The Little Black Boy

A detailed Summary of The Little Black Boy


The theme of guardianship, being the act of guarding, protecting, and taking care of another person, is very prominent in William Blake's "The Little Black Boy". Three distinct instances of guardianship can be seen in Blake's poem. These guardianship roles begin with the little boy's mother, followed by God, and ultimately ending with the unsuspecting little black boy himself.

It is relatively easy to see the repression of blacks by whites in the way in which the little black boy speaks and conveys his thoughts. These racial thoughts almost immediately begin the poem, with the little black boy expressing that he is black as if bereaved of light, and the little English child is as white as an angel. The wonderful part of these verses is the fact that the little black boy knows that his soul is white, illustrating that he knows about God and His love.

In Blake's poem, it is very clear that the little black boy and his mother have a very close and affectionate relationship.


The last and most unsuspecting role of guardianship belongs to the little black boy himself. It is clear from the little black boy's words that he is a very caring and loving boy and just wants to be accepted by the English child. The little black boy desires to shade the English child until he can bear God's love. Although the little black boy's mother taught him about God and His love, the child still thinks that the only way that the English child will love him is if he becomes like the English child. The little black boy's mother taught him that one-day his skin would pass away. Perhaps the little boy thought this to mean that he would become white when he died and went to heaven. Ultimately, the little black boy desires to shelter the English child and show him love, in hopes that the English boy would love him.

The boy expresses how his mother sits with him under the shade of the tree and shares with him the love of God. The little black boy, being influenced by society during this time,

Some common words found in the essay are:
Black Boy, Guardianship Blake, little black, little black boy, black boy, english child, boy's mother, little black boy's, black boy's, black boy's mother, Little Black, english child love, god's love, black skin, blake's poem, guardianship roles, child love, poem little black,

Approximate Word count = 681
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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