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William Blake; The schoolboy Essay
William Blake; The schoolboy
William Blake believed in freedom of speech, democracy and 'free love', for these reasons he disagreed strongly with formal education and
conventional teaching in both schools and churches. He believed that this constrained people stopping them from having their own thoughts. Blake
believed that children who were not given a formal education would want to learn off their own accord making learning more fun and enjoyable for
the child. Blake portrays these opinions in the poem 'The schoolboy'; which he chose to write in the voice of 'the schoolboy' himself, to stand up for
children who's views on schooling are rarely acknowledged. Blake's decision to use a definite article in the title; 'The...show more content...
The word 'sighing' in the last line of this verse relates it back to the first as it could be referring to the child thinking about what he could be doing
instead of school.
The third stanza is negative again, showing the way the child feels by describing his body language whilst at school; 'I drooping sit', and the line
'and spend many an anxious hour' shows how the boy is permanently feeling nervous and in fear whilst at school. Blake then goes on to show the
effect this would have on the pupil 'nor in my book can I take delight, nor sit in learning's bower', this demonstrates his theory that school represses
the child and stops learning being fun for them. These lines imply that if the boy were not at school he would be choosing to read and learn off his
own accord. The fourth stanza marks a change in the poem as the narrative shifts from first to third person. This is where Blake addresses the parents
and teachers showing that he unlike most other adults agrees with the children when they say they shouldn't have to go to school. The way the verse
is structured into two rhetorical questions makes the reader stop and think about the matter in hand. Blake provokes sympathy for the schoolboy by
comparing him to a 'bird that is born for joy' and saying that sending the boy to school when his natural right is to be free and happy, is as bad as
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William Blake: A Primary Source Of Inspiration
William Blake was born in London, England on November 28, 1757. Blake left school at a young age, only staying to learn how to read and write. The
Bible was a primary source of inspiration for him, he claimed to have received visions from God at a young age. Blake was multi–talented in the arts,
not only was he a poet, but he was also a painter and an engraver. He also taught his illiterate wife to read and write. Blake's work was considered a
very influential figure of the Romantic Age. He worked hard on projects up until his death on August 12, 1827, some were left unfinished. Though his
work went unrecognized during his lifetime, Blake's creations have remained a heavy influence for modern–day writers and
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William Blake Research Paper
William Blake, a 19th century writer and artist who, to this day, is respected as an admirable character of the Romantic Age. Blake's writings have
altered endless writers and artists throughout generations, and he has been suspected to represent both a dominant poet and an authentic thinker.
Born on November 8, 1757 inside of London, England, William Blake commenced writing at a youthful age and declared to have had his first vision,
of a tree crowded with angels, at age of 10. He studied engraving and flourished to admire Gothic art, which he integrated into his own unique
production. The Bible had an early, intelligent impact on Blake, and it would endure a lifetime cause of motivation, coloring his life and works with
intensive spirituality....show more content...
Blake left school at the age of ten to attend the Henry Pars Drawing Academy for five years. The artists he applauded as a child included Raphael,
Michelangelo, Giulio, Romano and DГјrer. He began writing poetry at the age of twelve and in 1783 his friends paid for his first collection of verses to
be printed, which was designated "Poetical Sketches" and is now seen as a leading anapestic situation of the 18th century. Now Blake became a
well–established engraver, who began to establish experimenting with printing skills. And it was not long before he assembled his first
distinguished book, 'Songs of Innocence' in 1788. It was then, that Blake became determined to take his poetry above just being "words on a single
paper" and perceived that they sought to be illustrated to create his desired reaction. One of Blake's central influences was the society in which he
lived. He lived during revolutionary times and observed the downfall of London during Britain's war with France. Blake's obsession over good and
evil as well as his substantial philosophical and religious beliefs were endured throughout his lifetime and never resisted to depict them in his poetry
and engravings. He died at the age of sixty–nine in 1827 and although the Blake family name died with him, his legacy as a captivating, convoluted
man of many artistic talents will no doubt remain firm into this
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Essay on William Blake
William Blake
William Blake is one of England's most famous literary figures. He is remembered and admired for his skill as a painter, engraver, and poet. He was
born on Nov. 28, 1757 to a poor Hosier's family living in or around London. Being of a poor family, Blake received little in the way of comfort or
education while growing up. Amazingly, he did not attend school for very long and dropped out shortly after learning to read and write so that he
could work in his father's shop. The life of a hosier however was not the right path for Blake as he exhibited early on a skill for reading and drawing.
Blake's skill for reading can be seen in his understanding for and use of works such as the Bible and Greek classic literature....show more content...
These figures are the characters in many of his works. The role of Religion as a strong influence in Blake's life was probably formed by the events
he experienced during his upbringing. Blake came from a poor family and among other hardships witnessed the death of his older brother Robert at
the relatively young age of 20. Robert's death had a profound impact on Blake and after witnessing it he said that he saw his brother's soul "ascend
heavenward clapping its hands for joy". The inspiration that William received from his brother death is an underlying theme in many of his works
and most likely in his view of life as well. Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience are two of Blake's collections that emphasize his ideas. Many
of the things that affected Blake's life as a child: poverty, struggle, loss, confusion, and faith can be seen in these works.
Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience are contrasting views of the same events. Each contains a collection of poems that profile an idea,
figure, or event. In Songs of Innocence the world is viewed through the Eyes of someone like a child, who has little life experience. In Songs of
Experience the same world is looked at only this time from the standpoint of someone who has experience in life, most likely an adult. The major
difference between the two viewpoints is the understanding for life and
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William Blake Poet
William Blake is one of the most renowned poets in the history of English literature. Born to the owners of a hosiery shop on Broad Street in the
center of London in 1757, William Blake developed into a toddler of extraordinary imagination. While only a young boy (around the age of four), he
spoke to his parents of seeing angels playing amongst him, encountering visions of heaven and hell throughout London and the nearby countryside,
and spotting God keeping a close eye on him during tasks and chores. It was not long before the young Blake began to stencil out the visions from his
imagination, and as an eleven year old, he enlisted in Pars' Drawing School to learn the art of printing and plaster casting. Soon thereafter, Blake began
to apprentice under London artist James Basire, and as a fourteen–year–old, he was assigned to drawing monuments in Westminster Abbey, which led
to a lifelong admiration for Gothic art and religious illustration. While working with Basire, Blake befriended contemporary apprentice James Parker.
Parker and Blake would later become partners in a jointly owned print shop on Broad Street, right next door to the Blake hosiery shop and household,
a partnership that only lasted one year (1784–85). One must recall the historical context of Blake's development from a young artist to a poet in his
mid–twenties. In 1775, America began a revolution of independence from England, igniting tense controversy in London, and the young artist
witnessed an angry
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William Blake Essay
William Blake
The poet, painter and engraver, William Blake was born in 1757, to a London haberdasher. Blake's only formal education was in art. At the age of
ten, he entered a drawing school and then at the age of fourteen, he apprenticed to an engraver. ( Abrams & Stillinger 18). Although, much of Blake's
time was spent studying art, he enjoyed reading and soon began to write poetry. Blake's first book of poems, Poetical Sketches, "showed his
dissatisfaction with the reigning poetic tradition and his restless quest for new forms and techniques" ( Abrams & Stillinger 19). Poetical Sketches, was
followed by many other works including, Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience. These series were accompanied by etchings, which depict
...show more content...
