and poor working conditions it symbolises that there was a sense of hope and calm.
Blake is suggesting in a didactic sense that hard work will be the promise of their reward for good work which inspires an overall optimistic tone.
Chimney Sweeper Experience: “They are both gone up to the church to pray.”
Use of symbolism suggests that the CS’s parents have left the child to figure out their own salvation.
Through the use of the verb ‘gone’ it suggests the parents have left and disregarded the child demonstrating neglect.
Overall, neglect has been engrained into the child from the impact of the choice from the parents (chosen God over child).
The Sick Rose:
“The invisible worm”
“In the howling storm”
The invisible worm is symbolised as the Industrial Revolution which symbolises the decay and immorality of society through industrialisation of the natural world.
The howling storm depicts social upheaval caused by the destruction of the worm.
Tyger:
“What the anvil? what dread grasp, // Dare deadly terror clasp!
Anvil symbolises Industrial Revolution which is instilling dread and terror in society. Society is also ‘grasping’ the dread coming from the ‘anvil’
The Echoing Green Link to Romantics
Romantic writers consider the natural light to be the light (Echoing Green) and the onset of industrialisation to be the darkness (Darkening Green) in the world at their time.
The Lamb Link to Romantics
The Lamb presents the extraordinary in the ordinary as innocence in the poetic world of romantics. Romantic writers represented the extraordinary in the ordinary as innocence in the world at their time
Chimney Sweeper Innocence Link to Romantics
Refers to romantic style where children are a superior figure due to their innocence (1st quote)
Tyger Link to Romantics
Romantics questioned and challenged the institutions around them. ‘The Tyger’ leads the audience to question along the power and origin of the exotic criminal while making allusions to the dangers of the rise of the Industrial Revolution
