William Blake Songs of Innocence and of Experience Poetry Detailed Analysis
William Blake poetry annotations
A* A-level English Literature Essay Social and Political Protest Writing in Blake's Poetry
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Drama and poetry pre-1900
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Critical analysis of ‘The Echoing Green’- innocence
In Blake's poem, ‘The Echoing Green’, he talks about the innocence of
children and the beauty of human life. Blake highlights the innocence by
using the colour green.
Blake uses the colour green to express the innocent parts of human life.
For example, innocence is portrayed in both new and old life, which is why
the old folks and the young children are both there. ‘On the echoing green’.
He uses the colour green as green represents nature, life and is described
as a refreshing tranquil colour. Blake ends each stanza by mentioning the
colour green to emphasise the naturistic feel of the poem and help to
reinforce the scene. In the innocence poems, Blake often talks about
nature and the way in which peace can be found within it. He uses the
image of the tree to represent the roots of life, ‘sitting under the olk’. Nature
is one of the main themes that runs through all of his poems, and he uses it
in ways to deliver different messages. In this poem, he uses nature and the
colour green as a way of representing human life. Human life is one of the
main symbols and themes throughout the poem as it is portrayed in
different ways, through the children and the old folk. The young children are
playing in the green, energetic and enjoying life, ‘Sing louder around, to the
bell's cheerful sound, while our sports shall be seen, on the echoing green’.
Whilst the old folks watch the children from afar as they peacefully sit under
a tree, ‘sitting under the okay, among the old folk, they laugh at our play’.
Both of these represent different parts of human life, the children are only
just beginning to experience life, whereas the old folks have already lived
long and full lives and therefore are peacefully waiting to pass. Human life
and nature are both repeatedly mentioned in the bible, giving this poem a
religious touch to it. Old folks in the bible are often seen as the wisdom
ones, the ones that protect the young and pass on their teachings. Whilst
children in the bible represent innocence, and new life. Nature is often
described as a treasure, and the beauty of life in the bible. Whilst Blake
was against the Church as he believed they were not following Jesus’s
teachings, in this poem, he reinforces what Jesus emphasises in his
teachings. The old protecting the young, and the beauty of nature.
Blake further highlights the innocence through the characters within his
poem. The children represent innocence in its purest form, as they are
close to nature and enthusiastic about each day. The old folks represent a
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