The people of this time thought that God was above the world and independent of the material universe. They looked at humans as being flawed and
weak based on the story of Adam and Eve. The Romantic period contrasted the beliefs of the 18'th century. "Romanticism stressed strong emotion,
imagination, freedom from classical correctness in art forms and rebellion against social conventions" (Romanticism 1). The main goal of the
Romantics was to bring what they thought was a dead universe back to life and to add feeling. In addition, the Romantics saw the importance in writing
poetry, which would express their beliefs and attitudes.
"The attitudes of the Romantics were a deepened appreciation of the beauties of nature, a general exaltation of emotion over reason and of the senses
over intellect" (Romanticism 1). The Romantics took their own feelings and brought them to life in their poetry. Traditional beliefs or formal rules of
poetry no longer governed them. The Romantics not only held a greater ability to express themselves but they also possessed a greater sensitivity and a
sense of optimism, which is prevalent in their work.
Blake was one of the foremost poets in the Romantic Era. Blake valued the unattainable as much as the other poets of his time did. The main goal,
although impossible to attain was, "the Ideal, a state in which a perfect union between nature and human comprehension was accomplished" ( Marcotte
16).
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William Blake Essay
William Blake
William Blake was born in 1757 during a time when Romanticism was on the rise. Romantic poets of this day and age, living in England, experienced
changes from a wealth–centered aristocracy to a modern industrial nation where power shifted to large–scale employers thus leading to the enlargement
of the working class. Although Blake is seen as a very skillful writer his greatest successes were his engravings taught to him by a skilled sculpture.
Blake differed from other poets in that he never received a formal education. His only education consisted of the arts, and therefore he enrolled in the
Royal Academy of the Arts around the age of twelve. It was only in his spare time that he showed any interest in poetry. At the
...show more content...
One proof of his disagreement is displayed through his poem "London". London is a part of his anthology "Songs of Experience" which will be further
discussed and analyzed later. Before comparing poems from both Innocence and Experience, it is best to know a little background on both. First, the
title Innocence refers to the purity that the youth possesses compared to Experience, which relates to an adult. According to the Cambridge History of
English Literature, Innocence was seen as having two parts. The first being that innocence assumes the world was made for the benefit of human
beings, has human shape and a human meaning and is a world in which providence, protection, communication with others has a genuine function. The
other is the ignorance of the fact that the world is not like that. As a child (Innocence) grows up, his conscious mind is able to accept reality or in this
case experience and his childhood innocence is lost and remains only in his dreams.
There are two poems in Songs of Innocence that will be discussed in further detail. They are "Introduction", and "The Chimney Sweeper". In both
these poems, the characteristic of a caretaker is introduced, which is shown in the relationship of a shepherd who cares for his sheep and the special
world in which they live. The first poem is "The Chimney Sweeper". Although there is slight admission to the hardships faced by the innocents of the
world, the main view is that of hope and a prayer for a better
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William Blake's Influence Of Literature
William Blake
William Blake's poetry was heavily influenced by the Christian Bible, which is quite uncommon for the English Romantic poets. In fact, he is even
known as the final religious poet of Britain. This tendency toward using the Bible in his literature derived from his avid reading of this holy book
during his childhood. There is little information about any other schooling he might have had outside of reading this book. However, his writing was
unique from other Christian writings as he drew direct influence from the Bible rather than the common church.
William, Corbett. "Blake, William (1757–1827)." World Poets, edited by Ron Padgett, vol. 1, Charles Scribner's Sons, 2000, pp. 111–19. Literature
Resource Center. Accessed 13 Nov....show more content...
Accessed 13 Nov. 2017.
William Blake had radical views regarding his society and the politics that governed it. Blake demonstrated these radical social views by renouncing
clothing and thus condoning nudity. In fact, Blake even stripped off his dress when meeting with his friends in a garden. His radical political views
were demonstrated while arguing with Soldier John Scofield. The soldier claimed Blake openly spoke bad of the English King as well as expressed
views in favor of Napoleon Bonaparte, the French emperor, thus landing him in a trial where he was charged with sedation, or the promotion of
anti–governmental rebellion.
William, Corbett. "Blake, William (1757–1827)." World Poets, edited by Ron Padgett, vol. 1, Charles Scribner's Sons, 2000, pp. 111–19. Literature
Resource Center. Accessed 13 Nov. 2017.
Blake's demonstrated his radical political views when writing Europe. In this sample of writing, Blake insinuated contempt against King George the III,
though without actually referring to the King himself. Writing such as these spurred rumors of Blake's treasonous remarks against the King, such as
that which was accounted by a soldier from Felpham. These rumors caused Blake to be charged with treason, though he was freed of charges later.
Adams, Hazard. "William Blake." Europe 1789–1914: Encyclopedia of the Age of Industry and Empire, edited by John Merriman and Jay Winter,
Charles Scribner's Sons, 2006. Biography in Context. Accessed 13
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William Blake's The Chimney Sweeper Essay
William Blake's The Chimney Sweeper
William Blake's The Chimney Sweeper, written in 1789, tells the story of what happened to many young boys during this time period. Often, boys
as young as four and five were sold for the soul purpose of cleaning chimneys because of their small size. These children were exploited and lived a
meager existence that was socially acceptable at the time. Blake voices the evils of this acceptance through point of view, symbolism, and his startling
irony.
Blake expresses his poem in first person, as a young chimney sweeper. This gives his poetic voice creditability because the subject of the poem is
chimney sweepers. In addition, using first person creates a deeper sense of sympathy in the reader....show more content...
In this quote the "coffins of black'; symbolize the chimneys (554). Ultimately this all symbolizes the boys' death because of their terrible life cleaning
chimneys at such a young age. In the next stanza an Angel comes "And he opened the coffins and set them all free,'; which symbolizes the boys' death
and escape to heaven. All of these symbols cause feelings of sympathy in the reader, hopefully causing them to want to help these children escape their
fate.
Blake also uses startling irony in this poem. This irony shocks the reader into realization of how terrible life is for these small boys. Some of the
verbal irony Blake uses lies in the first stanza. The poetic voice claims that "[his] father sold [him] while yet [his] tongue/ Could scarcely cry ' 'weep!
