The Theme of Childhood in Blake's 'Songs of Innocence: Holy Thursday' and Wordsworth's 'Ode: Intimations of Immortality' Nadja Lovadionv 12th Grade

The industrial revolution was greatly opposed by the poets of the Romantic movement, due to its corruption of morality and nature, including the exploitation of children. Rousseau stated that ‘everything degenerates in the hands of man’, fueling the Romantics hatred towards the industrial revolution, and the idea that child’s innocence is lost when he becomes a man. Children were idealized by the Romantics, as they were the embodiment of purity and innocence, due to the Romantic rejection of the original sin – a Christian belief that all humans are born with original sin stemming from Adam and Eve’s rebellion in the Genesis story. Within ‘Songs of Innocence: Holy Thursday’ by William Blake and ‘Ode to Intimations of Immortality’ by William Wordsworth, both poets portray their appreciation of childhood through their juxtaposition of images of youth and experience. This is made evident within Blake’s poem which focuses on praising the children, he focuses on their innocence and potential, seeing them as more powerful than their rich suppressors. Following a similar Romantic perspective, Wordsworth demonstrates the sacredness of childhood through his pantheistic approach which provokes childhood as a route and connection to God...