Songs of Innocence and Experience (version 2)

"Innocence" and "Experience" are definitions of consciousness that rethink Milton's existential-mythic states of "Paradise" and "Fall". Blake categorizes our modes of perception that became standard in Romanticism: childhood is a state of innocence rather than original sin, but not immune to the fallen world (experience). The first part of this volume mainly shows happy, innocent perception in pastoral harmony, whereas the second part also deals with darker themes. ( Foon)