The two poems ' The Chimney Sweeper', were written by William Blake. The two poems are telling the life of 'chimneysweepers'. 'Songs of Innocence' shows optimistic views and 'Songs of Experience' shows pessimistic views.
The Chimney Sweeper The two poems ' The Chimney Sweeper', were written by William Blake. The two poems are telling the life of 'chimneysweepers'. 'Songs of Innocence' shows optimistic views and 'Songs of Experience' shows pessimistic views. William Blake lived during the great upheaval, the Industrial Revolution. This was a period of immense social, political and cultural change in many areas of the world. William Blake was a devout Christian, however he did not attend church due to the fact that he thought it to be corrupt. I believe this to be the reason why he wrote these two poems to put his views of the Industrial Revolution and religion across. I believe that William Blake wrote these poems to show his view and the way of life which he did not agree with. The two versions of the 'Chimney Sweeper' poem 'Songs of Experience' and 'Songs of Innocence' both aim to give a strong view and image to the reader. Both poems have a reference to crying, "weep! weep! and weep! weep! weep! Weep! Notice the capital W on the last weep! From 'Songs of Innocence', this is aimed to give emphasis to the feeling of the chimneysweep and to hold a vivid image in the eye of the reader. Secondly, the two poems also both have references to religion, however the views on religion are different in each poem, as are the types of Christianity. From 'Songs of Innocence', we see a New
'A Comparative Analysis Of Blake's Poetry.' - 'The Tiger' and 'The Lamb'.
'A Comparative Analysis Of Blake's Poetry.' Natalie Davidson 11ZA3 'The Tiger' and 'The Lamb' William Blake wrote two interlocking poems, 'The Tiger' and 'The Lamb', which are both obviously referring to animals, but it is the different approaches to form, style and language choice that are used to different effect. Blake uses 'The Tiger' as a vehicle to represent all of his ideologies of fear at the time. As with all animals such as a tiger, it is the natural instinct of every man to fear and instinctively desire to harm them, which is shown through words such as 'dread' ''deadly' and 'spears'. In this poem, the word 'stars' is used to symbolise, in Blake's eyes, what a tiger represents at first glance. In Blake's time, people saw the stars as a symbol of everything that oppressed human beings and removed their freedom, especially as an image of war and human aggression. This also represents the impact of the tiger's creation on society, where 'He' smiles in satisfaction at what he has made, when in fact it's appalling strength even caused the stars to abandon their armament. The tiger therefore represents all evil there is that exists in the world, but this is seen a s acceptable because without evil, there is nothing with which to compare good and consequently there can be no existence of good, such as the lamb. 'The Lamb' is therefore in complete contrast and
Songs of Experience - Challenges to conventional thinking in the poetry of William Blake
Songs of Experience - Challenges to conventional thinking in the poetry of William Blake In this essay I will be discussing, firstly, and in the context of my vague understanding of late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century society in Britain, the criticism of dominant middle-class thought that William Blake presents in Songs of Experience . I understand that perhaps less than thirty copies of this were ever printed in Blake's lifetime, so any challenge to contemporary conventional thinking was largely unheard, but this does not invalidate exploring the social conditions and attitudes that provoke the poems. I would then like to discuss some of Blake's grander challenges to conventional thought and, in particular, the received truths of orthodox religion as put forth in The Marriage of Heaven and Hell . Here we find not only a challenge to conventional thought, but also a challenge to sanity, and I found it to be the case that after reading and re-reading, just when the poem appears to come into focus and some understanding is reached, the very line which seemed sensible becomes insane, and meaning is lost. This by no means detracts from the worth of the poem, and could be said to be its very argument: that my doors are in need of cleansing. The latter half of the eighteenth-century saw increased antagonism between the upper classes, which believed the lower classes had
Compare the similarities and differences between Blake's 'The Lamb' and 'The Tyger'
Emma Walford Compare the similarities and differences between Blake's 'The Lamb' and 'The Tyger' William Blake was a romantic 1st generation poet who was born on November 28th 1757, into a lower class family. Blake discovered his skill for the arts at a young age as him enthusiasm to paint inspired his work. He was sent to a drawing school at an early age. The education Blake received was minimal as he learnt only to read and write. Blake may have lacked traditional education however he was fluent in both Greek and Latin and had a vast knowledge of biblical works. A major event in Blake's life was the death of his brother Robert, through Consumption.Robert's death inspired William to strive to gain ever more intellectual knowledge especially to gain from and to pursue spiritual knowledge. Blake retained this throughout his life. At the age of ten, William tried desperately to convince his Father he had witnessed the visitation of an Angel sitting in a tree. The materialisation of God's messenger enhanced Blake's faith, as he was already a devote Christian. Blake's witnessed many more visitations such as the appearance of Gods face in a window. These occurrences affected Blake's believes and this is demonstrated throughout his works, both in poetry and engraving. He believed a poet
An essay on the comparison of the two poems "Catrin" and the "Nursery Rhyme of Innocence and Experience" and how they portray time and change.
