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AQA A LEVEL ENGLISH LITERATURE B - WILLIAM BLAKE, SONGS OF INNOCENCE AND EXPERIENCE
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AQA A LEVEL ENGLISH LITERATURE B - WILLIAM BLAKE, SONGS OF INNOCENCE AND EXPERIENCE
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AQA A LEVEL ENGLISH LITERATUREB - WILLIAM BLAKE, SONGS OF
INNOCENCE AND EXPERIENCE TEST
WITH ALL SOLUTIONS
Significant features of Songs of Innocence - Introduction - correct answer--
c c c c c c c c cc c
It uses very idyllic and pastoral imagery
c c c c c c c c
- "On a cloud I saw a child" may refer to christ/christ-like imagery ?
c c c c c c c c c c c c c
-
Furthermore, though the fourth stanza is about him being commanded to write his songs
c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c
down, it does mimic the idea of prophethood almost (like a god commanding a man to writ
c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c
e down a holy text)
c c c c c
- Being the introduction, it makes sense for this to be idyllic -
c c c c c c c c c c c c
it is the introduction to the "innocence" part of the omnibus -
c c c c c c c c c c c c
therefore it should present a naïve ideal of romantic (as in the literary genre) art
c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c
-
Reasonably consistent rhyme Scheme (The second and fourth lines always rhyme but th
c c c c c c c c c c c c c
e first and third do not in stanzas 2,3&5) and completely consistent syllables -
c c c c c c c c c c c c c
structurally the poem is calm and ordered (might create this feeling)
c c c c c c c c c c c
- "Every child may joy to hear" as the last line -
c c c c c c c c c c c
prioritises the preservation of the innocent/
c c c c c c
happy state children are seen as naturally having, this may be a statement about the aims
c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c
of "Songs of Innocence"
c c c
, Significant features of Songs of Innocence - Introduction (Part 2) - correct answer--
c c c c c c c c c c cc c
The narrator gladly and unquestioningly honours the whims of a child, who seems to be r
c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c
epresentative of all children here, again links to prioritising their natural innocence, but als c c c c c c c c c c c c c
o, by portraying this child as having more power than children usually do, suggests their v
c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c
oices should be heard/listened too more - rather than them being "seen and not heard"
c c c c c c c c c c c c c c
- "plucked a hollow reed", "stained the water clear" -
c c c c c c c c c
unusual negative images of taking from/
c c c c c c
damaging nature amongst an otherwise idyllic poem - c c c c c c c
considering the context of the themes in "songs of experience" this might be hinting that t
c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c
he signs of a much bleaker reality were present from the start
c c c c c c c c c c c
- The exchange of willingness/
c c c c
gratitude almost seems equal between the speaker and the child -c c c c c c c c c c
"So I piped with merry cheer" vs "Whilst he wept with joy to hear" -
c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c
though there is a role reversal with the adult speaker doing the child's bidding, this is done
c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c
willingly and Blake is trying to show how it is actually mutually beneficial
c c c c c c c c c c c c
What is the Introduction of Songs of Innocence about ? - correct answer-
c c c c c c c c c c cc c
It is about the narrator, piping songs in nature, finding a child on a cloud who obliges him to
c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c
pipe more of his songs and eventually write them down, which the narrator happily does, f
c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c
or all children to hear/
c c c c
read. This seems Blake's way of talking about the origins of "Songs of Innocence" (as it fe
c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c
els like the songs being written down is a reference to this collection and the messaging b
c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c
ehind it) c
Which poems in Songs of Innocence and Experience have the theme of children (and thei
c c c c c c c c c c c c c c
r perspectives/voices) ? - correct answer-- Introduction (Songs of Innocence)
c c c cc c c c c c
- The Little Girl Lost
c c c c
- The Little Girl Found
c c c c
- The Lamb (Maybe)
c c c
- Infant Joy
c c
- Spring
c
Which poems in Songs of Innocence and Experience generally portray happiness/
c c c c c c c c c c
contentment ? - correct answer-- Introduction (Songs of Innocence) c c cc c c c c c
- The Lamb
c c
- The Shepherd
c c
- Infant Joy
c c
- Spring
c
Which poems in Songs of Innocence and Experience have the theme of nature/
c c c c c c c c c c c c
pastoralism ? (Nature in a positive light) - correct answer-- c c c c c c c cc c
Introduction (Songs of Innocence)
c c c c
- A Dream
c c
- The Little Girl Lost
c c c c
- The Little Girl Found
c c c c
- The Blossom
c c
- The Lamb
c c
- The Shepherd
c c
- Spring
c
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