Blake songs of innocence and experience

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  • William Blake Songs of innocence & Experience
    • The  Lamb (I)
      • Context-  innocence of Jesus, lots of references to religion, explores the nature of the world and its creator
      • Structure- 2 stanzas each with 5 rhymed couplets, repetition in first and last couplet of each couplet makes them a refrain
      • Voice- of a child asking the lamb questions
        • Emphasised through the repetition of words and phrases and excessive use of interrogatives
      • Rhyme scheme- AABB until line 13 and 14 which disrupt the consistent rhyme scheme, also lines 18 and 19
      • Form-  depends on the repetition of question and answer framework so there’s lots of interrogatives and declarative
      • Figurative language- lots of biblical allusions especially with the mentioning of the lamb which is representativeof jesus
      • Explore the nature of the world and its maker
        • Introduces the theme of vulnerability and innocence
      • Lexus- repetition of l and m sounds reinforce the flowing soft implications of a child’s voice and softness of he lamb
      • Meter- basic torch air mete
        • Often found in children’s verse and so enhances the impression of simplicity
    • The Ecchoing Green (I)
      • Context- a commentary on the simpler pre-industrial times
        • Pastoral
      • Structure- basic pattern of 2 stresses per line one stress at en of the line
      • Rhyme scheme- AABB, Rhyme in couplets giving it a sense of echos and a childlike nursery rhyme feel
      • Lexis- simple, repetitive vocab reflects the simplicity of the speaker
      • Symbolism- green= associated th growth spring and fertility, viallge greens were places of play and freedom and were common land owned by everyone
      • Themes- pastoral and childhood
      • Symbolism- symbols like th sun- referencing re-birth, lots of personification of nature
      • Hints of lament and reflective tone from the adults
    • The Nurses Song (E)
      • Context- exploring the relationship between children and adults and how children should be free (romantic idea), looks at the role of authority and adults on the restriction of children’s freedom.
      • Rhyme scheme- ABCBDEFE,
      • Structure- 1 stanza of 8 lines
      • Meter- anapaestic (lines 1, 5 and 8)
        • Creates a jauntiness that contrasts with the serious tone of the poem
      • Themes- the perception of children and the nature of parental care and authority
        • Rousseau
      • Lexis- repetition of ‘my’ shows the nurses self obsession
      • Symbolism- green= growth, fertility and freedom, also jealousy,
      • Voice- first person perspective of the nurse, she talks Maori about her own memories of childhood
    • The nurses song (I)
      • Context- positive relationship betweeen children and adults where the children’s freedom is not restricted
      • Structure- 4 quatrains
      • Rhyme scheme- ABCB, third line of each stanza has internal rhyme
        • Internal rhyme creates a clam rhythmic quality which is enhanced by the rolling anapaestic meter
      • Voice- first person narration, the consciousness of the speaker is in harmony with the needs of the children.
        • The repetition of l sound creates a soft and gentle voce
        • Uses internal rhyme to demonstrate the children’s voice
        • Her language doesn’t convert authority- established through collective pronounces, she is with them rather than above them
      • Meter- Anapaestic meter
      • Syntax- simple the nurses language isnt very different tno the children’s
      • Symbolism- fading light = the nurse is more aware of the threat of darkness and loss of innocent than the children
      • Role of the nurse- she is a guardian who stands apart from the children but supports rather than dominates them
    • The chimney sweeper (I)
      • Context- child labour in the 18th century
      • Structure- 6 quatrains,
      • Rhyme scheme- AABB, 2 rhyming couplets per quatrain, as the poem progresses the rhyme gets less regular
      • Voice- the chimney sweeper, first person
      • Meter- anapaestic iambic pentameter, 4 beats per line and 4 lines per stanza
      • Themes- death, suffering, hope, religion, nature
      • Syntax- simple syntax to convert the voice of the child and also uses vividly contrasting images to convey the innocence of the speaker
      • Symbolism- the lamb= innocence, the dream is a symbol if hope and positivity
    • The chimney sweeper (E)
      • Context- corrupting influence of organised religion on society, exposure of the hierarchical society that condones the miserable state of the child
      • Structure- first stanza is rhyming couplets and the following 2 stanzas are just one sentence
      • Voice- first person, the chimney sweeper, also an adult speaker
