William Blake: Context Flashcards
THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
“1757 and his death seventy years later, was a time of great social, political, philosophical and economic upheaval. One of the major alterations to traditional life was the emergence of large, industrial, over populated cities that accommodated for the large influx of people to metropolitan areas following the agricultural and industrial revolutions. The resulting society was one of oppression and poverty; a darker period of human history to which Blake was utterly disgusted”
SOCIAL COMMENTARY
Living in London, saw poverty and child labour
Disillusioned with the Christian Church, though not with God
ROMANTICISM
Blake is widely considered an early, influential romanticist. Inspired by revolutions and the need for leadership and voice, the Romantic Movement championed progressive causes, whilst also being capable of being quite bitter and gloomy should these reformist attempts become frustrated. Emotionally it expressed extreme affirmation of the self, whilst spiritually it tended to encourage a sense and understanding of the infinite and supernatural. Blake was the definitive romanticist, unfortunately his chronological place in the movement?s progression allows him only to be referred to as an early or pre-romanticist. Despite this, Blake?s role in establishing and developing the Romantic Movement can not be ignored, in fact, it could be argued that Blake?s involvement within the preliminary stages of the period?s development means he is able to more readily meet the criteria that characterises a romantic writer.
THE CHURCH
Blake did not like the established church, and saw it as corrupt and self-serving
Accordingly, Blake’s poetry focuses on individual religious experiences, not the institution of the church
Blake was highly critical of the church the government and God because he thought that they could do more to end poverty; he was also critical of the injustices that were exposed upon society. He
was a very religious man; he had a great deal of influence from the Holy Bible. He believed that the soul was split up into two halves, good and bad.
ELIGHTENMENT
Songs written against the backdrop of the French Revolution 1789
“ critics have also interpreted the poems as a reflection on the optimism of the 1789 French Revolution and the subsequently disappointing “Reign of Terror” in the years that followed.” -
INNOCENCE AND EXPERIENCE
Blake saw the world in contrasts
Quote from Blake: ‘Without contraries [there] is no progression. Attraction and Repulsion, Reason and Energy, Love and Hate, all are necessary to human existence.’
‘Innocence’ as the Revolutionary fevour of pre-Revolution France and ‘Experience’ as the Age of Terror that followed the French Revolution of 1789?
See contrast between ‘innocent’ youth and uncorrupted pastor/countryside nature VS the corruption and spoilt landscape of London. In the countryside, the children play (Nurse’s Song) but in London they work (Chimney Sweep)
