HOLY THURSDAY (INNOCENCE) Flashcards
1
Q
What is Holy Thursday?
A
- A Christain holiday that commemorates the last supper of Jesus and his diciples.
- Occurs the thursday before Easter Sunday
2
Q
What happened on Holy Thursday?
A
- Jesus issued a commandment to his diciples that they love eachother as much as he loved them.
- The day is mainly associated with the washing of the diciples feet by Jesus.
3
Q
What happens in this poem?
A
- It depicts the annual procession of poor children from charity schools in London to St. Paul’s Cathedral for a special service on Holy Thursday (ascension day)
4
Q
Describe the structure of the poem?
A
- The poem ends with the “aged me” last word/ legitimising voices.
- 3 quatrains. T
- The concise stanzaic form may represent the prescribed order and discipline Blake critiques within the charity schools.
- Alternating Rhyme Scheme:
5
Q
Describe the language devices used in the poem
A
- Colour imagery (colors of injury/colors of the flag)
- Martial imagery (children and soldiers alike are used as instruments for the state- signify order, protection)
- Polysyndetic listing (structurally mirrors the procession)
- Natural imagery (flowers- brevity of life due to mortality rates)
- Pathetic fallacy “thunderings” (God’s wrath/ childrens wrath/ growing conciousness/ not fagile lams but ferocious forces of God/ retribution)
- Euphemistic
- Collectivism (ressilence of the children)
6
Q
Religious imagery/ biblical allusions
A
- “Seats of heaven” reference to the Degrees of Glories.
- “Thunderings” metaphor for God’s voice throughout the bible.
- “Raise to heaven” ascension of Jesus.
- “Lest you drive an angel from your door” warning against neglecting or mistreating the poor and disadvantaged. “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers”
7
Q
What are beadles?
A
- Officers of a parish/church
- Typically responsible for maintaining order
8
Q
What were Charity schools?
A
- Educational institutions
- Established to provide free/ subsidized education to children from poor backgrounds.
