In my essay I will give some information on William Blake's history and also compare five different poems. The poems I will compare are "London", "The Chimney Sweeper

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Georgie Oakford – William Blake Comparison Essay

William Blake

In my essay I will give some information on William Blake’s history and also compare five different poems. The poems I will compare are “London”, “The Chimney Sweeper” (Songs of Innocence) with “The Chimney Sweeper” (Songs of Experience). I will also compare ‘The Lamb” with “The Tiger”. I will explain the poems first and explain what I thought the poem was about when I read it and using this knowledge I will compare.

William Blake was a profound genius to some, and a nutcase to others. A British poet, painter, visionary mystic, and engraver were some of his many occupations. Born in 1757 on November 28th William was the third of five children to a successful London hosier. William grew up in Soho, London where he was first educated at home, chiefly by his mother. From the age of 6, William Blake was amazed and intrigued by spirits; angels and ghosts. He saw and conversed with the angel Gabriel, the Virgin Mary and various other historical figures. Blake was always enclosed in his personal visions and always seemed to be in his own world. His visions and beliefs made William the man he was and the way he is portrayed to the world today.

William was deeply influenced by gothic art and architecture and this showed in his work. After finishing his apprenticeship Blake set out to make his living as an engraver. After studies at the Royal Academy School, Blake started to produce his own watercolors and engravings for magazines.  

In 1782, Blake married Catherine Boucher, the daughter of a market gardener.

Blake’s life, except for three years at Felpham where he prepared illustrations for an edition of , was spent in London. Blake’s poems were long flowing and had urges of violent energy. They were full of power and moments of tenderness. A poem thought to be like this would inevitably be associated with Blake.

Blake was not blinded by rules, but approached his subjects wholeheartedly, with a mind not distracted by current affairs. On the other hand this made Blake an outsider. He approved of free love and sympathized with the actions of the French Revolutionaries but the reign of terror disturbed him. He believed that as all men are born equal, that there should be only one social and economic level. Royalty such as Kings and Lords were seen as being in a league with the devil as they regarded themselves as being above other men.

Blake’s paintings and engravings, notably his illustrations of his own works are realistic in representing the human anatomy and other natural forms. However his paintings were rejected by the public as he was called a "lunatic" for his imaginative work.

Blake's religious beliefs stemmed from a long tradition in Britain of Christian dissenters whom refused to accept the established church.  This tradition was opposed to established religion, was suspicious of the monarchy and the role it played in religion and had long railed against corruption and abuse of power in the Church and Monarchy.

Blake lived during a time of intense social change. The American Revolution, the French Revolution, and the Industrial Revolution all happened during his lifetime as well as the vicious backlash to these events by the British establishment. The Revolutions left William Blake disturbed and unsure of what was happening.

English poet Appelbaum said, "He was liberal in politics, sensitive to the oppressive government measures of his day, and favorably inspired by the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolution" (Appelbaum v).

As "London" shows, however, Blake did not entirely approve of the measures taken to forward the causes he longed to advance: "London" refers to how the "hapless Soldier's sigh/ runs in blood down Palace walls" Among many other events which took place during the French Revolution, this could possibly refer to the executions of the French royalty.

William Blake died on August 12, 1827, and is buried in an unmarked grave at Bunhill Fields, London.

Blake wrote Songs of Innocence and Experience in the 1790’s. The main theme of the poems came from Blake’s belief that children lost their “innocence” as they grew older and were influenced by the bad ways of the world. Blake believed that children were born innocent and pure but as they grew up, they became experienced as they were influenced by the beliefs and opinions of adults and others around them. When this happened they could no longer be considered innocent and pure.

 The poems from “Songs of Innocence” were written from an innocent child’s perspective. The poems from “Songs of Experience” were written from the perspective of a more experienced person.

London (Songs of Innocence)

Songs of Innocence features the politically powerful poem “London”. Blake wandered through the streets of London and sees the streets and even the river suffering under political oppression. Everyone he passes, he sees signs of misery and moral weakness. He notices the expressions and emotions ordinary people are feeling. He doesn't just see the misery of the sweep, the soldier, the prostitute or the baby; he also hears it in their cries, sighs and tears. He puts himself in their shoes and sees the church’s spirit blackened as the institution has allowed the fall of beliefs. He is writing about the reality of London and what the war has done to London. He does not see any life in the faces he sees as he walks, he sees faces of weakness and woe as London seems to have been taken over. It seems even the streets and the river Thames have been taken over by the rich, the poor people seem to be there for the rich people’s amusement.

For instance, he describes the Thames and the city streets as “chartered” or controlled by commercial interests. He refers to “mind-forged” manacles”; he talks of the men’s faces and their “…weakness, marks of woe”. William is becoming increasingly frightened of what the future holds as diseases are spreading and the public is becoming disillusioned about the reliability and honesty of politicians.

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William Blake wants to know what happened to the society that London had, when pain and misery was not the only feeling felt. Blake feels owned, like he is a nobody, he feels he does not have the right to be him anymore. He sees the dying soldiers’ last breath as if it is blood running down the royal palace walls. Blake has never seen such an unhappy era. He talks of marriage and death, which us an oxymoron as they are both opposites to add effect. Everything natural Blake sees as owned. He has no voice to speak ...

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