      • Form- rhythm of lines 1&2 of stanza 2 are entirely monosyllabic
      • Themes- religion, corruption, exploitation of children in society
      • Rhyme scheme- AABB
      • Meter- all over the place, some iambic and some anapaestic
      • Clothes of death- literally= the soot on his cloths, metaphorically= the effect of prohibitions  on the body
    • The Tyger (E)
      • Context- exploration of the negative side of religion, good and evil, power and gentleness
      • Structure- 6 quatrains in rhymed couplets
        • Monosyllables- creates the image of simplicity (misleading)
      • Rhyme scheme- AABB
      • Meter- trochanter, creates insistent rhythm
        • Often used in children’s rhymes
      • Untitled
      • Syntax- sibilence, associated with evil or dark forces
      • Repetition of dread and use of deadly terrors- establishment of hell, suggests the tiger is a demonic force
    • Holy Thursday (I)
      • Context-  exploring the corruption of organised religion and how it places a part in the exploitation of children
      • Voice- neither Blake’s or a child’s, its an observer who sees an emotionally affecting scene
      • Meter-  regularly stressed heptameter with 4 beats in the first part of the lines and 3 in the second half giving the effect of neatly tying up the phrase
      • Structure- poem has 3 stanzas with 2 rhyming couplets- first stanza is one sentence suggesting the long train of children or the flowing river
        • Contrast with the closed couplets in the remaining stanzas
        • The last line of the 1st stanza disrupts the regularity as if the  smooth flow of bodies comes to a dead end
      • Semantics- religion and heaven= angel, heaven’ holy
      • Symbolism- orderliness of the children’s March could suggest the rigidity and regimentation rath than charity an love
      • Rhyme scheme- AABB regular
      • Symbolism- lamb= emphasising the innocence and meek nd mild nature of the children
      • Symbolism- mighty wind/ thunder= in the Bible this is often signifying the presence of God and thunder is often seen as the wrath o God
    • Holy Thursday (E)
      • Context- Blake is questioning the poverty stricken world and how there are so many poor children in society (very unequal)
      • Lexis- language is often emotive it evokes feelings by using rhetorical devices such as irony exaggeration and the rule of three
        • Use of words like babes emphasises the vulnerability  and helplessness and evokes sympathy
      • Voice- very negative, first person, offers a damning attack on the contemporary approach to charity (facade)
      • Structure- 4 quatrains
      • Rhyme scheme- 1st quatrain rhymes ABAB with 4 stresses per line, 2nd stanza the rhyme breaks down and gives way to CDED CFDF for last 2 stanzas
    • The garden of love (E)
      • Rhyme scheme- ABCB in the 2st stanza
      • Syntax- language works by contrasting the freedom of the previous state of the garden with the darkness of the present
        • Eg green vs black of the gowns and flowers vs graves
      • Symbolism- binding like briars could be symbolic of sexual desires and the inhibition the church was able to but on human sexuality and sexual freedom
      • Voice- the speaker goes into the garden and a chapel has been built in the middle where they sued to play
        • Referencing the growth fo organised religion and it taking over freedom
      • Meter- anapaestic trimester but changes to tetrememter in the last 2 lines
      • Rhyme scheme- first 2 stanzas= ABCB this is halted by the heavy treble stresses on thou shalt not
      • The garden could be representativeof the garden of Eden before and after the fall of human kind
      • Context- looks at the restriction of organised religion
      • Symbolism- thou shalt not= opening words of 7 put of 10 of the 10 commandments
  • The garden of love (E)
    • Rhyme scheme- ABCB in the 2st stanza
    • Syntax- language works by contrasting the freedom of the previous state of the garden with the darkness of the present
      • Eg green vs black of the gowns and flowers vs graves
    • Symbolism- binding like briars could be symbolic of sexual desires and the inhibition the church was able to but on human sexuality and sexual freedom
    • Voice- the speaker goes into the garden and a chapel has been built in the middle where they sued to play
      • Referencing the growth fo organised religion and it taking over freedom
    • Meter- anapaestic trimester but changes to tetrememter in the last 2 lines
    • Rhyme scheme- first 2 stanzas= ABCB this is halted by the heavy treble stresses on thou shalt not
    • The garden could be representativeof the garden of Eden before and after the fall of human kind
    • Context- looks at the restriction of organised religion
    • Symbolism- thou shalt not= opening words of 7 put of 10 of the 10 commandments

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