“The Wildflower’s Song” by William Blake: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “The Wildflower’s Song” by William Blake

“The Wildflower’s Song” by William Blake, first published in his 1794 collection Songs of Experience, exemplifies key qualities of Romantic verse, including its emphasis on the natural world, vibrant imagery, and exploration of complex thematic concepts. The poem employs the simple metaphor of a wildflower to convey a message of resilience and finding joy amidst adversity. The wildflower celebrates its existence despite experiencing fear and scorn, underscoring the importance of inner strength and a positive outlook in the face of hardship.

Text: “The Wildflower’s Song” by William Blake

Annotations: “The Wildflower’s Song” by William Blake

Line	Text	Annotation
1	As I wander’d the forest,	Sets the scene of the speaker walking through a forest, suggesting a sense of exploration.
2	The green leaves among,	Describes the surroundings of the forest, emphasizing the abundance of foliage.
3	I heard a wild flower	Introduces the central image of the wildflower, indicating a focus on nature and its elements.
4	Singing a song.	Personifies the wildflower, suggesting a connection to the natural world through music.
5	I slept in the Earth	Describes the flower’s state of rest, symbolizing a period of dormancy or introspection.
6	In the silent night,	Emphasizes the quietness and stillness of the nighttime setting, contrasting with the previous line.
7	I murmur’d my fears	Implies the flower’s expression of anxieties or concerns, adding depth to its character.
8	And I felt delight.	Despite the fears, the flower experiences joy, suggesting resilience and optimism.
9	In the morning I went	Indicates the flower’s action of leaving its resting place and starting a new day.
10	As rosy as morn,	Describes the flower’s appearance with the metaphorical color of dawn, symbolizing freshness.
11	To seek for new joy;	Expresses the flower’s desire for happiness or fulfillment, indicating an active pursuit of positivity.
12	But O! met with scorn.	Despite seeking joy, the flower encounters rejection or disdain, suggesting disappointment.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “The Wildflower’s Song” by William Blake

Literary Device	Definition	Example from “The Wildflower’s Song”	Effect
Alliteration	Repetition of consonant sounds at the start of words	“Slept in the Silent night”, “Murmured my fears”	Creates musicality, emphasizes key words, and adds a sense of flow
Anaphora	Repetition of a word or phrase at the start of lines	“I slept in the Earth…I murmured my fears”	Emphasizes the individual experience of the wildflower
Assonance	Repetition of vowel sounds within words	“slept in the Earth …felt delight” (repetition of short ‘e’)	Creates internal rhyme, adding a lyrical and memorable quality
Contrast	Juxtaposition of opposing ideas, often for effect	“fears” vs. “delight”, “morn” vs. “scorn”	Emphasizes the wildflower’s resilience and highlights conflicting emotions
Diction	Author’s specific word choice	“wander’d,” “rosy”, “scorn”	Evokes a sense of timelessness and a Romantic sensibility
Enjambment	Continuation of a sentence across lines of verse	“As I wander’d the forest / The green leaves among”	Creates a natural flow, mimicking conversational speech
Hyperbole	Intentional exaggeration for emphasis	“O! met with scorn”	Highlights the intense negativity the wildflower encounters
Imagery	Vivid language appealing to the senses	“green leaves”, “rosy as morn”, “silent night”	Creates a visual picture and evokes the natural setting
Inversion	Reversal of normal word order for emphasis	“wander’d the forest I” (vs the usual “I wandered…”)	Places emphasis on the individual experience of the ‘I’
Irony	Expressing the opposite of the intended meaning	(Not strongly present in this poem)	Adds complexity and potential double meaning
Juxtaposition	Placement of contrasting elements close together	“delight” placed immediately after “fears”	Emphasizes the wildflower’s ability to find joy despite negative experiences
Metaphor	A comparison without using “like” or “as”	Wildflower implicitly symbolizes a resilient spirit	Suggests deeper meaning beyond the literal, encouraging interpretation
Mood	The overall feeling or atmosphere of the poem	Shifts from peaceful and contemplative to vulnerable and defiant	Reflects the emotional journey of the wildflower
Motif	A recurring image, symbol, or theme	Natural imagery (forest, leaves, morn)	Reinforces the poem’s focus on the connection between nature and inner experience
Onomatopoeia	Words that imitate the sound they represent	(Not strongly present in this poem)	Creates a playful and sensory experience
Personification	Giving human qualities to non-human things	Wildflower “singing”, experiencing “fears” and “delight”	Makes the wildflower relatable, suggesting universality of experience
Repetition	Repeating words, phrases, or structures for emphasis	“I” is repeated, “the” is repeated	Emphasizes the individual experience and creates a sense of rhythm
Simile	A comparison using “like” or ”as”	“As rosy as morn”	Creates vivid imagery and enhances description
Symbolism	Using objects/concepts to represent bigger ideas	The wildflower represents resilience, inner strength, the human spirit	Adds layers of meaning, suggesting an allegorical interpretation
Tone	Author’s attitude towards the subject	Shifts from hopeful to vulnerable, then defiant	Reflects the wildflower’s emotional journey and complex outlook

