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William Blake's 'Songs of Experience' and 'Songs of Innocence'


© A. Wilson
Page 4

Nov 17, 2000


Therefore, it may be demonstrated through a brief exploration of William Blake's thematic and technical treatment of his "The Chimney Sweeper" poems from the "Songs of Innocence" and the Songs of Experience", that one poem amy form the inverse of the other creating a sense of interdependence. Each poem attempts to place blame with the adult world and their representative institutions for the abuse and shame of the sweeps. The poem from "Innocence" reads almost as a mocking fairy-tale whilst the poem from "Experience" juxtaposes an image of a happy boy against a background of misery. The irony found in both poems highlight the hypocrisy found in the adult world and allows the modern reader an insight into a nineteenth century institutional practice.

Further information:

http://www.english.uga.edu/nhilton/Blake... This site includes the complete text of Blake's poetry, including the 'Songs of Innocence and Experience.'

http://www.geocities.com/~spanoudi/poems... The Songs of Innocence and Experience.

http://members.aa.net/~urizen/blake.html This site includes biographical information on the poet and links to his illustrations. Well worth a visit.

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Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages
2.   Nov 20, 2000 10:38 AM
In response to message posted by jerrib:

You're absolutely right- London, for most of the nineteenth century was be a very harsh pl ...

-- posted by druid
1.   Nov 18, 2000 3:25 PM
these poems. But art is not always with a smile, is it? Jerri

-- posted by jerrib



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