William Blake

Industrial Revolution Began in 1760s in Britain Transition from agricultural society to a

factory based culture Also the transition from hand power to

power-driven machines Unhealthy and dangerous conditions of

the factories

William Blake 1757-1827 Poet, printer, and print-maker Published his first collection in 1783,

Poetical Sketches Influenced by the French & American

Revolutions

William Blake’s Poetry Poetry is childlike, but tells of universal

ideas or experiences

Embraced the imagination as the body of God or human existence itself

William Blake’s Poetry Recurring themes of good vs. evil,

heaven and hell

His use of symbolism instead of metaphor allows readers to draw their own conclusions from his poetry

“The Lamb” & “The Tyger” 1789 – a collection called Songs of

Innocence was published and contained ‘The Lamb’

1794 – a collection called Song of Experience was published and contained ‘The Tyger’

Sources http://www.universalteacher.org.uk/

poetry/blake.htm http://www.online-literature.com/blake/ http://history-world.org/Industrial

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