The School Boy Poem Summary and Notes - CBSE Class 8 English Honeydew

Chapter 5 of the CBSE Class 8 English Honeydew book contains one poem named “The School Boy Poem”. It is written by William Blake. Here, students can find a detailed explanation and summary of the CBSE Class 8 English Honeydew The School Boy poem. It will help them in their exam preparation. Students can also do a quick revision by going through the summary. These CBSE Class 8 English Notes are created by subject experts. It will provide a deep understanding of the poem, along with the message that the poet wants to convey to the readers.

Students who want to increase their scores in the writing section of the English paper must practice the CBSE Essays on various topics which are most likely to be asked in the exam.

CBSE Class 8 English Honeydew The School Boy Poem Summary

This poem is about a schoolboy. He is unhappy because he doesn’t like going to school. He feels that his childhood is ruined in learning. He compares himself to a bird that lives in a cage and a plant that withers when it blossoms. In the end, the poet sends a message to parents that they should not put the burden of studies on students. They should allow them to experience joy and let them live happily.

CBSE Class 8 English Honeydew The School Boy Poem Explanation Notes

Go through the CBSE Class 8 English Honeydew The School Boy poem and its detailed explanation.

The School Boy Poem Explanation

I love to rise in a summer morn,

When the birds sing on every tree;

The distant huntsman winds his horn,

And the skylark sings with me.

O! what sweet company.

But to go to school in a summer morn,

O! it drives all joy away;

Under a cruel eye outworn,

The little ones spend the day,

In sighing and dismay.

Ah! then at times I drooping sit,

And spend many an anxious hour.

Nor in my book can I take delight,

Nor sit in learning’s bower,

Worn thro’ with the dreary shower.

How can the bird that is born for joy,

Sit in a cage and sing.

How can a child when fears annoy,

But droop his tender wing,

And forget his youthful spring.

O! Father and Mother, if buds are nip’d,

And blossoms blown away,

And if the tender plants are strip’d

Of their joy in the springing day,

By sorrow and cares dismay,

How shall the summer arise in joy,

Or the summer fruits appear?

BY WILLIAM BLAKE

In the first stanza, the poet says that the boy loves to wake up early in the morning when birds sing on the trees. He likes the sound of the distance huntsman when he blows his horn. He enjoys the company of a small brown bird that sings with him.

The poet further states that the boy does not like going to school in the summer morning. It takes away all the joy and happiness of him. The teacher keeps a close eye on students, and they have to spend the entire day in sadness and distress.

In the third stanza, the poet elaborates that sometimes the boy sits for long hours with his head hanging down. He neither enjoys reading his books nor does he like to sit to learn. He gets bored with the lectures of his teacher.

The poet compares himself with a bird and school with a cage. As the bird cannot sing in the cage, similarly, he cannot enjoy his childhood in school. The poet says that children are afraid of their teachers. The boy feels that he is a prisoner in the school. As a caged bird lets his wing down and forgets to share the joy of spring; similarly, the boy also forgets to enjoy his young days.

In the last stanza, the poet appeals to parents not to harass their children. School-going kids are very sensitive and delicate, like birds and flowers. If they are being overburdened, they will grow unhappily and fall, similar to the flowers. Without a happy childhood, this world will be full of sorrow. The summer will not arise in joy, and plants will no longer bear fruits.

We hope students must have found the CBSE Class 8 English Honeydew The School Boy poem summary and notes useful for their preparation. Apart from the English notes, students can also have a look at the essay on independence day and essay on the constitution of India. It will improve the writing section of the students so that they can score more marks on the exam.