EC / ED William Blake Exam Review Sheet Forest Hills HS Mr. M. Lutece
***AIM: To review as thoroughly and efficiently as possible for Monday’s examination on
William Blake’s life and poetry.
*** DO NOW: Take out your homework and re-copy the most important question (of the two)
which you feel you have about this unit.
1. Exam layout: Your William Blake exam will consist of the following: a). 10 fill in
questions – 3 points each b). 10 multiple choice questions – 2 points each c). 5
matching questions – 2 points each d). 5 true / false questions – 2 points each e). 3
out of five short answer questions (answered in about 3-4 sentences for each ) – 10
points each.
2. Materials to be reviewed for the Exam: a). “Holy Thursday” (Innocence and
Experience poems) b). “The Tyger” and “The Lamb” poems c). “The Chimney
Sweeper” (Innocence and Experience poems) d). The two handouts (especially the
numbered one with Blake’s reverse copper etching on the back) on Blake’s life, artwork,
and his feelings about his culture and society.
*** Please note that all of the class page notes, board notes and discussions on any of
Blake’s poems are your responsibility to have read and to know.
3. Main themes and perspectives to be reviewed for each poem: a). you should know
the poem generally = you may be given a couple of lines and need to identify which
poem they are from (this includes “Innocence” or “Experience” of a particular poem)
b). you should know the specific social event / commentary from Blake’s culture that he
is referring to for any poem, if applicable.
c). You should be aware of the background for the social event (details) if they are listed
on the class notes / on the class page (ie. what are charity schools and ‘sweeps’…).
d). You should know how Blake uses poem’s structure (rhyme and meter) to create
meaning, if applicable.
e). You should be able to summarize each poem by stating what it is referring to (actions
and events as communicated literally and symbolically throughout), what point Blake is
making through the poem (the higher idea), what the tone / mood is of each poem, and
the specific events being described throughout each (a summary / story line of each
poem from point to point).
f). You should know the basic ideas of Blake’s life = his philosophy of life and his beliefs
and how these are reflected in his poetry (also his reverse copper etching technique).
g). Main examples of his symbolism, especially as contained in “The Tyger” and “The
Lamb”, and for good, evil, cleansing, redemption… (in general and as used in the poems)
….