Table of Contents
Introduction
Beginning
In this article, the introduction will be discussed.
William Blake and Romanticism
In summary,
References
Original: The study found that…
Paraphrased: The research discovered that…
An intro
Nature can serve as a guide and source of inspiration in difficult times. It calms the spirit and helps it to refocus. Nature can also be a chaos-causing force capable of bringing humanity to its feet. Romanticism was a movement that sought to capture nature in its entirety and express it as it is. Romantic poetry has been heavily influenced, in part, by the nature around us and its many aspects.
William Blake was an influential Romantic poet. In his work, Blake drew inspiration from the natural world and its facets. In some instances, his family and peers did not think he had a sound mentality. Blake’s mental state was considered unsound by some of his family and peers, mainly because he often claimed to see spirits, angels or God. Catherine Boucher was his guardian, even though many thought he was insane. William Blake’s poems are a reflection of Romanticism. Blake used elegance and simplicity to express nature, expressing sympathy for outcasts while also glorifying the normal. Blake’s poetry is filled with pure beings who embody nature and its lightness, but also appear as nefarious creatures that shed light on nature’s darker side. Understanding these beings in Blake’s poetry will give you a better understanding of his life and the time period that he lived in.
William Blake describes the Lamb in The Lamb as a “joyful and beautiful” being, which, “makes every valley rejoice”. The narrator asks God to bless the lamb at one point. This is in line with the peaceful and holy nature of the natural world. Understanding that God blesses the Lamb, and the fact that it is also a symbol of God (because the Lamb “is called the same name”) can be understood when we link this with the tendency in romantic literature to glorify the simple.
Blake’s view of Catherine Boucher is that she is not just human. In fact, Blake believes that she is his guardian. Blake may be hinting at the way he saw Catherine Boucher. The similarities between Blake’s poetry and life reveal the time period of his writing as well as other aspects.
Blake’s poetry and life are also reflected in The Tyger, another poem. The tiger’s grasping onto “deadly terroirs” is an indication that the tiger is a horrible creature who destroys everything in its path. The tiger in question is perceived to be a danger, but there is a certain amount of sympathy for the tiger. The narrator then asks, “What could twist the sinews in its heart,” almost as if he were pitying the tiger because it is unable to feel complex emotions. Blake could have been asking for kindness and pity from the people around him, despite their perception of him as a strange person.
Blake may have been tormented by being outcast, and the implied destruction of terror could reflect that. However, it is also possible to interpret the tiger as Blake. This can be done by interpreting the line “the stars threw out their spears/And soaked heaven in their tears”, as Blake is expressing his sadness. Blake may have pity on himself because he is an outcast. The Tyger reveals Blake’s ability to show sympathy for outcasts, as well as other unsavory creatures. It also reveals how Blake used nature to communicate his ideas and thoughts. The Romantic Period is evident in this poem by observing the characteristics mentioned above. They are a way to empathize and connect with those who were outcasts.
Blake’s poetry reflects the poet, his time and even the world around him. As I walked alongside the banks of the river I saw ducklings chasing their mothers in the water. This was an incredibly graceful mother-duckling pair. She was heralded for saving her children from the unknown depths in the water they were swimming. Blake, as well as the Romantic Period and Blake’s own life, are linked by this occurrence. The ducklings’ simple act of following their mother was a symbol of both nature and its purity. A ring of mushroom was found in my woods. The ring appeared to be a fungus, but I imagined it could have opened a portal into another world. Even the most simple of things can be romanticized by the simplicity of a mushroom ring and its glorification. Like the lamb, mother and ducklings of the poem, the mushrooms also had a sacredness about them.
As well as what has been said, my life also resembled William Blake’s The Tyger. This poem is a classic of the Romantic period. My heart was filled with sympathy for my discovery in the woods, just as it had been for the tiger portrayed in Blake’s poem. A vulture was eating another dead animal in the distance. It was at first horrifying, but I soon realized that a vulture is only doing its best to survive. Vultures often get a bad rap for being ugly and only good at scavenging food. But I found myself sympathizing with this vulture, just as I would with a tiger described in William Blake poetry. Then, on a walk through the woods, I saw a group of flower clusters with lone standing out. The flower stood alone, seemingly oblivious to the others. The flower was so lonely that it made one feel bad. This lonely, cast-out flower had a lot in common with the tiger. Blake’s rather lonely life is a perfect example of the Romantic sympathy towards outcasts.
ConclusionAs highlighted by the above elements, many Romantic-era poets created works that captured the beauty of nature and expressed the feelings and thoughts of their poets. The poets’ lives, both the good and bad, are often reflected in their poetry. William Blake’s different topics reveal the various moments of his life. They also reflect the Romantic Period.
References
Original: As a result
Paraphrased: Consequently
“About William Blake.” Poets.org, Academy of American Poets, www.poets.org/poet/william-blake.
Blake, William. “The Lamb by William Blake.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43670/the-lamb-56d222765a3e1.
Blake, William. “The Tyger by William Blake.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43687/the-tyger.
“The Visions of William Blake.” Poets.org, Academy of American Poets, 2005, www.poets.org/text/visions-william-blake.
