Blake: Songs of Experience: A Little Girl Lost: Flashcards
Plot summary:
What is the plot summary?
The poem tells of a young girl lost in the wilderness, symbolising innocence.
A spirit finds her, but warns that her innocence is lost, and she cannot return to childhood purity. The poem explores the themes of the loss of innocence and the transition to experience.
Quotes:
Key Quotes (CLUE: There are 3)
‘Naked in the sunny beams delight’ - Free and innocent connotations of Eve and Eden - she is holy
‘Met in garden bright (…) removed the curtains of the night’ - biblical - how Adam and Eve met - a place of purity and inspiration - learning news - also because it is night time there is nothing to be afraid so - THEY ARE FREE.
‘But his loving look (…) all her tender limbs shook’ - way to limit -ironic? is he actually judgemental or has she learned guilt due to experience.
Form and Structure:
What is the form/structure like?
The rhyme scheme is ABAB, creating a rhythmic flow.
The straightforward, clear structure mirrors the clarity of the narrative, while also highlighting the contrast between innocence and the loss of innocence that the poem conveys.
The poem’s structure helps emphasize the child’s vulnerability and the journey from innocence to experience.
Themes:
Key themes e.g. vulnerability
The young girl represents innocence and vulnerability, lost in the wilderness and exposed to the dangers of the world.
Themes:
Key themes e.g. loss of innocence
The poem explores the transition from childhood innocence to the complexities and harshness of experience, symbolised by the girl’s separation from her home and purity.
Context:
What is the context of Blake?
The poem reflects Blake’s critique of societal institutions and the loss of innocence as children transition into adulthood.
It symbolises the vulnerability of innocence in a harsh world, with the girl’s journey representing the inevitable and often painful move from innocence to experience.
Other poems it could link to:
What other poems could it link to?
“The Lamb” (SOI) – Represents innocence, contrasting with Little Girl Lost’s loss of innocence.
“Holy Thursday” (SOE) – Critiques the exploitation of innocent children.