Themes: “The Wildflower’s Song” by William Blake

Resilience in the Face of Adversity:

• The wildflower persists despite experiencing “fears” and being met with “scorn.”
• Its ability to find “delight” even within “the silent night” emphasizes its unwavering spirit.
• The final stanza, where the wildflower seeks “new joy,” highlights determination to overcome negativity.

The Power of Inner Strength:

• The focus is on the wildflower’s internal experiences – its fears and its capacity for joy.
• While external forces may cause harm, the poem suggests that cultivating inner strength is vital.
• The wildflower’s song can be read as a celebration of its own spirit and resources.

The Contrast Between Joy and Sorrow:

• The poem juxtaposes feelings like “delight” and “fears,” as well as imagery of “morn” and “scorn.”
• This highlights the reality that life involves both positive and negative experiences.
• The wildflower embodies the ability to navigate these complexities, remaining open to joy despite hardships.

Connection to the Natural World:

• The setting of the “forest” and “green leaves” emphasizes a connection to nature.
• The wildflower’s experiences parallel natural cycles—a night of darkness followed by a hopeful morning.
• This suggests that observing the natural world provides insights into the human experience of resilience and renewal.

Literary Theories and “The Wildflower’s Song” by William Blake

Literary Theory	Approach	Examples from “The Wildflower’s Song”
Romanticism	Emphasizes emotion, nature, individualism, and the power of imagination	* Vivid natural imagery: “forest”, “green leaves”, “rosy as morn” emphasize connection to the natural world. * Focus on the wildflower’s individual experience and feelings (“fears”, “delight”) reflect Romantic interest in the inner world.
Ecocriticism	Examines the relationship between literature and the natural world	* The wildflower as a symbol of resilience within its natural environment. * The parallel between the wildflower’s persistence and natural cycles suggests insights into facing adversity.
Feminist Criticism	Focuses on female representation, power dynamics, and challenging traditional gender roles	* Potential reading of the wildflower as a feminine voice in a world that seeks to silence or diminish it (“scorn”). * Emphasis on the persistence of inner strength could be interpreted as resistance against patriarchal forces.
Psychoanalytic Criticism	Explores unconscious desires, motivations, and the role of the subconscious	* The wildflower’s “murmur[ing]” of fears in the “silent night” could be analyzed as suppressed anxieties. * The pursuit of “new joy” might suggest a desire for a more fulfilling existence or self-understanding.
Archetypal Criticism	Examines recurrent symbols, themes, and patterns across literature and cultures	* The journey from darkness to light aligns with archetypal patterns of renewal and overcoming obstacles. * The wildflower could be seen as embodying the archetype of the resilient underdog present in many narratives.

