Blake 'Holy Thursday' (Innocence)

Question 1

Context

What is the ceremony of ‘Holy Thursday’?

Answer 1

‘Holy Thursday’ is an annual church service held at St. Paul’s Cathedral, where orphaned children attend the service. - An occassion to focus on value, purity, and charity.

Question 2

Context

Why does Blake use this as the poem’s title?

Answer 2

Blake is both spiritual and religious but didn’t like the institution of the church, as they didn’t help the people they should have. - Blake questions the idea that society os built on corruption.
Blake thought children deserved better lives, as they were closer to their innocencet states, and adults have been corrupted by society.

Question 3

Form and Structure

What is the form and structure of Blake’s ‘Holy Thursday’ (Innocence)

Answer 3

• 3 quatrains
• Iambic heptameter
• Rhyming couplets
  Makes the poem sound song-like, which detracts the reader from the negatives and hidden meaning of the poem.

Question 4

Lexical set

What is the lexical set that Blake uses to question the nature and authority of religion and the church? Commenting on the hypocrisy/complacancy in how society approaches charity.

Answer 4

• “flowers” - Natural imagery suggests fragility and high child morality rates. Future generational growth. Youth is delicate. Children are celebrated only on this day.
• “lambs” - Biblical allusion of innocence and sacrifice. Questions the nautre of the church and their definitions of God. Why are innocent children left behind.
• “heaven” - Through the semantic field of heaven, Blake questions the nature of religion and Christianity. Blake belued everyone and every religion had a place in heaven.
• “cherish pity” - It is not the children’s fault, and pity is not enough. The church is a wealthy institution and could’ve intervened but need people to stay poor.
• “wise guardians” and “angel” - Ironic, as their wisdom has not solved the issue. The guardians have given theirself that title, not really protective of the children.

Question 5

Quote

Give the quote from lines 1 and 2 of Blake’s ‘Holy Thursday’ (Innocence)

Answer 5

“their innocent faces clean / The children walking two & two, in red & blue & green”

Question 6

Interpretation

“their innocent faces clean / The children walking two & two, in red & blue & green”

Answer 6

• “innocent”, “clean”, and “children” creates a semantic field of purity and innocence often associated with the church.
• “clean” symbolises a façade of trying to be publically accepted and presentable. Orphan’s are typically seen as unclean.
• “two & two” shows the regimented and militancy of the ceremony, the children have a lack of freedom. Assonance makes the poem sound nursery-rhyme like.
• “&” polysyndeton adds to the metre and structure with a more regimented look.

Question 7

Quote

Give the quote from line 4 of Blake’s “Holy Thursday’ (Innocence)

Answer 7

“Till into the high dome of Paul’s they like Thames’ waters flow.”

Question 8

Interpretation

“Till into the high dome of Paul’s they like Thames’ waters flow.”

Answer 8

• “like Thames’ waters flow” Simile objectifies the children associating their movement with naturalistic Thames. Shows how society doesn’t care about individuals.
• “like Thames’ waters flow” Motif in Blake’s works = if London is like this then what about the rest of England?
• “like Thames’ waters flow” Polysemic - Natural body of water but it is polluted. Assimilates Blake’s suggestion that adults corrupt children and religion. Juxtaposes children’s innocence.
• “flow” Ironic, the word “flow” connotes movement, but the line is end-stopped. Suggests social immobility in England.