Nurses song Flashcards
What does ‘Nurse’s Song’ from William Blake’s Songs of Innocence present?
An idealized vision of childhood
The poem explores themes of freedom and joy in childhood under the watchful care of a nurse.
How does the nurse supervise the children in the poem?
From a distance, happily, without restricting their play
This reflects a nurturing approach that encourages exploration.
What qualities of childhood does the poem celebrate?
Contagious wonder and delight
The poem suggests these qualities are worth encouraging and protecting.
How does the children’s laughter affect the nurse?
It gives her a sense of inner peace and contentment
Her heart feels at rest when she hears their laughter.
What does the poem imply about the relationship between the nurse and the children?
It depends on trust, love, and understanding
The nurse maintains authority while allowing freedom.
What does the nurse promise the children when calling them in?
That they can come back the next day
This shows her understanding of their desire to play.
What is prioritized over getting the children to bed on time?
Their spirited attitude towards the world
Joy takes precedence over arbitrary rules.
What do the hills symbolize in ‘Nurse’s Song’?
A space for children to discover the world on their own terms
The hills echo with their joy and laughter.
Fill in the blank: The children flourish because they live in a _______.
safe world that understands and values the precious innocence of childhood
This emphasizes the importance of a nurturing environment.
True or False: The poem depicts a world completely lacking in authority.
False
The nurse maintains a watchful presence, showing a balance of freedom and guidance.
What do the children argue about their playtime?
They argue they should be allowed to keep playing because there’s still daylight and animals are still outside.
What symbolic meaning do birds have in the context?
Birds represent freedom.
What do sheep symbolize in the text?
Sheep represent innocence.
How do the animals (birds and sheep) affect the children’s perception of their environment?
The animals convey that the children’s world is marked by freedom and innocence.
What literary reference is made regarding the symbolism of sheep?
Blake’s poem ‘The Lamb’ and the Bible’s reference to Jesus as the Lamb of God.
What is the overall atmosphere of the children’s world described in the text?
It is marked by freedom and innocence, with no threats present.
Fill in the blank: Birds symbolize _______.
[freedom]
Fill in the blank: Sheep symbolize _______.
[innocence]
True or False: The children believe they should stay outside because other animals are still out.
True
What do the children associate with their desire to stay outside?
The presence of little birds and sheep.
What sonic device is prevalent in ‘Nurse’s Song’?
Alliteration
Alliteration contributes to the playful music of the poem.
How does alliteration contribute to the children’s excitement in the poem?
It appears in every stanza, enhancing the playful tone
Alliteration emphasizes the children’s joy while playing.
Identify an example of alliteration from line 2 of ‘Nurse’s Song’.
/h/ sounds in ‘heard’ and ‘hill’
These sounds create a sense of breathlessness reflecting the children’s activity.
What is diacope, as seen in ‘Nurse’s Song’?
The repetition of the word ‘heard’ in line 1 and line 2
Diacope emphasizes the action of listening in the context of the poem.
What sounds are shared in the next stanza of ‘Nurse’s Song’?
/d/ sounds in ‘down’ and ‘dews’
These sounds create a heaviness that suggests the arrival of night.
What is the effect of the triple-alliteration of /l/ sounds in line 15?
It captures the children’s joy and adds a playful tone
This alliteration reflects their excitement about playing longer.
What phrase illustrates the playful and sprightly sound in ‘Nurse’s Song’?
The little ones leaped & shouted and laugh’d
This line showcases the joyful energy of the children.
How does the alliteration in ‘Nurse’s Song’ contribute to the poem’s ending?
It creates a smooth, musical note with consonance
The phrase ‘all the hills’ enhances the poem’s final tone.
Who is the main speaker of ‘Nurse’s Song (Songs of Innocence)’?
The nurse
The nurse is akin to a nanny, caring for children rather than a medical professional.
What qualities does the nurse exhibit in the poem?
Kind, light-hearted, sympathetic
She is responsive to the needs of the children in her care.
How does the nurse feel about the children’s laughter?
It warms her heart
This reflects her emotional connection to the children.
What societal theme does the poem depict through the nurse?
