Spring Flashcards
Rhyme scheme?
AABBCCDDE
What is this rhyme scheme akin to?
Lullabies, yet poem possesses inner significance
Rending for children?
How many lines is each stanza?
9 lines
How many characters are in the poem?
6
Who are the 6 characters ?
Crow Lamb Skylark Nightingale Little girl Little boy
In what stanza is there a change of grammar in the refrain?
Third stanza; ‘to welcome’ to ‘we welcome’
What does the change of grammar in the refrain entail ?
Stressed the unity of the child and lamb
No longer impersonal
How important is the unity of the child and the lamb ?
Blames devoted 8 lines out of 27 to create a bond between the lamb and the little boy
Where does Blake derive his inspirations from and how does he express this?
Nature
Thus he projects the vivid lively expressions in Nature
What sounds are there a lot of?
Soft and liquid sounds;
'Lick' 'Little lamb' 'Pull' 'Kiss' 'Wool' 'Soft face'
What effect do this soft and liquid sounds produce?
Enhances impression of tenderness and gentleness in the lamb and child’s encounter
Lamb comes to “Lick/My white neck” and be kissed in turn by speaker
Because the lamb is a symbol of innocence and a person of Christ, it indicates the soul’s response to God’s love as revealed in the natural world
Blake’d vivid lively expressions in Nature are criticised at times…
…but seems to be reasoning logically, projecting some fundamental truths of life
All 6 characters portray…
…a theme of innocence - except the crow.
Is the crow purely for rhythm ?
The vivid portrayal of innocence through the child and the lamb…
…makes the poem more appealing
What does ‘Spring’ celebrate ?
The beauty and fecundity of nature
What is portrayed with encompassed beauty in the poem ?
Prolife springs of joy, laughter, happiness, merrymaking
Idyllic universe
Nature is an idyllic universe that can influence humans in a positive manner
Hidden in extreme simplicity…
Lies a deep meaning symbolism
Who is the speaker ?
A child
When is the speaker identified ?
3rd stanza
“Sound the Flute!”
Bids to play flute and Nature embraces the child’s request
What does the quote “Sound the Flute!” mark and signify?
Marks onset of spring after Winter
Signifies breaking of the dark silence of the night
What characters welcome the spring ?
Nightingale and Skylark
Followed by the other birds and crow
What does the second stanza illustrate?
Happiness; there is an image of boy and girls’ playful cheer similar to ‘The Eccohing Green’
Why is the speaker welcoming a new season of life?
Because that’s when life itself is renewed throughout nature.
Blake’s springtime is the beginning of his new year
What does Blake closely attenuate thoughts of innocence with ?
Age; to him, everything is young and playful
Blake’s thoughts of innocence are parallel with Mark Twain’s idea of aging
“Age is an issue of mind over matter, if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter”
