William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker whose works continue to influence readers today. His collection of illuminated poems contained in one of his most well-known works, Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, provide opposing views in this set of poems, Blake helps to expose what he thought was innocent and how experience changes these view. In "The Chimney Sweeper," a poem contained in both Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experiences, Blake presents the views of two boys, one who does not know the nature of man, and the other, who knows all too well. "The Chimney Sweeper" in Songs of Innocence provides a light interpretation of a chimney sweep's life. The narrator is reassuring of the work they do, and does not focus on the negative aspects of the job. The narrator describes the chimney sweep's chant as "weep, weep, weep," an indication that the chimney sweep is too young to correctly formulate the word "sweep." The word "weep" can also be interpreted literally, a call for the public...
The narrator also uses heavenly and religious descriptors to indicate the sweepers' innocence. Tom Dacre, a chimneysweeper in the poem, is described as having "white hair…that curl'd like a lamb's back" (Blake, 26). The narrator furthermore expounds heavenly aspects of innocence as he dreams "that thousands of sweepers…were all of them lock'd up in coffins of black" until an angel "open'd the coffins & set them all free" (26). This allegory parallels religious contexts in which Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven. The freed chimneysweepers are described angelically as they are dreamt of "leaping" and "laughing/And washing in a river and shine in the Sun/Then naked & white…They rise upon clouds" (26).1) Technically, the work consists of several poetic devices: Alliteration: Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright -- Frame Thy Fearful Symmetry. Apostrophe: Use of apostrophe directing speaker's prose to the tiger. Metaphor: The tiger has "eyes of fire" Anaphora: Repetition of "What" at the beginning of sentences or clauses (What dread hand, what the chain, etc.) Allusion: The immortal hand or eye (God or Satan, Creation or Destruction; Distant deeps or skies; the underworld, heaven. The overall theme of
Blake's "The Chimney Sweeper "s Romanticism was an intellectual, literary, and artistic movement that took place during the second half of the eighteenth century. William Blake, an English poet, painter, and printmaker, explores opposing views in Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, his collection of poems that juxtaposes what he considers to be innocent perspectives against the perspectives of those who have been exposed to the cruelties of life.
Tyger Blake's "The Tyger" William Blake is a well-respected English painter, poet, and printmaker whose works went greatly unrecognized during his lifetime, but who has since been recognized as a major contributor to literature and art. Blake was born on November 28, 1757 in London and died on August 12, 1827. Through his work, Blake sought to express his political and religious views and often illuminated these works with illustrations that emphasized
"O Sylvan Wye! thou wanderer thro' the woods, / How often has my spirit turned to thee!" (http://www.uoregon.edu/~rbear/ballads.html) Now, the poet wishes to "transfer" the healing powers of nature that he himself has experienced to his sister. By stating."..Nature never did betray / the heart that loved her" (http://www.uoregon.edu/~rbear/ballads.html) Wordsworth assures his sister that she will also find peace in the middle of nature if she believes in the
Death in "Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night" "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" is one of Dylan Thomas's most recognizable poems. Written for Thomas's dying father, this poem is 19 lines and is structured like a villanelle where only two sounds are rhymed. Through the use of imagery, Thomas is able to vividly explore the theme of death and resistance to it. "Do Not Go Gentle Into
John Milton and William Blake John Milton wrote work of poetry during the late 17th century. William Blake wourld write at the end of the 18th century and at the beginning of the following century. One lived during the tail end of the Restoration period and the other lived in the time of the Romantic poets. At a first glance, it would seem that the two poets John Milton and William
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now