Instructions
First read Blake’s poem and then read the three responses to the poem. Discuss the success and weakness in responses before reading the comments.
The assonance of ‘sunned’, ‘smiles’ and ‘soft’ makes the wording seem – when isolated – very positive. However, in its context this notion is perhaps ominous in its contribution to something so negative. In this way, the reader observes elements of the complexity of meaning beneath the language. This notion is repeated as he says, ‘In the morning glad I see’, in reference to his foe. The simplicity of the wording creates a connotation of innocence. However, as this is linked to happiness at the foe’s death, akin to a child’s enjoyment at killing insects, it seems wrong, even chilling. What is most chilling perhaps is that there appears to be no morality within it. Blake merely depicts how the ‘wrath did grow’, resulting in the ‘foe outstretched beneath the tree’ but the narrator depicts none of the remorse one might expect from the tale he tells.
This is better than Response 1. An idea is considered – the way the language and ideas in the poem are often in conflict – and develops it across the poem as a whole. The candidate focuses closely on language and patterns of language, including the sound of words, and develops the original point into a deeper exploration of the ‘chilling’ nature of the poem. There is evaluation here rather than merely commenting on words and phrases. It doesn’t have the close attention to language which we might see in the best candidates’ work, but this paragraph is a sound response.