The Little Girl Lost (I)

Question 1

What does the little girl lost narrate the journey of?

Answer 1

A young girl called Lyca, as she ventures into a wild and untamed environment, representing her transtition from the secure confines of childhood to the ambiguous territories of adulthood

Question 2

What does the poem tell the story of?

Answer 2

A young girl who finds herself wandering into the jungle where she is lost. She is later picked up by a lion who ends up taking her from all the other naimals of the forest

Question 3

What does the little girl lost illustrate?

Answer 3

A period of transformation from innocent childhood to the complicated ways of adulthood

Question 4

What is the metre of the poem?

Answer 4

Trimeter

Question 5

What is the rhyme Scheme

Answer 5

AABB

Question 6

What is the rhythm of the poem?

Answer 6

Simplistic, jovial rhythm

Question 7

What does the poem begin with?

Answer 7

The poem begins with the speakers vision of a future world emerging from sleep

Question 8

What does Blake assume in the poem?

Answer 8

A prophetic voice and transcends temporal boundaries to present a world that is to come

Question 9

What is the vision in TLGL(I) based on? What does it link to?

Answer 9

the fallen world being redeemed. Thins links to the genesis story of the fall of man

Question 10

“that the earth from sleep”

Answer 10

The Earth is personified as being asleep. It wakes in the future from this dormant state

Question 11

“Shall arise and seek…”

Answer 11

Implies a spiritual awakening. The personification of the earth is continued as it seeks its own creator

Question 12

“Maker meek”

Answer 12

The “maker” (god) is described as “meek” which has connotations of being patient, quiet, kind, gentle and forgiving

Question 13

“desert wild” and “garden mild”

Answer 13

“Desert Wild” = the wilderness (Adam and Eve cast out of the Garden of Eden)
Howeve, the wilderness is now a “garden mild” = the world has returned to a new Eden
- a place of innocence

Question 14

What does hte juxtaposition of “desert wild” and “garden mild” signify?

Answer 14

A shift from barrenness and harshness to fertility and tranquility

Question 15

What is there a suggestion of in Stanza two?

Answer 15

A transformation from a wild landscape to a place of sanctuary. From chaos to order.

Question 16

“southern clime”

Answer 16

vivid description of a “souther clime” that is never ending, timeless summer creates a warm and idyllic atmosphere

Question 17

“prime”

Answer 17

The peak of summer

Question 18

What does the use of alliteration in “little lyca lay” enhance?

Answer 18

The musicality of the line and draws attention to the innocence and beauty of Lyca

Question 19

What does the soft ‘L’ sound suggest?

Answer 19

That she is angelic, innocent. She represents the human soul that has been wandering

Question 20

How old is Lyca?

Answer 20

“seven summers old”

Question 21

Why are we told Lycas age?

Answer 21

It accentuatues her innocence and vulnerability. The speaker emphasises her youth as she wanders alone in a complex world

Question 22

“She had wandered long, / Hearing wild birds’ song”

Answer 22

The Act of wandering, coupled with the auditory experince of wild bird’ song, intrpduces an element of exploration and a connection to nature.

Question 23

What does birdsong have a connotation of?

Answer 23

Joy and happiness

Question 24

What does Lyca appeal for?

Answer 24

Sleep: “Sweet sleep, come to me”

Question 25

Why does luca appeal for sleep?

Answer 25

She is seeking solace. There is a suggestion that she is weary from her wandering. Highlights her youth and vulnerability

Question 26

Where does Lyca seek refuge?

Answer 26

Under a tree: "underneath this tree"

Question 27

What does the tree symbolise?

Answer 27

Nature and stability

Question 28

What does lyca think about as she is falling asleep?

Answer 28

she thinks about her parents who are weeping. This disturns her sleep and she goes on a journey of experince

Question 29

What does the rhetorical question introduce?

Answer 29

"do mother and father weep? / Where can Lyca sleep?" --> intrduces the parental concern. Lycas awareness of her familys feelings reveal a deeper emotional maturity.

