BLAKE'S POEM - NIGHT

BLAKE'S POEM - NIGHT

Night - Synopsis and commentary

Synopsis of Night

In stanza one, the speaker looks at the setting sun and sees the evening star. Like the birds now quiet in their nest, s/he, too, must go to bed. S/he sees the moon as shining indulgently on the earth at sleep.

In stanza two, s/he says farewell to the daytime scene of green fields and groves where sheep have grazed. Now, where the lambs grazed angels tread, blessing everything that is growing and sleeping.

Stanzas three and four consider the angels' activities. They check nests; they check on all the animals, keeping them from harm and give sleep to any in distress, keeping watch by their bed. They weep when they find wolves and tigers howling for prey and try to drive away their hunger. If these beasts nevertheless catch their prey, the angels take the dead animals to a new life (heaven).

Stanzas five and six express the nature of this new life (‘new worlds'). It is a place of universal peace in which ‘the lion will lie down with the lamb'. The lion asserts that the gentle humility and wholesome purity of Christ (the unnamed ‘him who bore thy name' i.e. the Lamb of God) has driven out anger and sickness from this new place of endless day. The lion is now no longer the predator but the guard / shepherd. He can lie down beside the lamb and sleep, or think about Jesus' sufferings, full of tenderness towards the bleating, gentle lamb. Now the lion isimmortal (‘wash'd in life's river), he will be a glorious protector of the flock.

The poem draws on pastoral imagery, looking at harmony between nature and human beings. The contrasts of day, followed by night, followed by eternal day, stress only the positive aspects of each (which could be seen as demonstrating the inadequacy of innocence). Blake also employs a wealth of biblical allusion.

Commentary

A positive vision?

In the light of Blake's ideas drawn from Jacob Boehme (see Religious / philosophical background > Philosophical influences on Blake > Blake and Jacob Boehme), this poem can be read as showing the inadequacy of innocence when it is the only vision available to the human being. The perspective of the poem's speaker allows little engagement with the experience of ‘woe':

• The evocation of the passing day is idyllic, stressing greenness and peacefulness
• All is growth – ‘green fields and happy groves'
• Nothing is at risk – flocks ‘took delight', ‘lambs nibbled'
• The picture of angels visiting, protecting and soothing troubled animals is seductive
• It is the world of a lullaby.

Night actually neutralises the negatives associated with the image of night. After all, night-time is:

• The time of human terrors and fears
• When individuals are most vulnerable to attack
• When most predators are at work – the only glancing reference to death is that the predators ‘rush dreadful'.
• Frequently an image of death and oblivion.

A one sided picture

The reality of predation and death is present, and the angels cannot avert it. However, it is presented simply as a precursor to entering a more blissful existence, in which all antagonism is removed. The only values are those of meekness and tenderness. This vision of a world to come, or a world ‘beyond', offers comfort but might also signal an avoidance of the reality of devouring forces within human life (necessary contraries according to Blake). It also presents a vision of life devoid of energy and force:

• The angels become static in the face of danger, tears the only protection they can offer
• Lambs become merely ‘mild spirit[s]'
• The lion lies down with the lamb as a tamed beast, grazing alongside the lamb. The distinctive qualities he brings to creation are channeled merely into guard duties in this ideal, pastoral world.

