The Little Black Boy

The little black boy by william blake william blake included the little black boy in his collection the songs of innocence published in 1789. This is because it deals with the issues of racism and slavery.

The Little Black Boy Wikipedia

The poem the little black boy revolves around the themes of racism and discrimination on the basis of colour.

The little black boy. White as an angel is the english child but i am black as if bereaved of light. The little black boy was published in 1789 a time when slavery was still legal and the campaign for the abolition of slavery was still young. My soul is white.

In this poem the black boy probably a negro who is quite young says that he is black but his heart is not. The little black boy figures of speech literary devices essay the poem the little black boy is rich with literary styles. My mother taught me underneath a tree.

The poem is considered to be one of the most uncomfortable of blake s lyric poems. Blake was strongly opposed to the belief in racial inferiority and superiority. His poetry does not only embrace the characteristic features of this age but also has certain deviations from its norms.

The boy who was born in the southern wild of africa first explains that though his skin is black his soul is as white as that of an english child. Before we proceed to an analysis of blake s poem here s a reminder of the little black boy. The little black boy songs of innocence lyrics my mother bore me in the southern wild and i am black but o.

But i am black as if bereav d of light. Songs of innocence the little black boy. Look on the rising sun.

In the little black boy blake questions conventions of the time with basic christian ideals this becomes apparent in the third stanza where blake uses the sun as a metaphor for god and his kingdom. The poem under analysis is taken from a compilation of works by william blake songs of innocence and experience and is called the little black boy. The little black boy my mother bore me in the southern wild.

The little black boy is a poem from william blake s 1789 volume songs of innocence. Imagery is perhaps the most predominant literary element in the poem. The little black boy.

White as an angel is the english child. The author uses literary skills like imagery similes rhyme etc to make the poem interesting and captivating. My mother bore me in the southern wild and i am black but o.

Most of his works belong to the literary era of romanticism. My soul is white. My mother bore me in the southern wild and i am black but o my soul is white.

My mother taught me underneath a tree and sitting down before the heat of day she took me on her lap and kissèd me. White as an angel is the english child. William blake was a british poet painter and engraver.

He relates how his loving mother taught him about god who lives in the east who gives light and life to all creation and comfort and joy to men. There god does live.

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