A Dream and A Cradle Song

1. A Dream
and
A Cradle Song
By William Blake

2. • Was born in London on November 28, 1757
• Was primarily home schooled
• Was a misunderstood poet, artist and visionary
• Was able to find some admirers late in life
• Was vastly influential since his death in 1827
• He found inspiration in The Bible
• He worked as an apprentice engraver at age 14
• He completed his apprenticeship at age 21
• He began exhibiting his own works at age 22
• He died August 12, 1827

4. • A lullaby meant to be sung to baby from mother
• As the mother is watching the baby sleep under
a tree, the poem praises the natural world
• This poem has been praised as a perfect
balance between thought and emotion – it
captures the mom’s joy and love for her child
while expressing her fear of the future of the
child
• The theme of this poem is the passing from
innocence to experience

5. • This poem tell the story of a mother ant who has
lost her way home and is worried about her
children
• A glow-worm and beetle help her find her way
• This poem looks at how a resolution can be
found in the natural community
• Even though the poem does not show the ant
getting home, it leads you to believe that she
does
• There are two themes to this poem
• How parents care about their children
• Separation and loss

6. • Both A Dream and A Cradle Song show
the bond between mother and child
• Both poems use emotion to tell the story
• They both show an appreciation for the
natural world

7. • http://www.blakearchive.org/exist/blake/archive/object.xq
?objectid=songsie.aa.illbk.26&java=yes
• http://4umi.com/blake/innocence/11
• http://www.biography.com/print/profile/william-blake-
9214491
• http://www.gradesaver.com/songs-of-innocence-and-of-
experience/study-guide/section17/
• http://www.gradesaver.com/the-complete-poems-of-
william-blake/study-guide/section1/