One of the prominent characters in the two poems is quite obviously the nurse, as indicated by the titles. In the Songs of Innocence, the Nurse seems to be caring, idyllic and motherly, as she refers to them as “my children”. However, in the Songs of Experience, although the Nurse also refers to the children as “my children”, in the context of the poem, it seems to have a harsh, repressive tone, indicating a strict nurse. The children in the Songs of Innocence seem to be carefree. The “voices” and “laughing” of the children is heard, indicating happiness. On the other hand, in the Songs of Experience, the children whisper, this indicates a sense of restriction, so the children are not allowed to be carefree and happy.
One of the main themes in these two poems is the freedom of childhood. In the nurse’s Song from the Songs of Innocence, there is a dialogue between the nurse and the children in the second and third stanzas. The fact that the children are given a voice indicates the balance between the voices of children and adults. This reflects Blake’s view that the imagination of children should be encouraged rather than stifled, and that their innocence is maintained. Moreover, the idyllic nurse allows the children to “play till the light fades away”, showing that she sees the value in the children enjoying themselves, and her “heart is at rest”. On the other hand, in the nurse’s song from the songs of experience, the only voice heard is that of the nurse, indicating her dominance over the children. The children’s silence indicates the repressiveness that she imposes on them. This reflects the reality during Blake’s time, when children were not given voices to speak out. The nurse says that when “the days of her youth rise fresh in her mind her face turns green and pale”. The sick, unhappy image of the nurse indicates negative connotations of childhood: “Your spring and your day are wasted in play” indicates the lack of physical and mental freedom of children, which was the reality during Blake’s time.
Another prominent theme in these two poems is nature. This is evident by “the green” where the voices of the children are heard in the two poems. However, a much more harmonious image of the children and nature is created in the poem from the songs of innocence. “In the sky little birds fly”: the freedom of birds reflects the liberty of the children’s imaginations which they can explore how they want to. Alternatively, it could mean the independence of children growing up and ‘flying away’. Moreover, “the hills are all covered with sheep” and “all the hills echoed”. Harmony exists between the children and nature, creating an idyllic image of balance. On the other hand, in the nurse’s song in the songs of experience, the colour green is used to convey something unnatural, which contrasts with its use in the other poem. This indicates conflict between the children and nature, reflecting the reality of children not being allowed to act naturally and instead being forced to restrict their imagination through organised religion and education which Blake disapproved of.
Another theme in these two poems is the image of adulthood. In the Nurse’s song from the songs of innocence, the sun is mentioned to rise again the next day, “till the morning appears in the skies”, creating a sense of hope for ‘the next day’ which can be interpreted to represent adulthood. On the other hand, in the nurse’s song from the songs of experience, there is no reference to the sun rising again, and the nurse says that “your winter and night [are wasted] in disguise”. If winter and night are taken to mean adulthood, this creates a pessimistic, bleak image of adult life.
Various literary devices are used in these two poems. In the poem from the songs of innocence, “the little ones leaped, and shouted, and laughed”. The use of a list of three active words creates a cheerful, idyllic image of childhood and freedom. Both poems begin with the same first line, “when the voices of children are heard on the green”. This repetition is deceptive, as this sets the reader’s expectations up to think that both poems will have similar tones when in fact they are very different. The poem from the songs of innocence uses an anti-climax at the end of the poem, as the light will not last forever, which creates a letdown of emotions, perhaps foreshadowing the dismal situation of childhood, as presented in the second poem.
To conclude, Blake creates two very different images of nurses in these two poems. The poem from the songs of innocence is called THE nurse’s song, which indicates that it is a single, idealistic nurse, whereas the poem from the songs of experience is simply called nurses song, which is more generalistic, and therefore reflects the reality of society. The two poems create a contrast between Blake’s idea of an idyllic childhood and the reality of his time, therefore criticising societal values and attitudes towards children.