'weep! 'weep! 'weep!''; (554). These words have a double meaning. They can mean that the speaker was not yet over mourning for his mother, or they
can mean that he was so young that he was not yet able to sound out the s sound properly. In this case, he would stand on the corner and, instead of
repeating the word sweep in an attempt at getting someone to hire him, he would repeat the word "'weep!''; (554). Another, more startling irony is that
these young children hoped and lived for death because only in the after life could they become children. Blake emphasizes this with the
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William Blake
rina Honeycutt From: Jonah Cali 11/16/17 Subject: William Blake William Blake: The Purity of life Introduction William Blake not only a poet
but an Artist in general is one of England biggest influences for literature. William was a middle child basically, and living in the days where the
infancy mortality rate was big. Majority of the information about him is portrayed through his writings. Being the regular British kid he was, he
wasn't exactly a big extrovert. Even though being the middle child, most of his siblings died off so it wasn't like he didn't get any attention. Yet
again he was different. He wasn't really big on studies of the math and sciences, but early along the way pursued the study of fine arts such as
painting and poetry. The more you dig into Williams early past you see that his parents where more into the Greek fine arts and lettering, which
reveals that his parents were the initial influence of love for art. He was not a part of a struggling family, for a good amount of time Blake enjoyed
wealth. It gave him more opportunity to span his knowledge of Greek art. His mother and father also bought a number of books for young
William. Due to the support of his parents James and Catharine Blake he was able to develop his skill in the fine arts at a very early age. Blake and his
work laid dormant for a generation after his death and was almost lost, it wasn't until the 1860s when people started to write biography's and reports
on Blake's old work and after
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William Blake Research Paper
Fiore Fiore 9 William Blake: A Genius in a New Era William Blake was a writer and a painter in the late 1700s and early 1800s whose imagination
was untamed and incomprehensible to most ordinary people of his time. Blake was different from most writers of his who were trying to be
famous and get people?s attention. Everything Blake did was for himself and he was not willing to change for money or popularity. William Blake
is often considered to be insanely genius because of his transition to a new literary era, known as Romanticism, and for his depictions of life from
the viewpoints of a child and an adult. William Blake was born on November 11, 1757. He was the second child with a total of five siblings. Growing
up Blake did not contend...show more content...
The motto of The Four Zoas is: ??from Ephesians characterizes the tone of the work. ?For over contention is not with the blood and the flesh, but with
dominion, with authority with the blind world– rulers of this life, with the spirit of evil in things heavenly.??17 The meaning that can be taken from
this motto is that no one person is greater than another in this world. Each and every person is blind to a greater spirit in the world. Although God
may create greatness, he also creates evil. This point is confusing because Blake is not associated with any religion and does not believe in a greater
power. Some may ask why Blake touches on these subjects that no one understands. As Blake is continuing to let his imagination free, he creates more
books and illustrations which lead to a greater depth of what he truly
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William Blake Essay example
William Blake William Blake was born in 1757, the third son of a London hosier. Blake lived in or near to London, a city which dominates much
of his work, whether as the nightmare 'London' of the Songs of Experience, or the London which Blake saw as the 'New Jerusalem', the kingdom of
God on earth. As the son of a hosier, a generally lower middle class occupation in late eighteenth century London, he was brought up in a poor
household, a preparation for the relative poverty in which he would live for most of his life. He also received little formal schooling, which is all the
more remarkable given both the depth and range of his reading of the Bible, of Milton and Greek and Latin classic literature, evident throughout his
...show more content...
From 1779 he was employed as an engraver for a local Bookseller, and Blake continued to earn an often precarious living from contracted engraving
until, with the help of his friend John Flaxman (1755–1826), he was able to set up his own engraving business at 27 Broad Street, which proved not to
be a successful enterprise. It is from this point, 1784, that Blake's career as an engraver–poet–prophet began in earnest. Working with the help of his
dedicated wife Catherine Boucher (the daughter of a market gardener, whom he married in 1782), Blake divided his time between composing and
engraving illustrated poetry, and eking out a precarious living as a contract engraver. His first works in illustrated painting– All Religions Are One and
There is No Natural Religion (1788) – followed on from the satirical verse of An Island in the Moon (1784–5), but it was in 1789, the year of the
French Revolution and the Storming of the Bastille, that saw Blake's early masterpieces, The Book of Thel and Songs of Innocence. Between 1789
and 1800, when the Blake's moved to Felpham, Blake was ferociously active, composing The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790–93), The French
Revolution (1791), America: A Prophecy (1793), Visions of the Daughters of Albion (1793), The Book of Urizen (1794), the Songs of Experience
(1793–4), Europe: A
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William Blake And Religion Essay
William Blake was a forerunner in the world of poetry in the 18th century that produced works that are being studied to this day. Along with many
other greats; poets, artists, and musicians, Blake did not receive the recognition deserved to him until after his death. Many of these poems written by
Blake are ordinarily focused on religion while heavily influenced by his imagination. The impact of his imagination in addition to his focus on religion
is evident in his work "The Lamb" as well as The Tyger". "The Lamb" is a poem about a child who is asking the lamb about his creator, then asks if
the lamb is aware of his identity. The child already knows the identity which leads to the end of the poem. This poem comes from an album called Songs
...show more content...
Both poems bring together the idea of a creator to first show a warm and affectionate side, then bring a harsh sense of reality that allows the reader
to awake and consequently realize the world is not just full of innocent lambs. In both poems the creator is the greatest force in the world. The
creators in each poem represent different ideas. In the poem about the lamb the creator has not been introduced with its only description being of
the narrator stating that he is a child, whereas in "The Tyger" the narrator demands an answer on whether the creator is describable as a might
blacksmith who "Could twist the sinews of thy heart" (Blake 10). As the narrator speaks of this mighty beast it seems almost as if the narrator is
afraid. The idea of a creator is not only a theme as he is mentioned along with the tyger. The narrator towards the end of "The Tyger" ponders whether
these creators are the same by a asking "Did he who made the Lamb make thee" (Blake 20). The question on whether the creator is the same is raised
because of the vast amount of opposites that
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The Lamb by William Blake Analysis Essays
Like a Child
ENGL 102: Literature and Composition
APA
In "The Lamb" by William Blake, you will see that, if analyzed closely, the lamb is a personal symbol which signifies God himself. The innocence
of a child is like that of a lamb, and serves as a model for humans to follow. In the first stanza, the speaker is the child who is also the teacher. The
child asks the lamb who gave him life and all his needs, along with a voice so "tender". Then, the child declares that he will tell the lamb who their
creator is. The creator shares the same name as the lamb, which is a reference to Jesus Christ. The end of the poem is giving way to a blessing which,
gives an expression of the child's adoration at the connection the lamb makes in child,...show more content...
Since Blake loves lambs because of the connection they makes with Christianity and sinners, he uses the description of a lamb to signify what God
did for us. He also utilizes imagery in giving the picture feeling of deep faith he has in his Christianity. One of the most sensual lyrics is lyric 6;
"Softest clothing, wooly, bright. This gives the reader a sense of what God does for sinners; He gives them all their needs.
The most leading literary device used in Blake's poems is symbolism. In this particular poem, "The Lamb" is a reference to God himself. This is
because of the trinity that is involved with being a Christ follower. The trinity is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The child in the poem, is a
symbol as innocence and purity just like Jesus Christ. Christians are to "receive the kingdom of God like a child" (Luke 18:17, ESV). This means that
we are to have child–like faith, and trust in God, just like children do in their parents.
In the second stanza, the child tells the lamb who created him. In lyrics 13 and 14, he says "He is called by thy name/For he calls himself a Lamb.
