The Schoolboy - William Blake.

Context:

- William Blake 18th century poet and wrote poetry during the romantic period of literature. 

- 18th century romanticism explores explores the relationship between man and nature, it focuses on the power of imagination and natural genius - freedom and personal expression. 

- Pastoral poem: symbolic of a simple and natural way of life. 

- Poem forms part of a collection of poems called "songs of innocence and experience" and the poem reflects philosophical thinking of the relationship between good and evil.

Themes & ideas:

- explores the social issue of 18th century education. How do we educate without oppressing? - creative innocence and natural learning of children.

- Emotional state: frustration about traditional learning depressing state. 

- Relationship between innocence (the boy) and experience (the parents) = battle between authority. 

- Freedom within education: nature is viewed as a place of joy.

Discourse:

The poem is structured into stanza's and displays an argument, starts with an introduction, makes a couple serious points and ends with a conclusion. Blake writes in the first person and uses sophisticated language while making his points. Blake shows main themes such as: education, freedom, simplicity, innocence and experience and authority (parents and school), all these themes have a sense of conflict. 

Lexis and Semantics:
Use of imagery:
- Birds = wings , freedom, colours and songs.
- Cage = prison, trap and home.
- Plants = green, nature, beauty and growth.
All this use of imagery relates to what Blake is trying to explain. Birds link with wings and the freedom of the child; cage relates to a prison which is meant to resemble the education system or school. And plants resemble the growth and beauty of the innocent child.

Depressing lexis "sighing and dismay" is used to express a child's emotion towards education.