Answers to Important Brief Questions for Part – A
William Blake
i. What type of a poet is William Blake?
Ans: William Blake is a pre-romantic and mystic poet.
ii. Which poet was both a poet and painter?
Ans: William blake was both a poet and a painter.
iii. Name the two groups of poems William Blake has written. – 2012
Ans: The two groups of poems William Blake has written are ‚Songs of Innocence‛
and ‚Songs of Experience‛.
iv. What is Romanticism? – 2022
Ans: Romanticism is an artistic, literary, musical, and intellectual movement that
emerged in the late 18th century in Europe, reaching its peak in the first half of the
19th century. It was a reaction against the rationalism and restraint of the
Enlightenment period, emphasizing emotion, imagination, individualism, and a deep
connection with nature.
v. When did the Romantic Age in English literature begin? – 2011
Ans: The Romantic Age in English literature began in 1798.
vi. What is the time span of the Romantic age?
Ans: The Romantic age in English literature started in 1798 and ended in 1832. ?
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vii. Who is a mystic?
Ans: A mystic is an individual who experiences a direct and personal connection with
the divine, transcendent, or spiritual realms through mystical experiences. Mysticism
involves seeking a deeper understanding of the nature of existence, the divine, or the
ultimate reality through direct communion, intuition, or a sense of unity beyond
ordinary human perception.
viii. Who is a mystic poet?
Ans: A mystic poet is an individual whose poetry reflects themes, experiences, and
insights associated with mysticism. Mystic poets are often characterized by their
exploration of the divine, transcendental experiences, and a deep connection with the
spiritual or mystical dimensions of existence.
ix. Who is regarded as the forerunner or precursor of romanticism?
Ans: William Blake is considered a significant forerunner or precursor to Romanticism
due to his unique and visionary approach to poetry, art, and mysticism.
a. Introduction
i. What kind of child did the poet see on a cloud?
Ans: The poet saw a mystic child on a cloud.
ii. What does the child on a cloud represent? – 2014
Ans: The child on a cloud may represent Jesus Christ who speaks from a cloud i.e.
heaven or it may be an angel representing innocence.
iii. What does the ‘Lamb’ symbolize? – 2011, 2022
Ans: The ‘Lamb’ symbolizes both innocence and Jesus Christ.
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iv. Why does Blake choose a hollow reed to make his pen? – 2017
Ans: Blake chooses a hollow reed to make his pen just to maintain the rurality or
pastorality of the atmosphere.
v. What is pastoral poetry? – 2014
Ans: Pastoral poetry is a literary genre that idealizes rural life, portraying it as a
peaceful, harmonious, and often idyllic existence. This form of poetry typically
celebrates the beauty of nature, the simplicity of rural living, and the virtues
associated with a rustic, agrarian lifestyle. Pastoral poetry often features shepherds or
other rural characters and settings, creating a poetic vision of an unspoiled, bucolic
landscape.
vi. What is pastoral poem? – 2012
Ans: A pastoral poem is a form of poem that idealizes rural life and nature, typically
portraying an idyllic and peaceful countryside setting. Such a poem often features
shepherds or other rural characters and explore themes such as the beauty of nature,
the simplicity of rural living, and the virtues associated with a pastoral, agrarian
lifestyle.
vii. What is a Bard? – 2016
Ans: A Bard is a poet or a storyteller who sees present, past and future.
viii. What does the ‘ancient trees’ refer to?
Ans: The ‘ancient trees’ refers to the trees of the Garden of Eden where Adam and
Eve lived before their fall.
ix. What does ‘the dewy grasses’ symbolize? – 2021
Ans: ‘The dewy grasses’ symbolizes materialism.
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x. What does the ‘morn’ symbolize?
Ans: The ‘morn’ symbolizes regeneration and reawakening.
xi. What does the Holy Word signify?
Ans: The Holy Word signifies the words spoken by God when he walked among the
trees in the Garden of Eden and called for Adam and Eve.
b. The Lamb & The Tiger
i. How is the wool of the lamb?
Ans: The wool of the lamb is bright, soft and warm.
ii. What do the lamb and the tiger symbolize in Blake’s poems? - 2012, 2019
Ans: The lamb symbolizes innocence and Jesus Christ. On the other hand, The word
‘tyger’ symbolizes a restless, strong and remorseless life. It also symbolizes
regeneration and energy.
iii. Why is Jesus Christ called the lamb? – 2015
Ans: According to Christian religion, Jesus Christ is called the lamb because of his
qualities of gentleness and meekness.
iv. What does the ‚Lamb‛ symbolize? – 2011, 2022
Ans: The lamb symbolizes innocence and Jesus Christ.
v. How does Blake spell the word ‘tiger’? – 2011
Ans: Blake spells the word ‘tiger’ as ‘tyger’?
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vi. What does the ‘tiger’ symbolize in Blake’s poetry? – 2013, 2016
Ans: The word ‘tyger’ symbolizes a restless, strong and remorseless life. It also
symbolizes regeneration and energy.
vii. What does the ‘stars’ symbolize?
Ans: The ‘stars’ symbolizes material power.
c. The Chimney Sweeper
i. What is a chimney sweeper?