In Christianity, this is Jesus Christ, the son of God. In explaining the trinity earlier, this is another reference to God. Lyrics 15 and 16 say "He is
meek, and he is mild/He became a little child. Jesus Christ was sent down to bare people's sin. This could only happen if a child was born of purity
(from a virgin).
In the Gospel's, it
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The Life and Work of William Blake Essay
The Life and Work of William Blake
Although William Blake was one of the most extraordinary English poets, Blake was known in his own time as a failed Artisan. This paper will
outline his works in order that we can better understand him. This paper will sight some of Blake's works but will focus on 1The Marriage Between
Heaven and Hell. Blake, being self–taught artisan, was thoroughly intrigued by the Bible and the Works of Milton. Blake's major works attempt to
create a modern myth of the World, as we know it. The purpose of this paper is to attempt to help us, the readers, to view that myth through Blake's eyes.
William Blake was born in London, England on November 28, 1757, and then baptized in St. James Church. His...show more content...
In 1778, he finished his apprenticeship at the age of twenty–one. He went to work for a bookshop as a professional engraver. In 1780 he meet his wife,
Catherine Boucher. They married on August 18, 1782. Blake met Mrs. Mathew, a famous Blue Stoking, through Flaxman. With him meeting her it
became very profitable for him because they paid for the publication of Poetical Sketches there were twenty–six of them (Ward, Walter, 181).
In 1784, Flaxman helped Blake to open his own print shop on the 27th Broad Street London. Later the business went under. A few years later his
brother, Robert, passed a way in February 1787, he was only twenty years old. Then appeared in Blake's dreams and revealed another form of
engraving (Britannica). Blake began his Songs of Experience in 1789 (Keynes, 210–219). Two years later in 1790 he started his 1Marriage Between
Heaven and Hell. The 1Marriage Between Heaven and Hell had 27 plates (Keynes, 148–158).
September 1792, Catherine Harmitage Blake, passed away, Blake's mother (Smith, 57).
It took him 5 years completed Songs of Experience from 1794 to 1799. 1 Marriage Between Heaven and Hell took him three years to complete. His
longest piece was Jerusalem. It has ninety–nine plates and it took him sixteen years to complete (Britannica).
William and Catherine Blake went to Felpham from London between the years 1800 and 1803.
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William Blake Literary Analysis
"What is now proved was once only imagined."
(Ed. Mason, Michael. William Blake: Selected Poetry. Oxford World Classics, 2008.)
This paper started with a quote which mainly emphasize on the power of imagination. The line which is quoted above, said by one of the early
romantic poet, one who never went to university, never took opium, did not end up his life in a very tender age, never left England, did not went on
any Grand tour in his life span, did not have any illicit or failed affairs or relationships, had no one who would call him father and unfortunately never
got the fame during his own lifetime. He is the one, who shine out like a star whenever one talks about Mysticism and Imagination in English Literature,
William Blake. What he says about Imagination is
"The Imagination is not a state: it is the human existence itself."
(Damon, Samuel Foster. Ed. Eaves Morris. A Blake Dictionary: The Ideas and Symbol Of William Blake. UPNE, 1988.)
After reading his thoughts about imagination and the power of imagination one could able to recognize that he believes in the imaginary world around
him. He talks about angels and God like figures which could be seen by him only, which proves him as true mystic.
After knowing the fact that he was a mystic, the next questions which struck the minds is what is Mysticism? What is so fascinating in mysticism
which makes him a mystic?
Here is the answer, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, "Mysticism is a Belief that union with or absorption into the deity or the absolute, or
the spiritual apprehension of knowledge inaccessible to the intellect, may be attained through contemplation and self surrender". It also comes with
another definition which says, "Vague or ill–defined religious or spiritual belief, especially a belief in the occult". So, basically it is somehow related to
the kind of religious beliefs a person have. Actually, Blake was a non–conformist. 'Non–conformism' refers in history to religious groups that had
alienated from the Church of England in the course of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Such people had groups like Baptists, Methodists,
Puritans, Quakers and Unitarians. Few researchers believe that his parents were Swedenborgians or readers
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William Blake Thesis Statement
Thesis Statement: William Blake is that of a literary artist that enlightens the overlooked parts of the world by fabricating poetry from the envisions
found within the innocence of the mind's own imagination.
I.William Blake simplifies the mind's ability to dream outside of its actual reality, and elaborates on this fact with his poems "The Chimney Sweeper:
Songs of Innocence" and "The Chimney Sweeper: Songs of Experience" by examining the mind's development over the years.
A.The Chimney Sweeper: Songs of Innocence
1.Trapping of the sweepers in the coffins
2.His dream is a symbol for hope
B.The Chimney Sweeper: Songs of Experience
1.Outcastes of society that are for death (Reality)
2.Life after death (Hope)
II.William Blake discusses
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William Blake Beliefs
Ranked 38th in a BBC poll of the hundred greatest Britons, with only British poet
Shakespeare ranked higher. Once considered mad and a satanist for his idiosyncratic views. Fairly unknown during his life time, but now thought the
first of the great English Romantic poets as well as a painter engraver and printer. William Blake's personal beliefs are easily revealed through hispoetry
and are considered extremely controversial; such as his views of Christianity. According to Blake, human society and its institutions were sick, and the
cure required a combination of revelation, imagination, right thinking, compassion, fierce tenacity and love. Nevertheless, Blake is widely read and
critiqued by modern–day scholars.
William Blake was born on...show more content...
P
One of William Blake great poems, The Tyger" is well known as one or perhaps
William Blake's most famous poem and has led to several different interpretations by critics and other poets. The firat and last quatrain are the same
except for when the word "could" becomes to "dare". The Tyger" takes a unique look into the human soul in comparison to a tiger. This poem was
written for Blake's 1794 collection entitled Songs of Experience which contained
It begins with the repetition of the name ("Tyger, tyger"). The repetition creates a chant–like mood to the whole poem, which contributes to the
mysteriousness. Reading it, you can't help but get the feeling this poem is about way more than the biggest cat in the world. The poem begins with
the speaker asking a fearsome tiger what kind of divine being could have created it: "What immortal hand or eye/ Could frame they fearful symmetry?"
P
P
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"The Tyger"contrasts sharply with his other famous poem, "The Lamb", examples are when he says "The lamb" is innocent. To the tyger, it's also
delicious.
William Blake loves using a lamb as innocent or as
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Background Of William Blake
Background/Family History William Blake was born on November 28 1757 in Soho, London, Great Britain to James and Catharine Blake. He
was born the third of several children. Two of his siblings died in infancy. James his father worked as a tailor or a hosier. His mother taught him
from the age of ten before that attending school enough to read and write. At the start of James career, he wasn't relatively wealthy until William
started to grow into his teenage years. Regardless James bought his son canvases, engraving tools and William started to engrave Greek drawings
and letters into objects at an early age. Blake found himself expose to works of Michel Angelo and other influential Greek artists and painters.
