William Blake's Nurse's Song
English 103
October 3, 2013
A Nurse’s Songs: Through Innocence and Experience
William Blake’s two poems that are both entitled “Nurse’s Song” demonstrate opposing
perspectives of a nurse toward the innocence of the children she is caring. In “Songs of
Innocence”, the rhyming pairs of the poem suggest that the nurse is untroubled as she watches
the children’s enjoyment while its syntax shows that she advocates or is in favor of the joy that
their innocence brings them. In “Songs of Experience”, however, the rhyming pairs suggest that
the nurse is bothered by the same happiness that the children are experiencing that she would
want them to lose their innocence and be more aware of reality. It is also noticeable in the
poem’s syntax that she views their joy as a waste of their time as she recollects her own
childhood.
The rhyming pairs of the two poems essentially demonstrate what the nurse feels towards
the children’s play on the hill and how she should respond to this merriment. For instance, in
“Songs of Innocence”, the rhyming words “hill” (page 53, line 2) and “still” (page 53, line 4)
show a connection between elevation or ascent and the sense of tranquility or stability. This
suggests the deep feeling of being at rest and undisturbed. In the same way, the words “arise”
(page 53, line 6) and “skies” (page 53, line 8) give the impression of being lifted up to the
heavens and resurfacing from a troubled state such as the earth. This can mean that the person is
detached from the disturbances that may affect their ascent to complete contentment. Similarly,
in “Songs of Experience”, the rhyming words “dale” (page 57, line 2) and “pale” (page 57, line
4) associate a depression or emptiness with the feeling of agitation and the lack of vigor. This
suggests the state of sickliness due to being barren and restless. In addition, the rhyming words
“arise” (page
October 3, 2013
A Nurse’s Songs: Through Innocence and Experience
William Blake’s two poems that are both entitled “Nurse’s Song” demonstrate opposing
perspectives of a nurse toward the innocence of the children she is caring. In “Songs of
Innocence”, the rhyming pairs of the poem suggest that the nurse is untroubled as she watches
the children’s enjoyment while its syntax shows that she advocates or is in favor of the joy that
their innocence brings them. In “Songs of Experience”, however, the rhyming pairs suggest that
the nurse is bothered by the same happiness that the children are experiencing that she would
want them to lose their innocence and be more aware of reality. It is also noticeable in the
poem’s syntax that she views their joy as a waste of their time as she recollects her own
childhood.
The rhyming pairs of the two poems essentially demonstrate what the nurse feels towards
the children’s play on the hill and how she should respond to this merriment. For instance, in
“Songs of Innocence”, the rhyming words “hill” (page 53, line 2) and “still” (page 53, line 4)
show a connection between elevation or ascent and the sense of tranquility or stability. This
suggests the deep feeling of being at rest and undisturbed. In the same way, the words “arise”
(page 53, line 6) and “skies” (page 53, line 8) give the impression of being lifted up to the
heavens and resurfacing from a troubled state such as the earth. This can mean that the person is
detached from the disturbances that may affect their ascent to complete contentment. Similarly,
in “Songs of Experience”, the rhyming words “dale” (page 57, line 2) and “pale” (page 57, line
4) associate a depression or emptiness with the feeling of agitation and the lack of vigor. This
suggests the state of sickliness due to being barren and restless. In addition, the rhyming words
“arise” (page
Cited: Blake, William. “Nurse’s Song.” The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Gen. ed. Stephen Greenblatt. 9th ed. Vol. 2. New York: Norton, 2012. 53-57. Print.