The Garden of Love-Blake

Question 1

What are the key structural methods in The Garden of Love?

Answer 1

• Variation of anapestic trimeter
  -predictable, child-like metre and rhyme (ABCB)
• Number of syllables increases over time- reflects the increasing oppresion and influence of the Church
• In final line, the rhyme scheme is broken, perhaps to show the ultimate breaking of youthful spirit

Question 2

What are the key language methods in The Garden of Love?

Answer 2

• Conceit of the Garden and chapel
• Imagery of suffering/ despair

Question 3

Which quotes support the method of: the conceit of the garden and chapel?

Answer 3

“Garden of Love”
“Where I used to play on the green”
“And the gates of this chapel were shut/ And ‘Thou shalt not’ writ over the door’

Question 4

Which quotes support the method of: imagery of suffering and despair?

Answer 4

” tomb-stones where flowers should be”
“ priests in black gowns were walking their rounds”
“And binding with brairs my joys and desires”

Question 5

What literary era is The Garden of Love from?

Answer 5

Romantic

Question 6

What is the key contextual information for The Garden of Love?

Answer 6

• Enlightenment- Blake spoke out against it
• Industrial Revolution
• Romantics often spoke about the beauty of nature
• During the 19th century, the Church had a strong influence over societal values and conventions
• Blake was an advocate for the free-love movement, which focused on the emotional significance of love rather than having it ordained by the state or the Church

Question 7

What are the key themes for the Garden of Love?

Answer 7

• Religion
• Barriers to love
• Loss of innocence
• Love and freedom