William Blake (70 years)

Blake as Artist William Blake is a visual artist FIRST and a poet second – his poetry serves his engravings Lower class origins Nearly unknown in his lifetime – he is very influenced by earlier writers and artists, but has no effect about others until 20 th C Wildly original theology – God is “universal man,” and the original sin is human falling away from unity with one another into self-sufficiency – Poetry can provide insight into human condition, and is potentially redemptive or salvific

Title Page From Songs of Innocence

Intro to Songs of Innocence

“The Lamb” from Songs of Innocence

“Holy Thursday” from Songs of Innocence

“Infant Joy” from Songs of Innocence

Title page from 2 nd Edition -- both Innocence and Experience Note that this is the Expulsion from the Garden of Eden.

Title page from Songs of Experience

“A Poison Tree” from Song of Experience

“London” from Songs of Experience

“The Tyger” from Songs of Experience

Title Page from “Marriage of Heaven and Hell”