The School Boy – Class 8 English NCERT Solutions

Explore the solutions for “The School Boy,” Class 8 English NCERT. This thought-provoking poem by William Blake presents a contrast between a child’s natural joy and the constraints of formal education. It teaches students about the importance of making learning enjoyable and helps them understand how different teaching methods can impact a child’s enthusiasm for education. The poem also encourages educators and parents to consider the balance between structured learning and natural childhood happiness.

Summary of the Poem

The poem “The School Boy” depicts a young student’s perspective on attending school. In the first stanza, the boy expresses his love for summer mornings, where he enjoys the company of singing birds and the distant sound of a huntsman’s horn. However, his joy turns to dismay when he must go to school. Under strict supervision, he feels caged and unable to enjoy learning. The poem concludes with the boy appealing to his parents, comparing himself to a plant that cannot flourish if its natural growth is restricted.

हिंदी सारांश: कविता “द स्कूल बॉय” एक छात्र की स्कूल के प्रति भावनाओं को दर्शाती है। पहले छंद में, लड़का गर्मियों की सुबह का आनंद लेता है, जहां वह गाते पक्षियों और शिकारी के सींग की दूर की आवाज़ का आनंद लेता है। हालाँकि, जब उसे स्कूल जाना पड़ता है, तो उसकी खुशी दुख में बदल जाती है। कड़ी निगरानी में, वह खुद को पिंजरे में कैद महसूस करता है और सीखने का आनंद नहीं ले पाता। कविता का समापन बच्चे की अपने माता-पिता से अपील के साथ होता है, जहां वह खुद की तुलना एक ऐसे पौधे से करता है जो प्राकृतिक विकास के अवरुद्ध होने पर फल-फूल नहीं सकता।

Word Meanings

Multiple Choice Questions

1. To whom is the poet talking to when he says the words – “if buds are nip’d…”?

The poet is addressing his parents in these lines. This is a crucial moment in the poem where the boy expresses his concerns to his mother and father about how strict schooling might harm a child’s natural development, just like how nipping buds prevents flowers from blooming. He uses this metaphor to help his parents understand how the rigid school system affects his growth and happiness.

2. Complete the sentence from the poem – “Nor in my _____ can I take delight”

The word that completes this line is “book.” In this line, the schoolboy expresses his inability to find joy in reading his schoolbooks. This reflects how the strict and dreary atmosphere of the school has affected even his ability to enjoy reading, which should naturally be a pleasurable activity for children.

3. According to the poet, what keeps all the joy away?

Going to school on a summer morning keeps all joy away. The poet beautifully contrasts the natural joy of a summer morning (with singing birds and the huntsman’s horn) with the obligation to attend school. The forced confinement within school walls on such a beautiful morning represents the conflict between natural freedom and institutional constraints.

4. Name the poet of the poem “The School Boy”.

The poem is written by William Blake, a renowned English poet, painter, and printmaker of the Romantic Age. Blake was known for his works that often challenged the conventional education system and advocated for children’s rights to natural development and joy in learning.

5. What excites the little boy about the huntsman?

The sound of the huntsman’s horn excites the little boy. This distant sound represents freedom and adventure to the child, becoming part of the natural symphony of the morning along with the birdsong. It symbolizes the world of natural excitement and discovery that exists outside the classroom walls.

Short Answer Questions

6. In stanza 2, the mood changes. Which words/phrases reflect the changed mood?

The mood in stanza 2 shifts dramatically from joy to despair, reflected through several powerful phrases:

• “cruel eye outworn” – suggesting strict, tired supervision that lacks warmth
• “in sighing and dismay” – depicting the children’s unhappiness and resignation
• “O! it drives all joy away” – directly stating how school attendance destroys the natural happiness of the morning

7. ‘A cruel eye outworn (stanza 2)’ refers to:

The phrase refers to the dull and uninspiring life at school with lots of work and no play. This interpretation captures the complete meaning as it describes not just the physical environment but the entire school experience. The “cruel eye” symbolizes the strict supervision and rigid rules, while “outworn” suggests how this traditional system has become tired and ineffective, creating an atmosphere that stifles creativity and natural learning.

8. “Nor sit in learning’s bower worn thro’ with the dreary shower” – Which of the following is a close paraphrase of these lines?

The correct paraphrase is “nor can I learn anything at school though teachers go on lecturing and explaining.” This interpretation accurately captures the poet’s metaphor where the “dreary shower” represents the constant stream of lectures and explanations that fail to engage the student. The “learning’s bower,” which should be a pleasant place for education, has become worn out through monotonous teaching methods.

9. Find three or four words/phrases in stanza 1 that reflect the child’s happiness and joy.

The first stanza is rich with expressions of natural joy and happiness:

• “love to rise in a summer morning” – showing the child’s natural enthusiasm for the day
• “birds sing on every tree” – representing the harmony of nature
• “the Skylark sings with me” – suggesting the child’s connection with nature
• “O! what sweet company” – expressing pure delight in natural surroundings
• “huntsman winds his horn” – adding to the morning’s cheerful symphony