Critical Appreciation - Holy Thursday 1 - William Blake - Asad Imran Notes

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Twas on a Holy Thursday their innocent faces clean

The children walking two & two in red & blue & green

Grey-headed beadles walkd before with wands as white as snow,

Till into the high dome of Pauls they like Thames waters flow

O what a multitude they seemd these flowers of London town

Seated in companies they sit with radiance all their own

The hum of multitudes was there but multitudes of lambs

Thousands of little boys & girls raising their innocent hands

Now like a mighty wind they raise to heaven the voice of song

Or like harmonious thunderings the seats of Heaven among

Beneath them sit the aged men wise guardians of the poor

Then cherish pity, lest you drive an angel from your door

Background Information

The poem Holy Thursday was first published in the poetic collection known as Songs of Innocence, painted and composed by a British poet, William Blake. The first version of the poem hit the shelves in 1789. The poem presents a religious rite "starred" by the orphans wearing colourful dress. It features The Ascension Day. The day in which a procession of orphans marches to the Cathedral of Saint Paul. The poem is an inward satire on the religious (and economical) system of England at that time.

Development of Situation

The poem begins on the announcement of the Holy Thursday and clean children marching towards the cathedral in two by two. The procession of children looked like the river Thames. The poet is bewildered to see their sheer number. Their gigantic size looked like a herd of lambs. Then like a forceful wind, the children raise their voices. In between the singing children are sitting some old people who are the "guardians of the poor".

Themes

Holy Thursday is a poem that highlights two rather uncomfortable themes those are related to the innocence of the children. The first one is the innocence itself. Children are innocent. They usually do not adhere to the practical values associated with life. It is also worth noting that innocence can be exploited through ignorance. Which leads us to the second theme that is Blake's criticism of the English religious values.

As mentioned in the background information of the song, the ceremony of Holy Thursday is put into motion through orphans. The life of an orphan is much different and difficult from the rest of his age-fellows. He is deprived of parental love and financial support or in most cases, both. Religion is often portrayed as a (financial) guardian of such people. But here in this poem, we see they are being used as a means to extort charity. This was a common scene in England at that time and Blake favoured the old Christian model that truly patronized the poor.

Comparison with Holy Thursday 2

It is his usual pattern of Blake to v present an experienced version of his innocent poems. Thus, Holy Thursday 2 from the Songs of Experience comes as an experienced response to its innocent 'rival'. Holy Thursday 2 is a direct attack on the unjust religious monarchy of England of that time. The poem openly opposes the festival calling it "trembling cries".

Is that trembling cry a song?
Can it be a song of joy?
And so many children poor?

The poem tries to investigate that why orphan children are poorly supported in a "fruitful land" like that of England. The answer implicitly lies in the social and religious injustice of the English Church.

Literary and Figurative Devices

Literary Devices used in Holy Thursday are a few but they help in highlighting the core issue inside the poem. The first instance of literary device is the simile. Simile occurs when the poet compares the children in the procession to the river Thames.

Till into the high dome of Pauls they like Thames waters flow

Blake also makes use of metaphor when he compares 3 children with lambs to signify innocence. There are multiple instances of symbolism inside the poem. The symbol of flowers hints at the beauty of the innocent children. The child is itself a symbol of innocence. While the thunder is the symbol of the presence of God or the Holy Spirit.

Setting and Imagery

The poem takes place around the cathedral of Saint Paul. The poet uses clear images that help imagining a procession of children. The images may include "innocent faces clean", "walking two and two", "as white as snow" and " raising their innocent hands".

Structural Analysis, Tone and Diction

The poem is composed of twelve lines. Further divided into three stanzas of four lines each - thereby forming three quatrains. The rhyme scheme of this poem is AABB that is neatly repeated in every stanza which creates six rhyming couplets. The tone of this poem is inwardly satirical and the diction is moderate.

Conclusion

Holy Thursday is a famulous poem not because it highlights an important social as well as religious issue but through the innocent way it highlights.

Critical Appreciation - Holy Thursday 1 - William Blake