Question 30

What does the image of a little child in the wilderness evoke? Provide a quote

Answer 30

"'lost in desert wild" --> evokes a powerful sense of vulnerability and isolation as lyca is in the untamed wild

Question 31

What does the contrast between "Desert wild" in S6 and "Summer" in S3 create the idea of?

Answer 31

Transformation from an idyllic setting to the harsh reality of a desert wildnerness underscored the precariousness of innocence in the face of challenging circumstances

Question 32

"How can Lyca Sleep / If her mother weep?"

Answer 32

The connection between lycas ability to find rest and her mothers weeping introduces a profound emotional resonance.

Question 33

What do Lycas parents fears hold Lyca back from?

Answer 33

her parents fears and upset seem to hold her back from experince = rahter than seeing the wilderness as an opportunity

Question 34

"If her heart does ache, / then let Lyca weep"

Answer 34

Intricacies of maternal love. Lyca longs to stay awake if her mother is suffering - shows the sacrificial nature of love

Question 35

What quote shows that lyca is willing to forego her own peace to alleviate her mothers suffering?

Answer 35

"if her heart does ache, / then let lyca wake"

Question 36

"frowning, frowning night,"

Answer 36

The night is personifies as frowning suggesting disapproval or severity

Question 37

"desert bright" and "frowning night"

Answer 37

Juxtaposition = creates a vivid contrast, intensifying the sense of isolation and the harsh conditions in which Lyca finds herself

Question 38

"Let the moon arise,"

Answer 38

Plea for the moon could be a plea for a guiding light or celstial presence in the darkness

Question 39

What could the moon arising be an allusion of?

Answer 39

the roman godess Diana - the goddess of virginity and childbith. Lyca is being protected and watched over by Diana in this world of experience

Question 40

What does the moon symbolise

Answer 40

Lyca moving into a new phase of womanhood and beginning menstruation

Question 41

"Sleeping Lyca lay"

Answer 41

Sleep emphasises Lycas innocence and vulnerability.

Question 42

What does "Sleeping lyca" juxtapose with?

Answer 42

"Beasts of Pray" --> creates a sense of threat and danger

Question 43

what could "beasts of prey" represent?

Answer 43

Dangers in the world of experience or even sexual experience

Question 44

"Caverns deep"

Answer 44

Caverns are often associated with hidden and remote places, emphasising the predatory nature of these creatures

Question 45

"The Kingly lion stood"

Answer 45

Kingly suggests protector, regal, majestic, rather than a threatening beast

Question 46

What is a lion typically symbolic of?

Answer 46

strength, courage and nobility

Question 47

"Then he gambolloed round / o'er the hallowed ground."

Answer 47

The kingly lions playful action and the mention of "hallowed ground convey a sense of sanctity and divine intervention

Question 48

What is the lion presented as?

Answer 48

A guardian figure

Question 49

"Leapords, tigers, play Round her as she lay;"

Answer 49

Softends their actions and makes the animals seem non-threatening. Sense of innocence. This introduces Lyca and the reader to a vision of experince that is not dangerous and scary

Question 50

"while the lion old"

Answer 50

Lion is experienced and has wisdom

Question 51

"Bowed his mane of gold"

Answer 51

Bowed = respect Gold = regal imagery, strength

Question 52

"and her bosom lick"

Answer 52

The interactions here become more intimate. There are sexual overtones here as the lion licks her "bosom" but this is portrayed in a gentle way. The lion is not viscious

Question 53

"From his eyes of flame"

Answer 53

The eyes of the flame evoke a majestic and otherworldly quality, representing the divine or supernatural nature of the lion

Question 54

"Ruby tears there came"

Answer 54

Carry multiple symbolic associations, including love, passion and protection

Question 55

"While the lioness"

Answer 55

Metaphor of Lyca as a lioness.

Question 56

"and naked they conveyed"

Answer 56

nakes = connotated innocence

Question 57

"to caves the sleeping maid"

Answer 57

She is sleeping again - she has found peace - her experince has been posiotive, not freightening or negaticve.

Question 58

What has Lyca managed to to ?

Answer 58

She has managed to (without her parents guidence) navigate her own way through the world of experince