An Essay on the Comparison of the Two Poems "Catrin" and the "Nursery Rhyme of Innocence and Experience" and How they Portray Time and Change By Chantelle Wright 11S The two poems "Catrin" by Gillan Clark and t he "Nursery Rhyme of Innocence and Experience" both show how time and change affect physical and mental ways of life. However, both of these poems portray this in different ways, giving the reader different feelings towards the poems. In a good poem I look for effectiveness and the use of unusual imagery. Also I like to be able to relate to a poem so it helps me get into it and more involved. I find it effective if a poem uses complex and deep-felt descriptions which have multi meanings as I think this is an effective way for the reader to portray the poem in there own interpretation as it lets them use the extent of their imagination. Gillian Clarke's "Catrin", it is tackling one of the well-considered themes in feminist writing - the mother-daughter relationship. The aspect of the relationship that, even before birth. Clarke explores the bond, "rope", that ties them together and from which they try to free themselves from the very beginning remembering giving birth, the atmosphere and environment of the delivery room. She describes the "first fierce confrontation" of labor and the process coming apart from her daughter. This then brings us into the present day,
Comparative Analysis of Infant Joy and Infant Sorrow.
Comparative Analysis of Infant Joy and Infant Sorrow Comparative Analysis of Infant Joy and Infant Sorrow William Blake's Infant Joy from the Songs of Innocence and Infant Sorrow from the Songs of Experience are in direct contrast from one another. Infant Joy represents the celebration and joy felt at the arrival of an innocent babe, while Infant Sorrow is a poem of the despair and rejection at the birth of an unwanted child. The former poem leaves one with the feeling of warmth and innocence; the latter only offers a bleak and dark existence that shall last a lifetime. Blake presents the reader with two aspects of the birth of life-one that is softened by peace and purity, and another that is really no life at all. Infant Joy radiates happiness and love. It is an expression of the elation and wonder felt at the birth of a tiny babe. The scene is one of tranquillity-a mother gently cradling her child at her breast. Both the mother and babe are given a voice. The mother addresses her tiny infant, only thoughts of tenderness and love consuming her. She revels in the joy of her motherhood. Her precious infant is embracing his new life and surroundings, proclaiming to the world his arrival of only two days before. The tone is one of hope mingled with a glowing, radiant happiness. The tiny infant is only two days old, and he has yet to be named. Without a name, the infant cannot
Focusing upon both 'structure' and 'function' produce a critical analysis of Craig Raine's poem 'A Martian Sends A Postcard Home'
BEN MURRAY ENL 061 " Focusing upon both 'structure' and 'function' produce a critical analysis of Craig Raine's poem 'A Martian Sends A Postcard Home'" Perhaps the most important feature of Craig Raine's 1979 poem 'A Martian Sends A Postcard Home' is that is uses an alien voice as its persona, when writing a poet may use their own voice, someone else's voice or indeed have a multi-voiced persona as a tool of reaching, challenging and pleasing their audience. It is a very useful tool as this poet shows. Raine's piece is directed by a keenly observant, intelligent (if not always intelligible), disengaged tone. Using this foreign voice Raine can intrigue the reader by making conventional objects seem unusual. One example would be: 'Mist is when the sky is tired of flight and rests its soft machine on ground' From this quote the audience can acknowledge that this visitor has appreciated the natural beauty and mystique of clouds and mist, but can only equate the phenomenon it mechanical terms. Throughout the piece Raine uses a range of audacious figurative language as his tools to give the poem an air of defamiliarisation, as well as trying to bring the reader into the poem (the very essence of it being an observational poem creates the platform for the reader to develop their own range of signs and signifiers to both conflict and support the said observations) Raine
According to Duxford, Icon, (1999:pg4-5) English Romanticism is described as a 'renaissance of the Renaissance' and included 'distinctly contemporary modes of thought'. This theory is evident throughout the work of the romanticist William Blake.
