Songs of innocence and experience

In year of 1789, in French revolution, Songs of innocence are published but then in 1994 he agai
published by revising songs of innocence and by adding songs of experience.

• He himself published these songs

• He makes as best as he can to make form and content in great form
• Mostly his works are prophetic or prose
• In that time songs are considered as limpid and translucent so were not included in
prophetic books.
• Songs deserve special attention because are collection of of lyrical poems in English.

Distinction in songs and prophecies

1. Form
a. Songs (traditional meter of songs and hymns without repeating experiment as in poetical
sketches + needs regular measures to sing. (songs are in lyrical art)
b. Prophecies: free verse form as in Jerusalem + speaks like an orator
2. Purpose
a. Songs: he wrote songs because he wants to show 'the two contrary states of the human
soul' as in introduction of songs of innocence.
b. Prophecies: Great message for youth+ urgent call to wake up from sleep (Milton)

The differences of form a and the prophetic books are parallel in the presentation of material.
3. Mythical figures
Before innocence songs he already used myths and symbols in prophetic books but don't use
these mythical figures in his songs. (Book of thel and thiel)
4. Division
Blake describes the song as showing the two contrary states of the human soul. He divides
the songs into two groups having differences of characters in them. This decision is not found
in prophetic books + material and manner of songs are easier to arrange than in prophetic
books.
5. Subject matter:
Songs are limited in subject matter but prophecies are not
6. Experience of prophetic books and songs are not very dissimilar things…There are
remarkable connection between two but interpretation of songs must not be done through
prophetic books.
Blake describes Song from personal point of view + use symbols neither in same way and not with
same mythological purpose.

Meaning of songs:

1. In search of meanings of sings., A.E HOUSEMAN said that

Meaning is a poor foolish disappointing thing in comparison with the verses themselves

• So, search for meaning is useless as compared to Blake's songs. Poems are important for
reference to their poetry
 2. Another point of view is that meaning is an essential part of whole and makes a
contribution to the delight of what poems mean. Human curious nature wants meaning to
appreciate more the capacity of Blake for transformation of human states of mind into
unusual thought.

Two sections contrasted in a way that songs of innocence show imaginative vision of innocence state
and songs of experience shows that how life challenges corrupt the life.

• Songs are related to most persist thought of Blake that’s is active life of creative imagination.
(poetic genius)
• He is against the empiricist philosophers who build their system and theories on sense
perception instead of vision.
• Example: He said in poem that good are attracted by man but if man don’t think to get lesson
for themselves and not employed creative imagination then the creative forces which he called
as friaries and elves will be restricted and the result s that the evil thigs like hypocrisy, knavery
and self-seeking enter in man and see of innocence is lost but those who have eagle like vision
see things clearly. So, in first part is related to innocence and 2nd part is related to experience.
• Blake shows the concept of innocence through pastoral symbols that's just like the
concept about the vision of childhood which is lost in later life given by Wordsworth.
(loss of childhood) But Blake's concept is more concerned with loss which is less definite
and wider.(loss of innocence in childhood) (For him childhood is a symbol of pure soul
which exists with maturity)
• Subject matter is child-like vision of existence: all humans are children of divine fathers
so are pure and innocent but experience destroys their innocence and makes them
disillusioned. Example is chimney sweepers.
• Blake doesn't give memories of childhood but gave an ugly contrast between innocent
childhood with experienced conceptions and reality.
• Songs with such a poignant subject shows the relationship with events in Blake's life.
It is clear from his many works other than songs of experience like book of thel and
Thiel.
A. Book Of thel: symbolic figure (innocence but helpless in appearance of reality)
B. Book of Thiel : The chief figure died after realization that he lost the rule of law of
imagination.
• Shows Tragedy of innocence. Problems are not the same with songs but the common
base is experiences
• In writing sons of experience Blake seems to pass through a spiritual crisis. (1793)
• Shaken trust in life+ rupture hopes because of French revolution bcz events are not of his
liking + cause to shake his vision + friend in danger + disillusionment of his vision:
brought down from terrible shock of vision of reformed humanity to what politics really
are.
• Disturbed Domestic life: Wife opposes his idealistic views of love. For him it is an
unforeseen denial of spirit (great shock: broken trust in himself) + Shows this strange
experience in poem William bond in which faires are describe as creative imagination
 and angels of providence as Morality and legality. So, because these morality are against
these imagination so it cause sadness in him and he began to doubt his songs.
• Use of Symbol: songs of innocence: mostly from bible like lamb+ good shepherd.
• In songs of experience, he also use symbols, and meanings are more elusive just as symbols used
in prophetic books.
• Blake places his symbols in more specific context, giving more definiteness to his symbols.