Later on His mother and father got more money and started to see more income and bought Blake a selection of various books. Williams's family
were big Christians as well, getting him baptized at a very early age. Blake's biggest influence would be the bible most of all. He used it as his
moral compass for his work and you can clearly see it. Right about when William turned ten his family started to realize that math and sciences isn't
for him and he slowly realized it himself, he was about to either go to school for art and poetry or not go at all. He enrolled in drawing classes shortly
after that at the Pars's drawing school in Strand. At this point he read on subject of his own choosing, mostly the bible to Edmund Spencer. Blake
constantly made more explorations in
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William Blake; The Schoolboy Essay

  • 1. William Blake; The schoolboy Essay William Blake; The schoolboy William Blake believed in freedom of speech, democracy and 'free love', for these reasons he disagreed strongly with formal education and conventional teaching in both schools and churches. He believed that this constrained people stopping them from having their own thoughts. Blake believed that children who were not given a formal education would want to learn off their own accord making learning more fun and enjoyable for the child. Blake portrays these opinions in the poem 'The schoolboy'; which he chose to write in the voice of 'the schoolboy' himself, to stand up for children who's views on schooling are rarely acknowledged. Blake's decision to use a definite article in the title; 'The...show more content... The word 'sighing' in the last line of this verse relates it back to the first as it could be referring to the child thinking about what he could be doing instead of school. The third stanza is negative again, showing the way the child feels by describing his body language whilst at school; 'I drooping sit', and the line 'and spend many an anxious hour' shows how the boy is permanently feeling nervous and in fear whilst at school. Blake then goes on to show the effect this would have on the pupil 'nor in my book can I take delight, nor sit in learning's bower', this demonstrates his theory that school represses the child and stops learning being fun for them. These lines imply that if the boy were not at school he would be choosing to read and learn off his own accord. The fourth stanza marks a change in the poem as the narrative shifts from first to third person. This is where Blake addresses the parents and teachers showing that he unlike most other adults agrees with the children when they say they shouldn't have to go to school. The way the verse is structured into two rhetorical questions makes the reader stop and think about the matter in hand. Blake provokes sympathy for the schoolboy by comparing him to a 'bird that is born for joy' and saying that sending the boy to school when his natural right is to be free and happy, is as bad as Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 2. William Blake: A Primary Source Of Inspiration William Blake was born in London, England on November 28, 1757. Blake left school at a young age, only staying to learn how to read and write. The Bible was a primary source of inspiration for him, he claimed to have received visions from God at a young age. Blake was multi–talented in the arts, not only was he a poet, but he was also a painter and an engraver. He also taught his illiterate wife to read and write. Blake's work was considered a very influential figure of the Romantic Age. He worked hard on projects up until his death on August 12, 1827, some were left unfinished. Though his work went unrecognized during his lifetime, Blake's creations have remained a heavy influence for modern–day writers and Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 3. William Blake Research Paper William Blake, a 19th century writer and artist who, to this day, is respected as an admirable character of the Romantic Age. Blake's writings have altered endless writers and artists throughout generations, and he has been suspected to represent both a dominant poet and an authentic thinker. Born on November 8, 1757 inside of London, England, William Blake commenced writing at a youthful age and declared to have had his first vision, of a tree crowded with angels, at age of 10. He studied engraving and flourished to admire Gothic art, which he integrated into his own unique production. The Bible had an early, intelligent impact on Blake, and it would endure a lifetime cause of motivation, coloring his life and works with intensive spirituality....show more content... Blake left school at the age of ten to attend the Henry Pars Drawing Academy for five years. The artists he applauded as a child included Raphael, Michelangelo, Giulio, Romano and DГјrer. He began writing poetry at the age of twelve and in 1783 his friends paid for his first collection of verses to be printed, which was designated "Poetical Sketches" and is now seen as a leading anapestic situation of the 18th century. Now Blake became a well–established engraver, who began to establish experimenting with printing skills. And it was not long before he assembled his first distinguished book, 'Songs of Innocence' in 1788. It was then, that Blake became determined to take his poetry above just being "words on a single paper" and perceived that they sought to be illustrated to create his desired reaction. One of Blake's central influences was the society in which he lived. He lived during revolutionary times and observed the downfall of London during Britain's war with France. Blake's obsession over good and evil as well as his substantial philosophical and religious beliefs were endured throughout his lifetime and never resisted to depict them in his poetry and engravings. He died at the age of sixty–nine in 1827 and although the Blake family name died with him, his legacy as a captivating, convoluted man of many artistic talents will no doubt remain firm into this Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 4. Essay on William Blake William Blake William Blake is one of England's most famous literary figures. He is remembered and admired for his skill as a painter, engraver, and poet. He was born on Nov. 28, 1757 to a poor Hosier's family living in or around London. Being of a poor family, Blake received little in the way of comfort or education while growing up. Amazingly, he did not attend school for very long and dropped out shortly after learning to read and write so that he could work in his father's shop. The life of a hosier however was not the right path for Blake as he exhibited early on a skill for reading and drawing. Blake's skill for reading can be seen in his understanding for and use of works such as the Bible and Greek classic literature....show more content... These figures are the characters in many of his works. The role of Religion as a strong influence in Blake's life was probably formed by the events he experienced during his upbringing. Blake came from a poor family and among other hardships witnessed the death of his older brother Robert at the relatively young age of 20. Robert's death had a profound impact on Blake and after witnessing it he said that he saw his brother's soul "ascend heavenward clapping its hands for joy". The inspiration that William received from his brother death is an underlying theme in many of his works and most likely in his view of life as well. Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience are two of Blake's collections that emphasize his ideas. Many of the things that affected Blake's life as a child: poverty, struggle, loss, confusion, and faith can be seen in these works. Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience are contrasting views of the same events. Each contains a collection of poems that profile an idea, figure, or event. In Songs of Innocence the world is viewed through the Eyes of someone like a child, who has little life experience. In Songs of Experience the same world is looked at only this time from the standpoint of someone who has experience in life, most likely an adult. The major difference between the two viewpoints is the understanding for life and Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 5. William Blake Poet William Blake is one of the most renowned poets in the history of English literature. Born to the owners of a hosiery shop on Broad Street in the center of London in 1757, William Blake developed into a toddler of extraordinary imagination. While only a young boy (around the age of four), he spoke to his parents of seeing angels playing amongst him, encountering visions of heaven and hell throughout London and the nearby countryside, and spotting God keeping a close eye on him during tasks and chores. It was not long before the young Blake began to stencil out the visions from his imagination, and as an eleven year old, he enlisted in Pars' Drawing School to learn the art of printing and plaster casting. Soon thereafter, Blake began to apprentice under London artist James Basire, and as a fourteen–year–old, he was assigned to drawing monuments in Westminster Abbey, which led to a lifelong admiration for Gothic art and religious illustration. While working with Basire, Blake befriended contemporary apprentice James