Ans: A chimney sweeper is a young boy who is sent up a chimney with a brush to
sweep away the stoot that accumulates on the inner walls of a chimney.
ii. Name some chimney sweepers mentioned in the poem ‚Chimney Sweeper‛ in
the ‚Songs of Innocence‛. – 2022
Ans: The chimney sweepers mentioned in the poem ‚Chimney Sweeper‛ in the
‚Songs of Innocence‛ are Tom Dacre, Dick, Joe, Ned and Jack.
iii. Who is Tom Dacre? – 2011
Ans: Tom Dacre is a fellow chimney sweeper of the speaker of the poem ‚Chimney
Sweeper‛ in the ‚Songs of Innocence‛.
iv. What did Tom see in his dream? – 2015
Or, What did Tom Dacre see in his dream? -2020
Ans: Tom saw in his dream that thousands of his fellow sweepers locked up in black
coffins and then there came an angel with a bright key who opens the coffins and
sets them all free.
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v. Why did the chimney sweeper cry ‘weep’? – 2020
Ans: The chimney sweeper cried ‘weep’ to actually say ‘sweep’ because he was too
young to pronounce the word properly. But it also conveys to us the distress of the
little chimney sweepers.
vi. How does the chimney sweeper cry? – 2018
Ans: The chimney sweeper cries with the word ‘weep! weep! weep! weep!’.
vii. What does the poet signify by the expression, ‘weep! weep! weep! weep!’?
Ans: By the expression, ‘weep! weep! weep! weep!’, the poet signifies two things. One
is the littleness of the child chimney weepers who are unable to pronounce the word
‘sweep’ properly. The other thing is to conveys to us the distress of the little
chimney sweepers.
viii. What is the moral of the poem ‚The Chimney Sweeper‛ of Songs of Innocence?
Ans: The moral of the poem is that no harm comes to him who does not neglect his
duty.
ix. Why were the heads of the chimney sweeper shaved?
Ans: The heads of the chimney sweeper were so that soot may not unnecessarily get
into the hair and go on settling there, layer upon layer.
x. What does the word ‘coffins’ symbolize in the poem ‚The Chimney Sweeper‛ of
Songs of Innocence?
Ans: The word ‘coffins’ in the poem ‚The Chimney Sweeper‛ of Songs of Innocence
symbolizes sooty bodies of the chimney sweepers.
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xi. What does the poem ‚The Chimney Sweeper‛ of Songs of Experience criticize?
Ans: The poem ‚The Chimney Sweeper‛ of Songs of Experience criticizes the social
set-up created by God, the Priest and King.
xii. How are the parents of the speaker of the poem ‚The Chimney Sweeper‛ of
Songs of Experience?
Ans: The parents of the speaker of the poem ‚The Chimney Sweeper‛ of Songs of
Experience are hypocritical and selfish. They are determined to enjoy the best of
both worlds – in this world as well as in the world to come.
xiii. What does the phrase ‘a little black thing’ mean?
Ans: The phrase ‘a little black thing’ refers to a young chimney sweeper.
xiv. Who made up a Heaven of misery of the chimney sweepers?
Or, Who are responsible for the miseries of the chimney sweeper?
Ans: God, the Priest and King made up a Heaven of misery of the chimney sweepers.
d. The Nurse’s Song
i. How is the nurse in ‚Nurse’s Song‛ of Songs of Innocence?
Ans: The nurse in ‚Nurse’s Song‛ of Songs of Innocence is kind-hearted,
accommodating, and benevolent.
ii. How does the poem ‚Nurse’s Song‛ foreshadow the impending change into
experience?
Ans: The poem ‚Nurse’s Song‛ foreshadows the impending change into experience
through the Nurse’s exerting authority over the children.
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iii. What kind of nurse is the nurse of the Songs of Experience?
Ans: The nurse of the Songs of Experience is dutiful and conscientious.
iv. ‚And the dews of night arise‛- what does the ‘dew’ symbolize?
Ans: The ‘dew’ symbolizes materialism or the worldliness of the people.
e. Holy Thursday
i. What is a Holy Thursday? – 2021
Ans: Holy Thursday is ‚Ascension Day‛, that is, the day on which Jesus Christ
ascended to heaven after his resurrection from death.
ii. What is the moral of the poem ‚Holy Thursday‛ of Songs of Innocence?
Ans: The moral of the poem ‚Holy Thursday‛ of Songs of Innocence is to show
sympathy to any child who comes to get help because turning away the child means
turning away an angel.
iii. Who are the flowers of London town?
Ans: The children are metaphorically called the flowers of the city of London.
iv. What does Blake criticize in ‚Holy Thursday‛? – 2018
Ans: In ‚Holy Thursday‛, Blake criticizes religious hypocrisy.
v. What does ‘winter’ symbolize?
Ans: ‘Winter’ symbolizes the time of suffering and distress.
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f. London
i. ‚I wander thro’ each chartered street‛ – what does the ‘chartered street’ mean?
Or, What does the ‘chartered street’ mean in the poem ‚London‛? – 2013
Ans: The word ‘chartered’ means free or privileged. So, the ‘chartered street’ means
the street which enjoys the freedom guaranteed to it by a royal charter.
ii. What is noticed in every face in ‘London’? – 2014
Ans: Marks of weakness and woe are notice in very face in the poem ‘London’.
iii. What evils of society are attacked in ‚London‛? – 2017
Or, How many evils are attacked in ‚London‛?
Ans: In ‘London’, three great evils of society are attacked. They are callousness of
society, adversity of war and lust.
iv. What is meant by ‘the mind-forged manacles’?
Ans: ‘The mind-forged manacles’ refer to the fetters or chains imposed by the men of
authority.
v. What is meant by the ‘marriage hearse’?
Ans: The ‘marriage hearse’ means a marriage which is a living death because of the
husband’s venereal disease contracted by his contact with a prostitute.
vi. Which three classes are represented in the poem ‚London‛?
Ans: The chimney sweeper, the soldier and the harlot are represented in ‚London‛.
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