Infant Sorrow, William Blake: Analysis & Summary
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"Infant Sorrow" by William Blake presents a poignant exploration of the vulnerability and helplessness of a newborn child. Through vivid imagery and concise language, the poem delves into the immediate experiences and emotions of an infant entering the world. Infant Sorrow by William Blake My mother groaned, my father wept:
Into the dangerous world I leapt,
Helpless, naked, piping loud,
Like a fiend hid in a cloud.
Struggling in my father’s hands,
Striving against my swaddling-bands,
Bound and weary, I thought best
To sulk upon my mother’s breast.
Critical Analysis "Infant Sorrow" encapsulates the immediate experience of a newborn child's entrance into the world. The poem's concise verses capture the raw emotions and sensations of the infant's initial moments. The poem opens with contrasting images of the mother's groaning and the father's weeping, reflecting a mix of pain and sorrow surrounding the birth. The child's arrival is depicted as a l…