Introduction (Songs of Experience) : Summary
Introduction (Songs of Experience) is a notable literary work by William Blake. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, to various questions of Introduction (Songs of Experience).
Summary
We have discussed the summary in a few points to make it easy to remember.
- The Poet who sees the Past, Present, and Future
- A Call to the Path of Light
The Poet, Who Sees the Past, Present, and Future: “Introduction” is the opening poem of “Songs of Experience”. This poem is a reverse poem from “Songs of Innocence”. In this poem, the happy and joyful shepherd-speaker is no longer seen walking in the valley playing the pipe.
In this poem, the speaker calls upon the readers to listen to the poetry of the Bard/prophet. This Bard poet knows the past, present, and future. The poet is aware of human history’s happiness, sadness, and pain. It is indicated here that when a person sees the world well and acquires knowledge, he can understand well the injustice and suffering of the world.
A Call to the Path of Light: The speaker states that this Bard/prophet knows the “Holy Word.” So he calls upon the earth or the people of the earth to listen to the poet and return to the path of blessings. Finally, the poet assures light will come in this dark world of corruption and injustice.
Many poems in “Songs of Experience” have the same title as those in “Songs of Innocence.” But the poems in “Songs of Experience” are written from an experienced perspective. In these poems, the image of injustice and suffering in society emerges. For example, the poem “The Chimney Sweeper” depicts the plight of small children who sweep chimneys. Children’s parents and society have been criticized for this inhumane child labor.