Holy Thursday (Songs of Innocence) : Summary
Holy Thursday (Songs of Innocence) is a notable literary work by William Blake. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Holy Thursday (Songs of Innocence).
Summary
Let us discuss the summary in 3 points.
- Innocence in Colorful Procession
- A Beautiful Gathering
- Children’s Beautiful Singing
Innocence in Colorful Procession: The poet describes a special day when young children walk together in pairs. They are dressed in colorful clothes – red, blue, and green. Elderly church officials with white sticks are leading the way. The children and officials walk into St. Paul’s Cathedral. Their procession resembles the flowing waters of the River Thames entering the grand cathedral dome. This scene shows the innocence of the children on Holy Thursday.
A Beautiful Gathering: In this part, the poet is amazed by the many children in London. He compares them to flowers in the city. These kids sit together in groups, and they all have special brightness. Even though there are many of them, they look like a crowd of gentle and innocent lambs. Thousands of little boys and girls are raising their innocent hands, which is a touching sight that shows their purity and goodness.
Children’s Beautiful Singing: The poet says that now the children are singing so wonderfully that it is like a strong wind blowing their voices up to the sky. It sounds as powerful as thunder in the heavens, where God lives. Below the children, some wise older men take care of people with low incomes. They are like protectors for those who do not have much. The poem ends by reminding us to be kind and compassionate. Neglecting kindness may lead to losing divine favor.