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Songs of Innocence and of Experience compiles two contrasting but directly related books of poetry by William Blake. Songs of Innocence honors and praises the natural world, the natural innocence of children and their close relationship to God. Songs of Experience contains much darker, disillusioned poems, which deal with serious, often political themes. It is believed that the disastrous end to the French Revolution produced this disillusionment in Blake. He does, however, maintain that true innocence is achieved only through experience.
This was reportedly the only book (actually two) with which William Blake had a very modest commercial success during his life (1757-1827). And I can understand that: compared to his later work, these early poems still come across as very appealing. Songs of Innocence (1789) offers what the title suggests: children's verses and songs, very pastoral, with many sheep, children and angels. There some shadowy sides (such as in the Chimney Sweeper), but it always ends well, the stories radiate confidence and security, especially in God. But that pleasing simplicity is deceptive, as evidenced by Songs of Experience (1794), published 5 years later. This is very different in tone, much more somber and even grim, “it is eternal winter there”. Blake has clearly constructed this as a negative reflection of the first book. Of course, an evergreen in this tome is the Tiger poem, which is perhaps best known for its rhythmic alliterations, but which actually ingeniously confronts us with the question of evil in the world: why does the God, who appears as the caring father in the first book, tolerates such horrible animals to exist? Here, Blake clearly shows that he has much more to offer than nursery rhymes. ( )
When I applied to my interlibrary loan program for this book, I received a much larger book of Blake's work as edited by Robert N. Essick. I am so glad that I did because Essick provides interpretation and explanation of all the plates written and drawn by William Blake. Without the editing I would not have seen the peculiarities of the poems or fully understood how the poems "of Experience" were so diabolically contrary to those written in "Songs of Innocence." William Blake's work can be seen as masterful when accompanied by discussions of all the allegories. ( )
My heart crying for chemmy swiper. Blake's poetry is obscure, but not because of arcane language or occult symbolism. Blake is hard because his mind travels in connections that reach far into his own deep psyche. Even after 300 years, Blake is representative of no one but William Blake. Tiger, tiger... ( )
"Never before surely was a man so literally the author of his own book." - Alexander Gilchrist
Piping down the valleys wild, Piping songs of pleasant glee,
Quotations
He who mocks the Infants Faith Shall be mock'd in the Age & Death He who shall teach the Child of Doubt The rotting Grave shall neer get out (E492)
Blake claims that all religious beliefs, however various, have a common origin in the "Poetic Genius" (E1), the godlike spirit within all people.
A note that Blake wrote in his manuscript of "The Four Zoas" also cautions us against dismissing innocence as naivete: "Innocence dwells with Wisdom but never with Ignorance" (E697).
Last words
Given its tone, coarse pun and sense of personal aggrievement, it is hardly surprising that Blake did not include this "Motto" in his Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Several Songs of Experience, such as "A Poison Tree" (plate 49), deal with similar issues of disappointment and injury.
Songs of Innocence and of Experience compiles two contrasting but directly related books of poetry by William Blake. Songs of Innocence honors and praises the natural world, the natural innocence of children and their close relationship to God. Songs of Experience contains much darker, disillusioned poems, which deal with serious, often political themes. It is believed that the disastrous end to the French Revolution produced this disillusionment in Blake. He does, however, maintain that true innocence is achieved only through experience.
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Book description
This version of Blake's "Songs", edited by Robert N. Essick, presents Blake's 54 colour plates from "Innocence" and "Experience" along with an Introduction, transcription and extensive commentaries by Essick as he worked from the Huntington's copy E of the "Songs" commissioned by Thomas Butts in 1806. See below: Description (ISBN 0873282361)
Visionary, artist, poet and craftsman, William Blake had a unique view of the world around him. At the age of eight he saw 'a tree filled with angels,' and his perception of beauty in a paradisiacal arcadia shines from every naïve watercolour line of his paintings. Addressed to children, his poems are still loved today - 'Little Lamb who made thee/ Dost thou know who made thee' ('Lamb').
Haiku summary
Beauteous verses, Voice of purity and pain, Madman or Prophet? (hillaryrose7)
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