William Blake Flashcards
Who is William Blake?
He is a pre-romantic and visionary poet. He entered a drawing school at the age of 10 until he was apprenticed to an engraver
What are his most famous works?
In 1798 he published “Songs of Innocence” and in 1794 “Songs of experience”.
These are two collections of poems, where the latter is the sequel of the former. They are engraved by Blake (he painted words and pictures on copper plates, with his new technique called “Illuminated printing”.
Talk about “Songs of Innocence”
The main theme is Infancy.
It is written in a child-like way.
Childhood is not just a stage of human life, but a state of the soul.
Talk about “Songs of Experience”
It is complementary and contrasting to “Songs of Innocence”.
The main theme is the world of experience, the adult life, a parallel universe where people are selfish and incapable of spontaneity.
Where is the duality?
The two collection are strictly interdependent.
The two works can be fully understood only as a whole.
Infancy and Adulthood coexist in the human being.
These opposites produce creative energy and a heightened perception.
They cannot be separated, but they must be accepted and not be fought, because they complement each other
Talk about the language and style in “Songs of Innocence” and in “Songs of experience”
Lexis and syntax are very simple, with lots of words and lines repeated.
Stress patterns and rhyme schemes are regular, to give a musical rhythm, similar to a lullaby.
Blake uses twin symbols, which serve as archetypes.
Symbols of Innocence: flowers, children, particular seasons.
Symbols of Experience: urban and industrial landscapes
Why is Blake disappointed with his contemporary society?
Because it lacks of power of imagination and of uncorrupted feelings
Why can we say that Blake’s works have multiple shades of meaning?
Because the meaning changes whether his works are read innocently or with the eyes of experience
