WILLIAM BLAKE

By Grace Roberson

WILLIAM BLAKE

About Blake

William Blake was an artist and a poet born in England, Nov. 28,

1757, died Aug. 12, 1827.

Was born to a moderately wealthy family and home schooled by his

mother during his early childhood. At age 10 he was put in drawing

classes and then apprenticed to an engraver

He was married once to Catherine Boucher, they did not have any

children.

Was known to be inspired by ‘visions’.

WILLIAM BLAKE’S WORKS

Poetry

Blake wrote many poems, the majority of which were published in

collections.

His first collection was entitled Poetical Sketches and published in 1783.

The most well known poetry collections are the Songs of Innocence and

the Songs of Experience.

He published many poems including A Cradle Song, A Dream, A

Poison Tree, Broken Love, and Ah Sunflower.

CONT.

Painting

Did water colored scenes from the works of Milton, Dante,

Shakespeare, and the Bible.

Engraving

Made the majority of his living as an engraver.

Did many commissioned engravings for biblical, and historical

purposes.

Illustrated many of his own writings with engravings.

POEMS

A Dream

A fable told in the form of a dream that the speaker had.

Ah! Sun-flower

A meditation on a sunflower’s desire to follow the sun.

A DREAM

Made up of five stanzas, of paired rhyming couplets.

The story of an aunt trying to reunite with her family

The motherly aunt is helped by the glow worm and beetle.

The aunt may represent the human soul, while the glow worm and

beetle show divine guidance.

It is believed to be a record of a ‘vision’ that William Blake had.

AH! SUN-FLOWER

It is made up of two stanzas, with an AB AB rhyming scheme.

The sunflower is seeking the perfect place, where the sun always

shines.

The sunflower represents human aspirations, which are always

seeking but never fulfilled.

WORKS CITED

http://www.biography.com/people/william-blake-

9214491?page=3

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/william-blake

http://www.poemhunter.com/william-blake/

http://sjcrasenglish.blogspot.com/