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Year 10
Eduqas

Understanding ideas of youth and nature in Blake’s ‘The Schoolboy’

I can explore ideas of youth and nature in Blake’s ‘The Schoolboy’.

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New
New
Year 10
Eduqas

Understanding ideas of youth and nature in Blake’s ‘The Schoolboy’

I can explore ideas of youth and nature in Blake’s ‘The Schoolboy’.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Blake contrasts childhood freedom with the restrictions imposed by formal education.
  2. The speaker is a young boy who feels conflicted between the freedom of nature and the oppressive structure of school.
  3. Blake presents school as an oppressive institution that stifles creativity and natural joy.
  4. The poem emphasises Romantic themes such as reverence for nature, emotion, and opposition to oppressive institutions.

Keywords

  • Romanticism - an artistic and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century

  • Innocence - the state of being inexperienced, naive, or free from guilt or wrongdoing

  • Institution - a large and important organisation

  • Restrictions - the limitation or control of someone or something

  • Oppression - prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or exercise of authority

Common misconception

Blake is opposed to all education.

Blake critiques oppressive institutions, not education itself, reflecting Romanticism's focus on freedom and natural growth.


To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Understanding ideas of youth and nature in Blake’s ‘The Schoolboy’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Consider getting the pupils to read the poem or stanzas aloud. This can help them to engage with the content. Experiment with tone and expression to bring the poem to life and highlight its emotional and thematic depth.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need a copy of the Eduqas 2025 Anthology for this lesson

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
When did the Romantic period occur?
17th - 18th century
Correct answer: 18th - 19th century
19th - 20th century
20th - 21st century
Q2.
To critique something means to:
praise it without question
Correct answer: analyse strength and weaknesses
ignore its flaws
simply summarise it
Q3.
What is a metaphor?
a comparison saying something is like something else
Correct answer: a comparison saying something is something else
giving human characteristics to non-human things
Q4.
Complete this sentence: 'Discussing the information associated with a poem is known as . This could include the poet's possible influences or the time period in which it was written/set.'
Correct Answer: context, contextual, Context
Q5.
Match each of these parts of a poem to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:line,a single idea or phrase

a single idea or phrase

Correct Answer:stanza,a collection of ideas or phrases; a poetic paragraph

a collection of ideas or phrases; a poetic paragraph

Correct Answer:refrain,a repeated part of a poem, like a chorus

a repeated part of a poem, like a chorus

Correct Answer:volta,the point in a poem where the mood or emotive tone changes

the point in a poem where the mood or emotive tone changes

Q6.
What does the word 'symbolism' mean?
giving human characteristics to inanimate objects
comparing two things using 'like' or 'as'
putting two contrasting ideas close to each other to emphasise one or both
Correct answer: using concrete objects or actions to represent abstract ideas
when two more consecutive lines of poetry begin with the same word(s)

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What movement is William Blake associated with?
Classical
Correct answer: Romantic
Baroque
Renaissance
Q2.
Is this statement true or false? William Blake believed that schools were liberating and promoted creativity.
Correct Answer: false, f, False, F
Q3.
Which of the following best describes Blake’s view of nature in ‘The Schoolboy’?
Nature is dangerous and unpredictable.
Nature is irrelevant to childhood.
Nature is oppressive.
Correct answer: Nature is a source of freedom and joy.
Q4.
In 'The Schoolboy', Blake uses a metaphor to compare the child’s natural spirit being stifled by school. What does he use as the comparison?
a tree with no leaves
a flower in the dark
Correct answer: a bird in a cage
a cloud in the storm
Q5.
Which of the following statements best represents the Romantic ideas expressed in the poem 'The Schoolboy'?
It claims education is harmful and should be avoided entirely.
Correct answer: It celebrates nature and criticises how schools restrict joy and freedom.
It suggests children should avoid responsibility and live in nature.
It supports strict discipline as vital for a child’s growth.
Q6.
Which word beginning with 'o' can be described as: prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or exercise of authority?
Correct Answer: oppression, oppress, oppressive, Oppression