Holy Thursday MCQs and Summary

Summary:

William Blake wrote two poems titled Holy Thursday, one in Songs of Innocence (1789) and the other in Songs of Experience (1794). Each version presents a different perspective on the same event—the annual Ascension Day service for poor children in St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.

• Songs of Innocence (1789):
  • The poem describes a grand procession of orphaned children, dressed in colorful clothes, marching to St. Paul’s Cathedral.
  • They are compared to “flowers of London town” and “innocent lambs”, symbolizing purity.
  • The church officials are portrayed as benevolent caretakers, leading the children in praise and gratitude to God.
  • The tone is optimistic and celebratory, highlighting the children’s innocence and devotion.
• Songs of Experience (1794):
  • This version contrasts sharply with the earlier one, offering a critical view of society.
  • The poem questions whether it is truly “holy” to see poor, hungry children in a wealthy nation.
  • Blake criticizes the hypocrisy of religious and political institutions, which allow poverty and suffering to persist.
  • The tone is bitter and ironic, calling England “a land of poverty!”

Together, these poems reflect Blake’s dual vision of innocence and experience, showing both the beauty and the injustice of society.

MCQs:

1. Who wrote Holy Thursday?
   A) William Wordsworth
   B) William Blake
   C) John Keats
   D) Samuel Taylor Coleridge
   Answer: B) William Blake
2. In which collections do the two versions of Holy Thursday appear?
   A) Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience
   B) Lyrical Ballads and Songs of Experience
   C) The Prelude and Songs of Innocence
   D) Songs of Joy and Songs of Sorrow
   Answer: A) Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience
3. What event does Holy Thursday describe?
   A) A battle in the English Civil War
   B) The coronation of a king
   C) The annual procession of poor children to St. Paul’s Cathedral
   D) The celebration of Christmas in England
   Answer: C) The annual procession of poor children to St. Paul’s Cathedral

   

4. How are the children described in the Songs of Innocence version?
   A) As miserable and sick
   B) As “flowers of London town”
   C) As criminals in need of punishment
   D) As wealthy and powerful
   Answer: B) As “flowers of London town”
5. What is the tone of Holy Thursday in Songs of Innocence?
   A) Joyful and admiring
   B) Angry and rebellious
   C) Sarcastic and bitter
   D) Depressed and hopeless
   Answer: A) Joyful and admiring
6. What does Blake criticize in the Songs of Experience version?
   A) The cruelty of nature
   B) The government’s military actions
   C) The hypocrisy of the church and the neglect of poor children
   D) The lack of education among wealthy people
   Answer: C) The hypocrisy of the church and the neglect of poor children
7. How does Blake describe England in Songs of Experience?
   A) “A land of wisdom”
   B) “A land of freedom”
   C) “A land of poverty!”
   D) “A land of prosperity!”
   Answer: C) “A land of poverty!”
8. What literary device is used in Songs of Innocence to describe the children as “flowers of London town”?
   A) Metaphor
   B) Simile
   C) Irony
   D) Hyperbole
   Answer: A) Metaphor
9. What is the main contrast between the two versions of Holy Thursday?
   A) One describes a war, while the other describes a festival
   B) One focuses on innocence and joy, while the other highlights suffering and hypocrisy
   C) One is a comedy, while the other is a tragedy
   D) One is written in prose, while the other is in poetry
   **Answer: B) One focuses on innocence and joy, while the other highlights suffering and hypocrisy
10. What is the significance of the “holy” in Holy Thursday?
    A) It suggests true holiness in caring for the poor
    B) It is used ironically to criticize false piety
    C) It refers to a saint’s birthday
    D) It means the children have divine powers
    Answer: B) It is used ironically to criticize false piety