Nurse's Song (Innocence): Plot

Nurse’s Song (Innocence): Plot

Plot of Nurse’s Song (Innocence)

• The poem begins with a group of children playing outside in the hills, their laughter echoing around the landscape.
• The Nurse asks the children to return at dusk as it starts getting late.

Structure & Language Techniques

• Rhyme and rhythm play crucial roles, setting a tone of innocence and joy.
• Use of repetition and simple language enhance the sense of childlike simplicity and innocence.

Themes & Linking Poems

• The theme of innocence is prevalent, linking it to other poems in the ‘Songs of Innocence’ collection.
• The focus on nature and freedom link it with “The Echoing Green.”

Key Quotes

• “And all the hills echoed.” This line shows the joy and freedom of childhood.
• “Well well go & play till the light fades away” - signifies the passing of time and the fleeting nature of childhood.

Poet & Context

• This poem reflects Blake’s view on the natural state of children.
• His depiction of innocitive play contrasts with the societal norms of his time, which often suppressed the freedom of youths.