• Corporeal understanding means sense perception and intellectual powers means imaginative
power.
• Blake considered poetry other than prenominal World and considered it as allegory. For him
allegory is system of symbols which presents events in spiritual world.

• In symbols shepherd and god are not same rather God in lamb who gave love to chimney
sweepers AND watch sleeping childrens.

• For blake god and imagination are one. God has spiritual power without man, idea God has no
meaning. So in The DIVINE IMAGE qualities of God are manifested in Man so man is like God.
o On ANOTHER SORROW

• Blake gives importance to compassion and love. THE DIVINE IMAGE

•
• In THE DIVINE IMAGE he found the creed of brotherhood which is centre of gospel, he includes
qualities with love bcz love itself at some point become selfish. It is combination of these that
man is GOD. In innocence life is governed by these that’s why Blake called innocence songs as
happy songs.
• In his prophetic books, he describes innocence by lower paradise, Beulah, ( no struggle and
effort) inferior to highest state of imagination, Eden bur superior to lower state which kills
imagination. Man must leave Beulah to get experience to get full personality.

• Songs of innocence: pure and sweet, set tone in quite key to give description of innocence and
spiritual development. Exclude everything that’s is disturbing like the lines in A CRADLE SONG

• Songs of experience: Have compelling passion, man pass to this stage from innocence which is
described In THE FOUR ZOAS… Brought man to bitter place

• In INFANT SORROW, its introduction and shows that even in beginning of Childhood is a spirit of
unrest and revolt.
• Worst thing about experience is that it destroys love and affection. Full life doesn’t depend on
tolerance rather on forgiveness finds that love is corrupted

•
• In experience jealousy, hate destroys love and affection. Blakes view of experience and imprison
and killing of living spirit is criticism on society. His heart weep with blood tears because of
sufferings which society impose on individuals.
• In Chimney sweeper he describes the oppressed characteristic victim of society based on fear
supported by churches.
• Blake revised poems many times, this shows that he had clear idea of what he is doing. But
these songs are written with creative imagination called as inspiration.
• He believed these words came from supernatural power.
• These poems are miracle because at some point in writing these words came with such emotion
that they are seen as delivered by supernatural power.
• He describes event in just few words which are beyond the understanding of man.
a. IN poem THE SICK ROSE, he describes the experience of delicate rose attacked by worm in
stormy night in just few words. And to associate it with symbolically we can say that it’s
love that’s is destroyed by selfishness or innocence by experience. He describes this in such
compacted way that it needs no other supplement
b. 2nd example is AH| SUN FLOWER, complex thought is distilled and imaginative presentation
is intense and delight. H gave the idea of young men and women who are starved of love.

• Song of experience is more powerful than songs of innocence bcz they are result of deep
anguish.

• In first poem of songs of experience he describes the break of the day which symbolizes the
transformation from innocence to experience, life in fuller form.

• True innocence is which gain lesson from ugly experience of life

• Blake knew that life of imagination is through passion and energy so that’s why he forces man to
concentrate on these powers.
• He was assure that creative activity and understanding of imagination is possible through
release of powers.
• The wrath in Christ shows divine spirit which fallow no restrictions but asserts itself agaist
established rules.
• Poetry of desire is found in poem THE TIGER: TRUST IN COSMIC FORCES POEM