What do you understand by the term 'Romanticism'? Show why any of the ONE poets deserves to be catogorised as 'Romantic Romanticism is an artistic and intellectual movement, dating from the eighteenth to mid nineteenth century. It specifically generated during the French Revolution, which promoted liberty and fraternity equality. It particularly emphasises the individual's expression and imagination, specifically focusing on the influence of nature. Nature plays an important part in Romantic poetry, as well as childhood, imagination, youth, innocence, truth, supernatural, sublime and beauty. All of these elements give a spiritual feel, focusing largely on a peaceful and pure world, catching emotion from the reader. According to Duxford, Icon, (1999:pg4-5) English Romanticism is described as a 'renaissance of the Renaissance' and included 'distinctly contemporary modes of thought'. This theory is evident throughout the work of the romanticist William Blake. Blake used long, flowing lines with violent energy throughout the majority of his poems. He typically approached subjects clearly with a mind unclouded by current options, although this made him a controversial outsider in society. He is categorised alongside the Romantics, using a large amount of visual imagery, biblical allusion and symbolism during the majority of his work. Blake tends to be narrative in
The Flowers
Choose a short story in which a child or adolescent character plays an important part. Discuss how the writer uses this character to develop the theme(s) of the short story "The Flowers" Alice Walker "The Flowers" by acclaimed author Alice Walker is a powerful story coming to terms with issues following the release of the black peoples of South America from slavery. The story's main character is that of a young black girl called Myop who makes a gruesome discovery. The character of Myop helps to convey the theme of innocence through the story in a number of ways. This essay will explore the ways in which the child Myop helps to develop the theme of innocence throughout of the story. Myop is ten years old, black and is the perfect symbol of the newly freed black peoples of the time; innocently looking at the goodness of the world around her now they are free, until unfortunate circumstances force her to lose this innocence and see that the world around her is not such a good place after all. The story shows Myop collecting flowers walking through the forest, taking an unknown route leads her to the body of a dead man. It is evident he man has been the victim of a racist "lynching" when the evidence is further investigated. Myop is changed and is no longer the innocent little girl she was upon entering the woods. The use of a child such as Myop is a good way to develop the
The Sick Rose By William Blake.
Tanya Hughes The Sick Rose By William Blake 'The Sick Rose' was a poem written by William Blake who originated from London. He was a profoundly religious man, and his spiritual life inspired his writing and paintings. Although he was Christian, he did not go by the rules, as he believed in having his own freedom in life. He published numerous collections of poems, which included a collection named 'Songs of Innocence' which is based upon the 'joy' of his past experiences in life. His second collection was named 'Songs of Experience.' Both of these poem collections contributed to illustrate his paintings. The Songs of Innocence is an innocent poem based entirely upon a delightful life, protected from danger. Whereas, the Songs of Experience is a completely different poem where fear has replaced security. Both collections, are a record of his thoughts and feelings on life, and are both statements of what life either should be like, and how it was in reality. Blake published these two collections in one volume and the title of this was "Showing the two contrary states of the human soul." 'The Sick Rose' is present in the 'Songs of Experience" collection, in which he examines the bleaker aspects of life and reality, including fear, jealousy, hatred and greed. 'The Sick Rose is not a poem of great joy and pleasure, but it is a poem which represents a symbol of a passion for