Parker. Parker and Blake would later become partners in a jointly owned print shop on Broad Street, right next door to the Blake hosiery shop and household, a partnership that only lasted one year (1784–85). One must recall the historical context of Blake's development from a young artist to a poet in his mid–twenties. In 1775, America began a revolution of independence from England, igniting tense controversy in London, and the young artist witnessed an angry Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 6. William Blake Essay William Blake The poet, painter and engraver, William Blake was born in 1757, to a London haberdasher. Blake's only formal education was in art. At the age of ten, he entered a drawing school and then at the age of fourteen, he apprenticed to an engraver. ( Abrams & Stillinger 18). Although, much of Blake's time was spent studying art, he enjoyed reading and soon began to write poetry. Blake's first book of poems, Poetical Sketches, "showed his dissatisfaction with the reigning poetic tradition and his restless quest for new forms and techniques" ( Abrams & Stillinger 19). Poetical Sketches, was followed by many other works including, Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience. These series were accompanied by etchings, which depict ...show more content... The people of this time thought that God was above the world and independent of the material universe. They looked at humans as being flawed and weak based on the story of Adam and Eve. The Romantic period contrasted the beliefs of the 18'th century. "Romanticism stressed strong emotion, imagination, freedom from classical correctness in art forms and rebellion against social conventions" (Romanticism 1). The main goal of the Romantics was to bring what they thought was a dead universe back to life and to add feeling. In addition, the Romantics saw the importance in writing poetry, which would express their beliefs and attitudes. "The attitudes of the Romantics were a deepened appreciation of the beauties of nature, a general exaltation of emotion over reason and of the senses over intellect" (Romanticism 1). The Romantics took their own feelings and brought them to life in their poetry. Traditional beliefs or formal rules of poetry no longer governed them. The Romantics not only held a greater ability to express themselves but they also possessed a greater sensitivity and a sense of optimism, which is prevalent in their work. Blake was one of the foremost poets in the Romantic Era. Blake valued the unattainable as much as the other poets of his time did. The main goal, although impossible to attain was, "the Ideal, a state in which a perfect union between nature and human comprehension was accomplished" ( Marcotte 16). Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 7. William Blake Essay William Blake William Blake was born in 1757 during a time when Romanticism was on the rise. Romantic poets of this day and age, living in England, experienced changes from a wealth–centered aristocracy to a modern industrial nation where power shifted to large–scale employers thus leading to the enlargement of the working class. Although Blake is seen as a very skillful writer his greatest successes were his engravings taught to him by a skilled sculpture. Blake differed from other poets in that he never received a formal education. His only education consisted of the arts, and therefore he enrolled in the Royal Academy of the Arts around the age of twelve. It was only in his spare time that he showed any interest in poetry. At the ...show more content... One proof of his disagreement is displayed through his poem "London". London is a part of his anthology "Songs of Experience" which will be further discussed and analyzed later. Before comparing poems from both Innocence and Experience, it is best to know a little background on both. First, the title Innocence refers to the purity that the youth possesses compared to Experience, which relates to an adult. According to the Cambridge History of English Literature, Innocence was seen as having two parts. The first being that innocence assumes the world was made for the benefit of human beings, has human shape and a human meaning and is a world in which providence, protection, communication with others has a genuine function. The other is the ignorance of the fact that the world is not like that. As a child (Innocence) grows up, his conscious mind is able to accept reality or in this case experience and his childhood innocence is lost and remains only in his dreams. There are two poems in Songs of Innocence that will be discussed in further detail. They are "Introduction", and "The Chimney Sweeper". In both these poems, the characteristic of a caretaker is introduced, which is shown in the relationship of a shepherd who cares for his sheep and the special world in which they live. The first poem is "The Chimney Sweeper". Although there is slight admission to the hardships faced by the innocents of the world, the main view is that of hope and a prayer for a better Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 8. William Blake's Influence Of Literature William Blake William Blake's poetry was heavily influenced by the Christian Bible, which is quite uncommon for the English Romantic poets. In fact, he is even known as the final religious poet of Britain. This tendency toward using the Bible in his literature derived from his avid reading of this holy book during his childhood. There is little information about any other schooling he might have had outside of reading this book. However, his writing was unique from other Christian writings as he drew direct influence from the Bible rather than the common church. William, Corbett. "Blake, William (1757–1827)." World Poets, edited by Ron Padgett, vol. 1, Charles Scribner's Sons, 2000, pp. 111–19. Literature Resource Center. Accessed 13 Nov....show more content... Accessed 13 Nov. 2017. William Blake had radical views regarding his society and the politics that governed it. Blake demonstrated these radical social views by renouncing clothing and thus condoning nudity. In fact, Blake even stripped off his dress when meeting with his friends in a garden. His radical political views were demonstrated while arguing with Soldier John Scofield. The soldier claimed Blake openly spoke bad of the English King as well as expressed views in favor of Napoleon Bonaparte, the French emperor, thus landing him in a trial where he was charged with sedation, or the promotion of anti–governmental rebellion. William, Corbett. "Blake, William (1757–1827)." World Poets, edited by Ron Padgett, vol. 1, Charles Scribner's Sons, 2000, pp. 111–19. Literature Resource Center. Accessed 13 Nov. 2017. Blake's demonstrated his radical political views when writing Europe. In this sample of writing, Blake insinuated contempt against King George the III, though without actually referring to the King himself. Writing such as these spurred rumors of Blake's treasonous remarks against the King, such as that which was accounted by a soldier from Felpham. These rumors caused Blake to be charged with treason, though he was freed of charges later. Adams, Hazard. "William Blake." Europe 1789–1914: Encyclopedia of the Age of Industry and Empire, edited by John Merriman and Jay Winter, Charles Scribner's Sons, 2006. Biography in Context. Accessed 13 Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 9. William Blake's The Chimney Sweeper Essay William Blake's The Chimney Sweeper William Blake's The Chimney Sweeper, written in 1789, tells the story of what happened to many young boys during this time period. Often, boys as young as four and five were sold for the soul purpose of cleaning chimneys because of their small size. These children were exploited and lived a meager existence that was socially acceptable at the time. Blake voices the evils of this acceptance through point of view, symbolism, and his startling irony. Blake expresses his poem in first person, as a young chimney sweeper. This gives his poetic voice creditability because the subject of the poem is chimney sweepers. In addition, using first person creates a deeper sense of sympathy in the reader....show more content... In this quote the "coffins of black'; symbolize the chimneys (554). Ultimately this all symbolizes the boys' death because of their terrible life cleaning chimneys at such a young age. In the next stanza an Angel comes "And he opened the coffins and set them all free,'; which symbolizes the boys' death and escape to heaven. All of these symbols cause feelings of sympathy in the reader, hopefully causing them to want to help these children escape their fate. Blake also uses startling irony in this poem. This irony shocks the reader into realization of how terrible life is for these small boys. Some of the verbal irony Blake uses lies in the first stanza. The poetic voice claims that "[his] father sold [him] while yet [his] tongue/ Could scarcely cry ' 'weep! 'weep! 'weep! 