Bing Out the Mystified Elements in Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Experience. 

Answer

Bing out the mystified elements in Blake’s “Songs of Innocence and of Experience”. 

Or, discuss William Blake as a mystic  poet with reference to “Songs of Innocence and of Experience.”

Mystical elements in poetry are ideas and imagery that convey a sense of the divine/God. William Blake (1757-1827) is considered a mystic poet. Blake’s seminal work “Songs of Innocence and of Experience” (1794) is full of mystical ideas about God, nature, and the human soul. In his poems, he expresses his mystical thoughts through rich symbols and vivid images. We will bring out the mystified elements in his major poems below.

God’s Messenger: In “Introduction” to Songs of Innocence, a piper meets a child floating on a cloud. The child is God’s messenger or angel. The child symbolizes innocence and trust in life. The child inspires the piper to write joyful songs for the world. It suggests Blake’s poetic inspiration came from a mystic source/vision—God. This child tells the piper to sing a song:

“Pipe a song about a Lamb;”

Here, the lamb is also a mystic symbol. It symbolizes Jesus Christ, for its gentleness.

Similarly, in “Introduction” to Songs of Experience, the Bard (poet) plays the role of a prophet who sees the past, present, and future. He calls upon the Earth to awaken and reclaim its spiritual light. He urges humanity to reconnect with the divine.

The Lamb: In “The Lamb” from Songs of Innocence, the lamb symbolizes innocence, purity, and the gentle side of God. The lamb also represents the beauty of God’s creation. The child speaker describes the beauty of the lamb—its soft wool and tender voice. The child acknowledges that God made the lamb.  The child says:

“Little Lamb who made thee

Gave thee clothing of delight,”

The child speaker feels a spiritual connection to the lamb. The child understands that both the lamb and humanity are part of God’s plan.