Songs of Innocence and of Experience – William Blake by William Blake

"Tyger Tyger, burning bright, In the forests of the night."

William Blake contrasts the 'two contrary states of the human soul'. 'Innocence' presents a world of pastoral happiness and childhood trust, while 'Experience' reveals a darker world of corruption, repression, and social injustice. Poems like 'The Lamb' and 'The Tyger' are paired to show how the wonders of creation can be viewed through different lenses.

Blake's illuminated poems are visionary works that combine simple, nursery-rhyme rhythms with profound mystical and social commentary. They attack the hypocrisies of the church and state while celebrating the divine spark within the human imagination.