'weep!''; (554). These words have a double meaning. They can mean that the speaker was not yet over mourning for his mother, or they can mean that he was so young that he was not yet able to sound out the s sound properly. In this case, he would stand on the corner and, instead of repeating the word sweep in an attempt at getting someone to hire him, he would repeat the word "'weep!''; (554). Another, more startling irony is that these young children hoped and lived for death because only in the after life could they become children. Blake emphasizes this with the Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 10. William Blake rina Honeycutt From: Jonah Cali 11/16/17 Subject: William Blake William Blake: The Purity of life Introduction William Blake not only a poet but an Artist in general is one of England biggest influences for literature. William was a middle child basically, and living in the days where the infancy mortality rate was big. Majority of the information about him is portrayed through his writings. Being the regular British kid he was, he wasn't exactly a big extrovert. Even though being the middle child, most of his siblings died off so it wasn't like he didn't get any attention. Yet again he was different. He wasn't really big on studies of the math and sciences, but early along the way pursued the study of fine arts such as painting and poetry. The more you dig into Williams early past you see that his parents where more into the Greek fine arts and lettering, which reveals that his parents were the initial influence of love for art. He was not a part of a struggling family, for a good amount of time Blake enjoyed wealth. It gave him more opportunity to span his knowledge of Greek art. His mother and father also bought a number of books for young William. Due to the support of his parents James and Catharine Blake he was able to develop his skill in the fine arts at a very early age. Blake and his work laid dormant for a generation after his death and was almost lost, it wasn't until the 1860s when people started to write biography's and reports on Blake's old work and after Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 11. William Blake Research Paper Fiore Fiore 9 William Blake: A Genius in a New Era William Blake was a writer and a painter in the late 1700s and early 1800s whose imagination was untamed and incomprehensible to most ordinary people of his time. Blake was different from most writers of his who were trying to be famous and get people?s attention. Everything Blake did was for himself and he was not willing to change for money or popularity. William Blake is often considered to be insanely genius because of his transition to a new literary era, known as Romanticism, and for his depictions of life from the viewpoints of a child and an adult. William Blake was born on November 11, 1757. He was the second child with a total of five siblings. Growing up Blake did not contend...show more content... The motto of The Four Zoas is: ??from Ephesians characterizes the tone of the work. ?For over contention is not with the blood and the flesh, but with dominion, with authority with the blind world– rulers of this life, with the spirit of evil in things heavenly.??17 The meaning that can be taken from this motto is that no one person is greater than another in this world. Each and every person is blind to a greater spirit in the world. Although God may create greatness, he also creates evil. This point is confusing because Blake is not associated with any religion and does not believe in a greater power. Some may ask why Blake touches on these subjects that no one understands. As Blake is continuing to let his imagination free, he creates more books and illustrations which lead to a greater depth of what he truly Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 12. William Blake Essay example William Blake William Blake was born in 1757, the third son of a London hosier. Blake lived in or near to London, a city which dominates much of his work, whether as the nightmare 'London' of the Songs of Experience, or the London which Blake saw as the 'New Jerusalem', the kingdom of God on earth. As the son of a hosier, a generally lower middle class occupation in late eighteenth century London, he was brought up in a poor household, a preparation for the relative poverty in which he would live for most of his life. He also received little formal schooling, which is all the more remarkable given both the depth and range of his reading of the Bible, of Milton and Greek and Latin classic literature, evident throughout his ...show more content... From 1779 he was employed as an engraver for a local Bookseller, and Blake continued to earn an often precarious living from contracted engraving until, with the help of his friend John Flaxman (1755–1826), he was able to set up his own engraving business at 27 Broad Street, which proved not to be a successful enterprise. It is from this point, 1784, that Blake's career as an engraver–poet–prophet began in earnest. Working with the help of his dedicated wife Catherine Boucher (the daughter of a market gardener, whom he married in 1782), Blake divided his time between composing and engraving illustrated poetry, and eking out a precarious living as a contract engraver. His first works in illustrated painting– All Religions Are One and There is No Natural Religion (1788) – followed on from the satirical verse of An Island in the Moon (1784–5), but it was in 1789, the year of the French Revolution and the Storming of the Bastille, that saw Blake's early masterpieces, The Book of Thel and Songs of Innocence. Between 1789 and 1800, when the Blake's moved to Felpham, Blake was ferociously active, composing The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790–93), The French Revolution (1791), America: A Prophecy (1793), Visions of the Daughters of Albion (1793), The Book of Urizen (1794), the Songs of Experience (1793–4), Europe: A Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 13. William Blake And Religion Essay William Blake was a forerunner in the world of poetry in the 18th century that produced works that are being studied to this day. Along with many other greats; poets, artists, and musicians, Blake did not receive the recognition deserved to him until after his death. Many of these poems written by Blake are ordinarily focused on religion while heavily influenced by his imagination. The impact of his imagination in addition to his focus on religion is evident in his work "The Lamb" as well as The Tyger". "The Lamb" is a poem about a child who is asking the lamb about his creator, then asks if the lamb is aware of his identity. The child already knows the identity which leads to the end of the poem. This poem comes from an album called Songs ...show more content... Both poems bring together the idea of a creator to first show a warm and affectionate side, then bring a harsh sense of reality that allows the reader to awake and consequently realize the world is not just full of innocent lambs. In both poems the creator is the greatest force in the world. The creators in each poem represent different ideas. In the poem about the lamb the creator has not been introduced with its only description being of the narrator stating that he is a child, whereas in "The Tyger" the narrator demands an answer on whether the creator is describable as a might blacksmith who "Could twist the sinews of thy heart" (Blake 10). As the narrator speaks of this mighty beast it seems almost as if the narrator is afraid. The idea of a creator is not only a theme as he is mentioned along with the tyger. The narrator towards the end of "The Tyger" ponders whether these creators are the same by a asking "Did he who made the Lamb make thee" (Blake 20). The question on whether the creator is the same is raised because of the vast amount of opposites that Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 14. The Lamb by William Blake Analysis Essays Like a Child ENGL 102: Literature and Composition APA In "The Lamb" by William Blake, you will see that, if analyzed closely, the lamb is a personal symbol which signifies God himself. The innocence of a child is like that of a lamb, and serves as a model for humans to follow. In the first stanza, the speaker is the child who is also the teacher. The child asks the lamb who gave him life and all his needs, along with a voice so "tender". Then, the child declares that he will tell the lamb who their creator is. The creator shares the same name as the lamb, which is a reference to Jesus Christ. The end of the poem is giving way to a blessing which, gives an expression of the child's adoration at the connection the lamb makes in child,...show more content... Since Blake loves lambs because of the connection they makes with Christianity and sinners, he uses the description of a lamb to signify what God did for us. He also utilizes imagery in giving the picture feeling of deep faith he has in his Christianity. One of the most sensual lyrics is lyric 6; "Softest clothing, wooly, bright. This gives the reader a sense of what God does for sinners; He gives them all their needs. The most leading literary device used in Blake's poems is symbolism. In this particular poem, "The Lamb" is a reference to God himself. This is because of the trinity that is involved with being a Christ follower. The trinity is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The child in the poem, is a symbol as innocence and purity just like Jesus Christ. Christians are to "receive the kingdom of God like a child" (Luke 18:17, ESV). This means that we are to have child–like faith, and trust in God, just like children do in their parents. In the second stanza, the