WILLIAM BLAKE (1757-1827) “I must create a system or be enslaved by another man’s”—William Blake’s Jerusalem

The Simple Life of Blake Worked as an engraver and professional artist, but was always very poor, especially later in life. His life is considered simple and boring. Claimed to see visions of angels, spirits, and ghosts of kings and queens. His work received little attention, and when it did, most found it (and him) weird, confusing, or even insane.

Blake = Early Romantic Romanticism: a movement that developed during the late 18th and early 19th centuries as a reaction against the Restoration and Enlightenment period’s focus on logic and reason. In addition, Romantic poets like Blake reacted against the social, political, and spiritual abuses during their lifetimes. Romantics believe in the individual, imagination, and democracy, and often depict man alone, contemplating nature, working out his own destinies.

Blake’s Religious and Political Views He was politically rebellious and mixed with radicals. Blake strongly criticized how the capitalist and industrialized system abused its people, saying that the "dark satanic mills left men unemployed, killed children and forced prostitution." Though a devout Christian, Blake also attacked the English Church because he thought the doctrines were being misused as a form of social control meant to encourage the people to be passively obedient and accept oppression, poverty, and inequality.

Blake’s Artistic and Poetic Vision Often called a visionary artist, Blake crafted a variety of poetry, paintings, drawings, and engravings throughout his life. As a poet, Blake is considered a symbolist, or a mystic; many poems are obscure and can be interpreted only symbolically. Blake used his art and poetry as a way to inspire imagination instead of reason and logic.

Blake’s Artwork

Blake’s Engraved Poetry

Songs of Innocence and Experience Songs of Innocence were published in 1789. Songs of Experience were combined with the Songs of Innocence in 1794. The combined edition has the following subtitle: “Showing the Two Contrary States of the Human Soul.”

Songs of Innocence According to Blake, “innocence” is a state of genuine love and naïve trust toward all humankind, and a unquestioned belief in Christianity. These poems present a happy world full of GOOD and without suffering; all is in harmony. Formatted as a children’s book with joyful tones and singsong rhymes.

Songs of Experience The state of “experience” marks how one can clearly see the cruelty and hypocrisy of human nature and society. These poems show the sufferings of the miserable and poor because as a person gains “experience,” he also gains a fuller understanding of the power of EVIL, misery, and pain. Also formatted as a children’s book, but the tones are angry, fearful, and dark.

Brainstorm Make a list of the connotations you associate with a lamb and a tiger. Think of at least five concepts, ideas, people, and/or items for each. Be prepared to share.

The Lamb By William Blake Little Lamb who made thee Dost thou know who made thee Gave thee life & bid thee feed. By the stream & o'er the mead; Gave thee clothing of delight, Softest clothing wooly bright; Gave thee such a tender voice, Making all the vales rejoice! Little Lamb who made thee Dost thou know who made thee Little Lamb I'll tell thee, Little Lamb I'll tell thee! He is called by thy name, For he calls himself a Lamb: He is meek & he is mild, He became a little child: I a child & thou a lamb, We are called by his name. Little Lamb God bless thee. Little Lamb God bless thee

“The Lamb” Symbolism: Lamb = Jesus (“Lamb of God”) Tone: joyful, bright, happy Reveals his confidence in his simple Christian faith and his innocent acceptance of its teachings—but there is a noticeable absence of “evil.”

The Tyger By William Blake Tyger Tyger, burning bright, In the forests of the night; What immortal hand or eye, Could frame thy fearful symmetry? In what distant deeps or skies. Burnt the fire of thine eyes? On what wings dare he aspire? What the hand, dare seize the fire? And what shoulder, & what art, Could twist the sinews of thy heart? And when thy heart began to beat, What dread hand? & what dread feet? What the hammer? what the chain, In what furnace was thy brain? What the anvil? what dread grasp, Dare its deadly terrors clasp! When the stars threw down their spears And water'd heaven with their tears: Did he smile his work to see? Did he who made the Lamb make thee? Tyger Tyger burning bright, In the forests of the night: What immortal hand or eye, Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

“The Tyger” Companion piece to “The Lamb” Symbolism: “Did he who made the Lamb make thee?” Symbolism: Blacksmith = God/Creator Tyger = evil/violence Tone: dark, fearful, questioning Speaker questions the reason for the existence of evil in the world; did God create evil? Blake concludes that “without contraries is no progression.”