ever, as the poem progresses and the persona experiences more negativity, that voice changes. In the final lines, with the addition of internal rhyme scheme, the voice seems trapped and confused. And Priests in black gowns, were walking their rounds,/And binding with briars, my joys & desires(11-12). In the first two stanzas of the poem, it consists of an a, b, c, b rhyme scheme or end rhyme. The end rhyme gives the sense that the poem is only half of a nursery rhyme; it is an incomplete, but happy ending. The pattern is particularly effective when the a and c lines are negative. For example, in line 5, Blake says, And the gates of this Chapel were shut. By ending the line with shut, it gives the reader a sense that there are unanswered questions; it is a hopeless situation, where there is no possibility of opening the gates. Line 5 is a statement- a declaration, or sorts, of impossibility and hopelessness- without a rhyming word to imply a happy ending. However, the last stanza maximized this feeling of confusion, as there was no end rhyme, only internal rhyme. The internal rhyme gives a feeling of rushed and lost hysteria, because the rhyme was much tighter, as well as giving a sense of hopelessness. Through his use of rhyme scheme, Blake effectively conveyed the idea of cultivating the creator within and the effects of organized religion on the individual. Had Blake used a different rhyme scheme or voice, the subtle nuances or hopelessness, frenzy, or confusion would have been lost to a totally different purpose. With each negative aspect of the Churchs presence that the persona encountered, its hopeful and explorative nature became increasingly influenced by religious standards, therefore losing its positive and loving qualities. Blake also uses religion as an effective means of showing the denial of love. By convention, religion is sought after as a refuge, usually by people who cannot deal with issues in their own life...