Critical Questions about “The Wildflower’s Song” by William Blake

Question	Answer
How does the poem use symbolism to reflect Blake’s view on innocence vs. experience?	The wildflower symbolizes innocence, uncorrupted by the world. Its joyful song contrasts with the poem’s setting in a fallen, experienced world, highlighting Blake’s belief that true joy lies within the realm of innocence.
What is the significance of the wildflower’s voice and its plea for companionship?	The wildflower’s voice embodies the desire for connection and recognition in a world that often overlooks the small and fragile. Its plea suggests a longing for understanding within the harsh realities of existence.
How does Blake use contrasting imagery to explore themes of freedom and constraint?	The wildflower’s vibrant colors and open form contrast with the “dusky land” and “narrow cells,” representing the conflict between the boundless spirit of innocence and the limitations imposed by a restrictive world.
In what ways does the poem challenge traditional notions of beauty and value?	Blake elevates the wildflower, often seen as insignificant, to a symbol of joy and profound beauty. This subverts conventional beauty standards, emphasizing the inherent value of even the seemingly ordinary.

Literary Works Similar to “The Wildflower’s Song” by William Blake

• “The Daffodils” by William Wordsworth: Wordsworth’s poem also celebrates the beauty and resilience of nature, focusing on the image of daffodils dancing in the breeze. Like Blake’s “The Wildflower’s Song,” Wordsworth’s work emphasizes the connection between humanity and the natural world, portraying nature as a source of inspiration and solace.
• “To a Wild Rose” by Emily Dickinson: Dickinson’s poem pays homage to the simple yet enduring beauty of a wild rose. Similar to Blake’s portrayal of the wildflower, Dickinson’s work explores themes of fragility, resilience, and the intrinsic value of nature in the face of adversity.
• “The Sunflower” by Mary Oliver: Oliver’s poem celebrates the sunflower’s ability to turn towards the sun, embodying themes of growth, resilience, and the pursuit of light and warmth. Like Blake’s wildflower, the sunflower symbolizes the beauty and vitality found in the natural world.
• “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost: Frost’s poem explores themes of choice, individuality, and the journey of self-discovery. While different in subject matter, like Blake’s work, Frost’s poem reflects on the paths we take in life and the significance of our decisions in shaping our experiences and identity.
• “A Red, Red Rose” by Robert Burns: Burns’ poem celebrates love and longing through the metaphor of a red rose. While focusing on human emotion rather than nature directly, like Blake’s poem, Burns’ work conveys a deep appreciation for the enduring beauty and significance of natural imagery in expressing universal themes and emotions.

Suggested Readings: “The Wildflower’s Song” by William Blake

Scholarly Monographs

• Ackroyd, Peter. Blake. New York: Vintage Books, 1996.
• Provides a comprehensive biography of Blake, situating his poetry within the context of his life, artistic vision, and historical influences.
• Damrosch, Leopold Jr. Symbol and Truth in Blake’s Myth. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1980.
• Offers a detailed exploration of Blake’s complex use of symbolism and his unique mythological system, relevant for deeper analysis of the poem.
• Eaves, Morris, Robert N. Essick, and Joseph Viscomi, eds. The William Blake Archive. University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and the Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities, 1996-present. https://www.blakearchive.org/
• The premier online resource for Blake’s works, providing access to digitized manuscripts, critical commentaries, and research tools.

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

• Lincoln, Andrew. “Songs of Innocence and of Experience as Performance.” Philological Quarterly, vol. 87, no. 1, 2008, pp. 59-88.
• Examines Blake’s conception of his poetic works as meant to be performed, highlighting the potential for vocal interpretation and musicality within “The Wildflower’s Song.”
• Punter, David. “Blake: Contraries and Negations.” The Cambridge Companion to William Blake, edited by Morris Eaves, Cambridge University Press, 2003, pp. 254-271.
• Provides a theoretical framework for analyzing Blake’s use of opposition, paradox, and conflict in his poetry, potentially applicable to the poem’s contrasting images and emotions.