child tells the lamb who created him. In lyrics 13 and 14, he says "He is called by thy name/For he calls himself a Lamb. In Christianity, this is Jesus Christ, the son of God. In explaining the trinity earlier, this is another reference to God. Lyrics 15 and 16 say "He is meek, and he is mild/He became a little child. Jesus Christ was sent down to bare people's sin. This could only happen if a child was born of purity (from a virgin). In the Gospel's, it Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 15. The Life and Work of William Blake Essay The Life and Work of William Blake Although William Blake was one of the most extraordinary English poets, Blake was known in his own time as a failed Artisan. This paper will outline his works in order that we can better understand him. This paper will sight some of Blake's works but will focus on 1The Marriage Between Heaven and Hell. Blake, being self–taught artisan, was thoroughly intrigued by the Bible and the Works of Milton. Blake's major works attempt to create a modern myth of the World, as we know it. The purpose of this paper is to attempt to help us, the readers, to view that myth through Blake's eyes. William Blake was born in London, England on November 28, 1757, and then baptized in St. James Church. His...show more content... In 1778, he finished his apprenticeship at the age of twenty–one. He went to work for a bookshop as a professional engraver. In 1780 he meet his wife, Catherine Boucher. They married on August 18, 1782. Blake met Mrs. Mathew, a famous Blue Stoking, through Flaxman. With him meeting her it became very profitable for him because they paid for the publication of Poetical Sketches there were twenty–six of them (Ward, Walter, 181). In 1784, Flaxman helped Blake to open his own print shop on the 27th Broad Street London. Later the business went under. A few years later his brother, Robert, passed a way in February 1787, he was only twenty years old. Then appeared in Blake's dreams and revealed another form of engraving (Britannica). Blake began his Songs of Experience in 1789 (Keynes, 210–219). Two years later in 1790 he started his 1Marriage Between Heaven and Hell. The 1Marriage Between Heaven and Hell had 27 plates (Keynes, 148–158). September 1792, Catherine Harmitage Blake, passed away, Blake's mother (Smith, 57). It took him 5 years completed Songs of Experience from 1794 to 1799. 1 Marriage Between Heaven and Hell took him three years to complete. His longest piece was Jerusalem. It has ninety–nine plates and it took him sixteen years to complete (Britannica). William and Catherine Blake went to Felpham from London between the years 1800 and 1803. Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 16. William Blake Literary Analysis "What is now proved was once only imagined." (Ed. Mason, Michael. William Blake: Selected Poetry. Oxford World Classics, 2008.) This paper started with a quote which mainly emphasize on the power of imagination. The line which is quoted above, said by one of the early romantic poet, one who never went to university, never took opium, did not end up his life in a very tender age, never left England, did not went on any Grand tour in his life span, did not have any illicit or failed affairs or relationships, had no one who would call him father and unfortunately never got the fame during his own lifetime. He is the one, who shine out like a star whenever one talks about Mysticism and Imagination in English Literature, William Blake. What he says about Imagination is "The Imagination is not a state: it is the human existence itself." (Damon, Samuel Foster. Ed. Eaves Morris. A Blake Dictionary: The Ideas and Symbol Of William Blake. UPNE, 1988.) After reading his thoughts about imagination and the power of imagination one could able to recognize that he believes in the imaginary world around him. He talks about angels and God like figures which could be seen by him only, which proves him as true mystic. After knowing the fact that he was a mystic, the next questions which struck the minds is what is Mysticism? What is so fascinating in mysticism which makes him a mystic? Here is the answer, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, "Mysticism is a Belief that union with or absorption into the deity or the absolute, or the spiritual apprehension of knowledge inaccessible to the intellect, may be attained through contemplation and self surrender". It also comes with another definition which says, "Vague or ill–defined religious or spiritual belief, especially a belief in the occult". So, basically it is somehow related to the kind of religious beliefs a person have. Actually, Blake was a non–conformist. 'Non–conformism' refers in history to religious groups that had alienated from the Church of England in the course of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Such people had groups like Baptists, Methodists, Puritans, Quakers and Unitarians. Few researchers believe that his parents were Swedenborgians or readers Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 17. William Blake Thesis Statement Thesis Statement: William Blake is that of a literary artist that enlightens the overlooked parts of the world by fabricating poetry from the envisions found within the innocence of the mind's own imagination. I.William Blake simplifies the mind's ability to dream outside of its actual reality, and elaborates on this fact with his poems "The Chimney Sweeper: Songs of Innocence" and "The Chimney Sweeper: Songs of Experience" by examining the mind's development over the years. A.The Chimney Sweeper: Songs of Innocence 1.Trapping of the sweepers in the coffins 2.His dream is a symbol for hope B.The Chimney Sweeper: Songs of Experience 1.Outcastes of society that are for death (Reality) 2.Life after death (Hope) II.William Blake discusses Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 18. William Blake Beliefs Ranked 38th in a BBC poll of the hundred greatest Britons, with only British poet Shakespeare ranked higher. Once considered mad and a satanist for his idiosyncratic views. Fairly unknown during his life time, but now thought the first of the great English Romantic poets as well as a painter engraver and printer. William Blake's personal beliefs are easily revealed through hispoetry and are considered extremely controversial; such as his views of Christianity. According to Blake, human society and its institutions were sick, and the cure required a combination of revelation, imagination, right thinking, compassion, fierce tenacity and love. Nevertheless, Blake is widely read and critiqued by modern–day scholars. William Blake was born on...show more content... P One of William Blake great poems, The Tyger" is well known as one or perhaps William Blake's most famous poem and has led to several different interpretations by critics and other poets. The firat and last quatrain are the same except for when the word "could" becomes to "dare". The Tyger" takes a unique look into the human soul in comparison to a tiger. This poem was written for Blake's 1794 collection entitled Songs of Experience which contained It begins with the repetition of the name ("Tyger, tyger"). The repetition creates a chant–like mood to the whole poem, which contributes to the mysteriousness. Reading it, you can't help but get the feeling this poem is about way more than the biggest cat in the world. The poem begins with the speaker asking a fearsome tiger what kind of divine being could have created it: "What immortal hand or eye/ Could frame they fearful symmetry?" P P P "The Tyger"contrasts sharply with his other famous poem, "The Lamb", examples are when he says "The lamb" is innocent. To the tyger, it's also delicious. William Blake loves using a lamb as innocent or as Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 19. Background Of William Blake Background/Family History William Blake was born on November 28 1757 in Soho, London, Great Britain to James and Catharine Blake. He was born the third of several children. Two of his siblings died in infancy. James his father worked as a tailor or a hosier. His mother taught him from the age of ten before that attending school enough to read and write. At the start of James career, he wasn't relatively wealthy until William started to grow into his teenage years. Regardless James bought his son canvases, engraving tools and William started to engrave Greek drawings and letters into objects at an early age. Blake found himself expose to works of Michel Angelo and other influential Greek artists and painters. Later on His mother and father got more money and started to see more income and bought Blake a selection of various books. Williams's family were big Christians as well, getting him baptized at a very early age. Blake's biggest influence would be the bible most of all. He used it as his moral compass for his work and you can clearly see it. Right about when William turned ten his family started to realize that math and sciences isn't for him and he slowly realized it himself, he was about to either go to school for art and poetry or not go at all. He enrolled in drawing classes shortly after that at the Pars's drawing school in Strand. At this point he read on subject of his own choosing, mostly the bible to Edmund Spencer. Blake constantly made more explorations in Get more content on HelpWriting.net