What impression do you receive from the Songs of Blake's own religious beliefs?

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Sophie Lakes.

What impression do you receive from the Songs of Blake's own religious beliefs?

In your answer write about the themes, tone and style of not more than five poems.

William Blake was incredibly spiritual and certainly a strong Christian, although he disliked organised religion as he saw it to be an oppressive tool. His brother died of consumption at quite a young age, and this had a profound effect on Blake, who is said to have seen his soul 'ascend heavenward clapping its hands for joy'. I feel it is fair to argue that Blake used his poetry to express his religious views, and criticise the Church's repressive nature.

Blake Songs of Innocence and Experience certainly contain many poems with religious overtones. Blake uses various techniques to show his own feelings for, in particular, organised religion and the church. Animal imagery is particularly prominent. Holy Thursday, from Songs of Innocence depicts an image of children visiting St Paul's Cathedral. The title itself suggests the celebration of the day Jesus' friend Judas betrayed him, and as a result he was taken on the following day, now known as 'Good Friday' to be killed. On