ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -How does William Blake develops the concepts of Innocence and Experience in his poetry? William Blake described innocence and experience as “the two Contrary States of the human soul.” His theory of Contraries is summarised in The Marriage of Heaven and Hell: “Without Contraries is no progression.

Detailed explanation-2: -In “the songs of innocence” boys innocence does not allow him to not understand the social injustice and unlike “the experience version” where the boy in the poem sees the unfairness and is able to speak against it. “The songs of Experience” version consists of three four line stanzas.

Detailed explanation-3: -In William Blake’s poetry, childhood is portrayed as innocence. This can be seen most clearly in his Songs of Innocence and of Experience collection. Sometimes, as in ‘The Lamb, ’ childhood is sweet and good and innocent. Sometimes, as in ‘The Chimney Sweeper’ childhood is innocent, but exploited by others.

Detailed explanation-4: -He was also known as an artist, who created Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Blake calls these two sets of poems, “The two contrary states of the human soul.” Blake’s Songs of Innoncence and experience juxtapose the innocent pastoral world of childhood and in contrast an adult world of corruption and repression.