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/night/

COMPREHENSION - POEM

Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow. The Fog I saw the fog grow thick    Which soon made blind my ken; It made tall men of boys,    And giants of tall men. It clutched my throat, I coughed;    Nothing was in my head Except two heavy eyes    Like balls of burning lead. And when it grew so black    That I could know no place I lost all judgment then,    Of distance or of space. The street lamps, and the lights    Upon the halted cars, Could either be on earth    Or be the heavenly stars. A man passed by me close,    I asked my way, he said, "Come, follow me, my friend " -    I followed where he led. He rapped the stones in front,    "Trust me," he said, " and come"; I followed like a child -    a blind man led me home. W. H. Davis
	1.	'It clutched my throat, I coughed' tells us that
		(A)	the poet was suffocating because of the fog
		(B)	the fog and the poet were fighting fiercely
		(C)	the fog held the poet by the throat
		(D)	the poet had a sore throat
	2.	The following statements are true except
		(A)	the fog grew so thick that the poet could not get his directions right
		(B)	a blind man who was also lost came to help the poet
		(C)	the fog caused the poet to see things differently
		(D)	the fog hut the poet's eyes
	3.	The word halted shows that the cars were probably
		(A)	stolen
		(B)	moving
		(C)	expensive
		(D)	stationary
	4.	' ... the stones in front' in the last stanza refers to
		(A)	the stones the blind man carried in a pouch in front of him
		(B)	the stones that were lying by the side of the road
		(C)	the road they were on
		(D)	loose gravel
	5.	The blind man could lead the poet through the fog because he
		(A)	was wearing a pair of sunglasses
		(B)	had been to the poet's house
		(C)	had a stick with him
		(D)	knew his way
	6.	The last stanza of the poem tells us that
		(A)	the blind man was boastful
		(B)	the poet trusted the blind man
		(C)	the poet could not return home
		(D)	the fog had hurt the feelings of the poet

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WORKSHEET - PHRASAL VERBS

WORKSHEET - PHRASAL VERBS

Complete the following sentences using an appropriate phrasal verb.

1. How did these things ………………..?

a) came about
b) come about
c) come across
d) came across

2. I …………………… an old friend of mine yesterday.

a) came about
b) came to
c) came across

3. That question ………………………. before the committee yesterday.

a) came up
b) came across
c) came about

4. He was …………………. in the prime of his life.

a) cut down
b) cut off
c) cut out

5. His wife’s death ……………………. terribly.

a) cut him up

b) cut him down
c) cut him off

6. He seems to be …………………..

a) well off
b) well down

7. At last the truth ……………………

a) came out
b) came up
c) came across

8. His master ……………………… an explanation of his conduct.

a) called for
b) called on
c) called in

9. He found it rather difficult to ………………….. to his views.

a) bring her round
b) bring her up
c) bring her out

10. My grandmother cannot ………………… past events.

a) call out
b) call up
c) call on

Answers

1. How did these things come about?

2. I came across an old friend of mine yesterday.

3. That question came up before the committee yesterday.

4. He was cut off in the prime of his life. (cut off = die)

5. His wife’s death cut him up terribly. (cut someone up = afflict, distress)

6. He seems to be well off. (well off = rich)

7. At last the truth came out.

8. His master called for an explanation of his conduct. (call for = demand)

9. He found it rather difficult to bring her round to his views. (bring someone round = convince)

10. My grandmother cannot call up past events. (call up = recollect)

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READING PRACTICE - COMPREHENSION

