The Songs of Innocence and Experience Project

AP Lit & Comp

The Innocence and Experience Project

Inspired by William Blake’s Poetry

Whoa! #@&%#$ Poetry! Don’t worry! It is not just some weird, fandango English assignment. It is really just show and tell, like you used to do in 1st grade. And it is also a weird, fandango English assignment.

Show and Tell

This is my skunk Pepe.

Show and Tell?Innocence, Experience?How is this goingto work?

We’ll get there, don’tworry. First, let’s talk aboutthe ideas of innocence and experience.

Children are often associated with innocence.

Innocence is defined as freedom from guilt or sinthrough being unacquainted with evil

orfreedom from guile or cunning

orlack of worldly experience

So children would seem to fit the definition of innocence on all three counts … Remember your first day of school, all the things you did not know?

Remember when even mayhem and mischief were innocent?

…and monsters still lived under the bed?

Remember when your relationships with stuffed animals were real?

… and you needed help holding the barbarians at bay?

Remember the smell of a parent or loved onereturning home?

Remember the confusion and fear that accompanied new experiences?

... and the warmth of a loved one helping youthrough confusion and fear.

Remember when someone larger and stronger alwayslooked out for you?

These times ofinnocence were wonderful…

…but as you journeyed through life you gained more and more experience.

On your journey there were moments when you left the beaten path….

…moments when you were stopped at everypossible intersection…

… and moments when you were forced to walk in line.

And, on your journey there were momentsof fantastic flight…

… and sometimes darkness and gloom.

Other times you were buffeted by storms.

But, through success and adversity you grew and you began to create your own face, your own way of doing things.

As you developed your own way of doing things there were moments of beauty, even grace.

And, other moments, let’s just say not so much grace.

On your journey you were given new responsibilities …

… and, with them, new freedoms.

Perhaps you experienced your first love.

Maybe love, and it’sinitial happiness and joy….

… did not turnout as you hadhoped.

But, the human heart heals and is able toexperience beauty, joy, wonder …

… and peace again.

Because of this resilience you continued to somersault…

… and work hard …

… and come together …

… to realize success.

Now, you are on the cusp of graduation,perhaps the first of several graduations.

When you are done with your schooling you will enter the workforce.

You may meet the person that youwant to spend the rest of your life with.

You may even decide that you want to start this innocence thing all over again.

As your journey continues you will continueto gain more and more experience.

So, now that we havetaken time to look at the concepts of innocence and experience, please takea moment to reflect uponyour own innocence and experience.

This is where the Show and Tell part comes into play.

The Innocence and Experience ProjectWritten Component:General Notes

Reference PHS Writing Rubric (Academic Rubric 2) for grading expectations

The first person may be used in this paper. (Fundamentally this assignment is reflective.) The second person should not be used.

Essays must be turned in to Turnitin.com and a hard copy must be provided to the instructor.

A rubric with your name on it must be provided with the hard copy of the essay and prior to your oral presentation (see attached rubrics)

Poetry Analysis (Analyze the three poems assigned)Support all analysis with direct textual evidenceExplain the meaning and theme(s) of each poem Identify elements of Romanticism in each poemExplain whether each poem that you have been assigned should be part

of Blake’s Songs of Innocence or his Songs of Experience

The Innocence and Experience ProjectWritten Component (continued):

Symbol of InnocenceIdentify an object that represents your innocenceDescribe this objectExplain why this object represents your innocence

Symbol of ExperienceIdentify an object that represents your experienceDescribe this objectExplain why this object represents your experience

The Innocence and Experience ProjectOral Presentation ComponentGeneral Notes

Reference PHS Oral Presentation Rubric (Academic Rubric 2) for grading expectations

 StructureThe Oral Presentation should follow the same structure as

the written component of the project

SymbolsThe symbols that are chosen should be an integral part of

the oral presentation. (The class should be able to physically see, hear and touch the symbols that are chosen to represent each individual’s innocence and experience.)

The Innocence and Experience ProjectPlease remember that people are sharing something

personal about themselves. This is a frightening thing for many people to do – so, please be an outstanding audience.

Some people may offer fairly common symbols of their innocence or experience – for example, a stuffed animal and car keys. This is fine. Other people may share deeply personal parts of their lives. This is fine also. Please be respectful of whatever your classmates choose to share with you.

Through sharing yourself and learning about others you are creating a new experience to go forward with on your journey.

Let’s do this Innocence and Experience thing!

Project Due:Monday 5/25

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk_geYnyuOk

William Blake

Please view the video on William Blake below.