WILLIAM BLAKE, 1757 1827

1. How old was he when he first started to write poems?

He started writing poetry at the age of twelve and in 1783 his friends paid for his first collection of
verses to be printed, which was entitled Poetical Sketches
2. What was Blakes first contact with art?

Blake first studied art as a boy, at the drawing academy of Henry Pars. He served a five-year
apprenticeship with the commercial engraver James Basire before entering the Royal Academy
Schools as an engraver at the age of twenty-two
3. Which of Blakes poems expresses the opposition of forces in the world

In the Marriage of Heaven and Hell, Blake wrote: Opposition is true friendship. Even the title of
that poem points to his theory of a marriage between opposites. So much of Blakes work revolves
around the theme that opposition represents balance in this world, and a focus on one side over its
counter leads to oppression and ignorance.
4. Does the poet take sides with the forces of innocence or experience?

Blake was constantly exploring the moment of lost innocence.

5. Do children express themselves in Songs of Innocence or are they depicted as seen by
Adults?

Blakes vision embraces radical subjects such as poverty, child labour and abuse, the repressive nature
of state and church, as well as right of children to be treated as individuals with their own desires.
Many of the poems in Songs of Experience respond to counterparts in Songs of Innocence
6.

What is the main characteristic of Blakes style?

Blake is one of the major Romantic poets, whose verse and artwork became part of the wider
movement of Romanticism in late Eighteenth and early Nineteenth century European Culture. His
writing combines a variety of styles: he is at once an artist, a lyric poet, a mystic and a visionary, and
his work has fascinated, intrigued and sometimes bewildered readers ever since.
7.

What is the main characteristic of Blakes poetic ideas?

He had very firm ideas about how his poems should appear. Its important to remember that he was
both an artist and a poet and the majority of his work is a combination of images and words. In
keeping with his profession, Blake did not print his poems in type, but engraved them (like
handwriting) on an illustrated background. Each page is an engraving of a text surrounded by images
and designs. The printed copies were then coloured by hand in watercolours and bound by hands into
books. Blake was an artist in words and pictures.
8. Can you illustrate your view?

William Blake is all about duality. He was obsessed with it, and you'll find this theme in nearly
every one of his works. This is especially true in the Songs of Innocence and the Songs of
Experience. In these poems, he explores the good and evil sides of humanity
9. Which technique does he use in the Sick Rose: narrative, symbolistic, abstract?
Lyric: A traditional form, brief, song-like narrative.
10.How do you account for the tone of familiarity from a stylistic point of view ?

The Sick Rose is from Blake's illustrated collection "Songs of Innocence and Experience: showing the
two
contrary
states
of
the
human
soul".
Blake's subtitle to his book shows that he intends the poems to offer spiritual revelation; this is not just
a
poem
about
a
rose.
So the tone of the poem is prophetic.