GONE FOREVER BY BARBARA REEVES A snow leopard roars in the high mountains of Asia. A black rhinoceros gallops across the plains of Africa. A grizzly bear hunts for fish in a North American river. A mother blue whale and her calf glide through the deep waters of the ocean. All of these animals share the Earth with us. They fascinate us with their beauty, their grace, and their speed. We love observing their behavior, and learning more about their habits. But just loving them is not enough. All of these animals are endangered. Many of them have died, and without special care, they may someday disappear from the Earth. Why is it important to care for animals like these? One reason is to     protect the balance of life on Earth. Another reason is the beauty of the animals themselves. Each species of animal is special. Once it is gone, it is gone forever. Africa was once filled with an abundance of wild animals. But that is changing fast. One of these animals, the black rhinoceros, lives on the plains of Africa. It has very poor eyesight and a very bad temper! Even though the black rhino is powerful, and can be dangerous, its strength can’t always help it to escape hunters. Some people think that the rhino’s horn has magical powers, and many hunters kill rhinos for their valuable horns. This has caused the black rhino to be placed on the endangered species list. The elephant seems to represent all that is strong and wild in Africa. It once had no natural enemies, but is now endangered—killed for its ivory tusks. The fastest land animal, the cheetah, also lives in Africa. It, too, is becoming extinct as people take over more and more of the land that is the cheetah's natural habitat. Imagine Africa without the powerful rhino, the gentle, intelligent elephant, or the lightning quick cheetah. Once they are gone, they are gone forever. Wherever people are careless about the land, there are endangered species. Grizzly bears like to wander great distances. Each bear needs up to 1,500 square miles of territory to call its homeland. Today, because forests have been cleared to make room for people, the grizzly’s habitat is shrinking and the grizzly is disappearing. It joins other endangered North American animals, such as the red wolf and the American crocodile. In South America, destruction of the rain forest threatens many animals. Unusual mammals, such as the howler monkey and the three-toed sloth, are endangered. Beautiful birds like the great green macaw and the golden parakeet are also becoming extinct. They’re losing their homes in the rain forest, and thousands die when they are caught and shipped off to be sold as exotic pets. The giant panda of Asia is a fascinating and unique animal. Yet there are only about 1,000 still living in the wild. The giant panda’s diet consists mainly of the bamboo plant, so when the bamboo forests die, so does the panda. China is now making an effort to protect these special creatures from becoming extinct. Asia’s big cats are also in trouble. The exotic snow leopard lives high in the mountains. Even there, it faces the loss of its natural habitat, and hunters who kill it for its fur. The tiger, the largest of all the big cats, is hunted merely for sport. Ocean-dwelling animals are in danger of extinction as well. The blue whale is the largest animal in the world. It weighs up to 390,000 pounds. Whale hunting and pollution are this species’ greatest enemies. Unfortunately, it is people who cause many of the problems that animals face. We alter and pollute their habitats. We hunt them for skins, tusks, furs, and horns. We destroy animals that get in the way of farming or building. And we remove them from their natural habitats and take them home as pets. What can you do to help endangered animals? Learn as much as you can about them. The more you know, the more you can help. Make an effort to support zoos and wildlife groups. Many zoos breed endangered animals, helping to ensure that they will continue to live on. Contribute to groups, such as the National Wildlife Federation and the Sierra Club, that work hard to protect animals. You can also be a smart shopper and never buy a pet that has been raised in the wilderness. The world is made up of many living things, and each thing is dependent on the others to survive. If we allow even one species on Earth to become extinct, it has an impact on other living things and changes our world. When we mention any endangered wild animals, let’s hope that we never again have to say, "Gone forever." Now answer the following questions. Which of the following is NOT an opinion?   It is important for us to take care of endangered animals.   The black rhinoceros is the most frightening animal in Africa.   The fastest land animal, the cheetah, also lives in Africa.   If we don’t protect endangered animals now, we will regret it in the future. Read this quote. Why is it important to care for animals like these? One reason is to protect the balance of life on Earth.    What does the author mean by the balance of life on Earth? Why is it important? Use details from the article to support your answer. Read this sentence from the article.    Today, because forests have been cleared to make room for people, the grizzly’s habitat is shrinking and the grizzly is disappearing. What does habitat mean?     an animal’s natural environment   a bear’s thick wool coat   a bear’s den   an animal’s vision   Is the author effective in persuading the reader that protecting endangered animals is important? Why or why not? Use details from the article to support your answer. Which of the following does NOT support the main idea of the article?      Ocean-dwelling animals are in danger of extinction as well.   Beautiful birds like the great green macaw are also becoming extinct.   Wherever people are careless about the land, there are endangered species.   The elephant seems to represent all that is strong and wild in Africa.   Read this sentence from the article.    They fascinate us with their beauty, their grace, and their speed. What is an antonym for the word fascinate     thrill   bore   scare   humor   What will happen to some animal species if current trends continue?    Their numbers will increase.   There will be no significant change.   They will become extinct.   They will move to other habitats. How does the author feel about the fate of endangered animals?   disinterested   concerned   pleased   confused