EX-Earth's Answer Flashcards
Earth replies to which poem in the Songs of Experience to say what?
replying to the bard’s call from the “introduction” by stating that Reason and the “Selfish father of men” have imprinted her.
Earth is chained in cold and darkness on the “Watery shore”, the bounds of the materialistic world, which is mentioned where?
In the Introduction
Earth seeks daylight, arguing that the creative forces of life such as “buds and blossoms” and the “sower” need light to flourish. What does the Earth ask that the bard, or the reader, do?
to “break this heavy chain” that binds even “free Love”
the Earth asks the bard, or the reader to “break this heavy chain” of the materialistic world where the creative forces of life such as “buds and blossoms” are unable to flourish; not even what?
“free Love”
What does Blake mean to protest against in that binds “free Love with Bondage bound”?
that rather than hide that act of sexual congress natural to all creatures, it should be openly celebrated and acknowledged as a gift from the creator
What is a Bard?
a poet (tradition)
In responding to the Bard, Earther places her responsibility for her own restoration on the Bard and by extension, on all men, to “break this heavy chain” and to “Free love” why?
so that they may all be free from the restrictions of society
What does the Earth need for redemption?
it needs the redemption brought by Love which is both sexual and spiritual for the two are not a dichotomy in Blake’s mind
On one hand, we have the repressive language of “Stony dread” “grey despair” and the “selfish father of men” and on the other we have the familiar innocent language of “delight” “spring” and the “Buds and blossoms” what does Blake intend by doing this?
his protest is that throughout the imagination of innocence is “chained” down by the force of repressive reason and moral law which consists of regulations and prohibition
Earth is “Prison’d” by the “Selfish father of men” which restricts imagination why?
in order to restrict their political rights
Perhaps the most significant feature of the poem’s imagery is the opposition between freedom and bondage. Blake uses the temporal setting of “night” and its “darkness” to emphasis this idea of being entrapped. What is the effect of this?
we, the reader, look at the negative qualities of night and its prevention of open vision and communication
What does Earth represent in this poem and why?
it represents humankind as earth gives life to vegetation and produces food by which humankind lives; and in Christian tradition earth is connected to the physical existence of humans
the traditional warmth and fecundity associated with Mother Earth in this poem has been reduced to “darkness dread and drear”, instead of hope what is there “despair” what is the relationship with God as a result?
instead of a reciprocal relationship God, Earth seems resentful
Terms of confinement echo through the poem, what five terms have been used?
“Prison’d” “Chain’d” “heavy chain” “bondage” and “bound”
Terms of confinement echo through the poem such as “Prison’d” “Chain’d” “heavy chain” “bondage” and “bound” what does this reflect?
that the Earth is confined to the darkness by the “Selfish father of men”