A society that cares for the needs and desires of the young
The nurse facilitates the children’s curiosity and happiness.
What role do the children play in the poem’s dialogue?
They respond to the nurse’s instructions
This interaction reflects their affectionate relationship with the nurse.
The last two lines of the poem may be spoken by whom?
The nurse or an omniscient narrator
This adds a layer of mystery to the poem’s conclusion.
Where does the poem take place?
Outside on ‘the green’ and a ‘hill’
These settings are associated with peace and joy in other works of Blake.
What time of day is depicted in the poem?
Dusk
The sun has set, but some light remains, creating a transitional atmosphere.
What do the children desire to do at dusk?
Play longer outside
They beg for permission to stay out from their nurse.
What is the overall tone of the setting in the poem?
Idyllic
It portrays a world where children can freely enjoy themselves.
What does ‘nurses song’ depict?
a world that cherishes innocence, curiosity, fredom and childhood
What does blake present in ‘nurses song’ ?
A joyful, utopical, idealised scene in whcih a nurse looks after small group of children
What does the steady rhyme scheme in ‘nurses song’ create?
a care free skipping noise that evokes the childrens joy and a song-like quality
What gives the children a sense of control in ‘nurses song’ ?
the fact the nurse can hear the children but not see them
What does the possesive determinter throughout ‘nurses song’ suggest?
that the nurse is the speaker
“laughing” “heart is at rest” “still”
- sense of safety and peace
- the poem presents an idealised vision of childhood characterized by freedom, joy and a deep connection with natural world
“my heart is at rest within my breast”
- Everything is in its right place, nothing is wrong with society / its idealistic
- internal rhyme
- contrast to experince poem
What kind of dialogue do the children and nurse share?
A democratic one
“til the morning affects in the sky”
- hope /optimism that the day and light will return, both literally and metaphorically
“shy the little birds fly/… hills are all covered with sheep”
the children cannot sleep as other ani,als are still awake
- suggsets that childs play is a part of nature and natural just like a bird flying/ a sheep wondering
What does nature signify in ‘nurses song’?
harmony
What do birds and sheep sybolise in ‘nurses song’
fredom and heavenly innocence
- they feel an affinity towards nature and its creators
What does the motif of freedom and pastoral imagery reinforce?
The childs argument to stay outside longet
What is blake celebratin in ‘nurses song’ and how does he do this?
it celebrates the innocence and ourity of childhood
- done through dialogue bwteen nurse and children
“When the voices of children are heard on the green/ and laughing is heard on the hill”
Nature is in equlibrium with human happiness
- allitartion of ‘h’ in stanza one evokes the childrens joy as we are presented with the idea of children who have been playhing and are now out of breath - childhood innocence and freedom
What does ‘nurses song’ serve as a celebration of?
childhood innocece and presents the ideal carefree childhood, protected and cherished by those who look after them
What does ‘nurses song’ reflect?
Blakes braoder critique of the social costraints that dampen the human spirity, emphasising the importance of maintaining the innocence and wonder of childgood in the face of adult demands
Repeated use of ‘and’
links to the garden of ededn and also echoes childrens desire to extend playtime
- echos polysyndeton sounds in many bible transaltions
“leaped and shouted and laughed”
innocent language reflects innocence of a lamb
- sundetic listing
“echoed”
All consuming sense of joy as if nature is lauging along with the children
What did blake beleive about children?
That children should be left to the natural cycle of day and night rather than being subject to the unnatural constriants of duty
“no,no let us play”
- Childhood is an idyllic free and innocent world
- it is telling that the children are comfortable saying this and talking back
- they dont fear her so theyspeak to her freely
What is the realtionship between the nurse and children presented as?
nurturing, respectdul, and harmonious
“Then come home my children the sun is gone down”
- Loving
- motif to show passage of time
- The nurse is kind and not harsh, she gives the children a gentle warning to come home
- she is excersizing her authroity
“come, come” “no, no”
suggests a close bond between the nurse and the children as they subtly immitate the speech patterns of the nurse
“well well go and play till the light fades away”
the nurse agreeing provides a utopian vision in whcih the nurse and children hold each other as equal
