Use of Symbols and Imagery in Blake’s Poem

Symbol is a mode of expression in which a writer depicts indirectly through the medium of another
object. But symbol is not a mere substitution of one object for another. There is much more to it.
Symbolism is the art of evoking an object little by little to reveal a mood or emotion or some mysterious
region of human psyche. A symbolist is a seer of a prophet who can look beyond the objects of the real
world and convey the essence of the ideal world which human mind tries to express. On the other hand,
imagery is the total picture produced by the images. It may be external or internal, literal or figurative. It
involves readers’ senses for its perception.

William Blake is one of the pioneers of romantic poetry in English literature. Romantic poetry has some
notable characteristics that have made it different from others. Use of symbols and imagery are two of
them. Being considered as a romantic, Blake’s poetry reflects many romantic elements including use of
symbols and imagery.

Songs of Innocence and of Experience  are exquisite examples where we find plenty use of symbols and
imagery. In fact, there is hardly any poem that does not have these two literary devices.

The opening poem of Songs of Innocence, Introduction introduces us two symbols which reoccur
throughout the group. These two symbols are the child and the lamb-

“On a cloud I saw a child”

“Pipe a song about a lamb”

Both are symbols of innocence or purity and joy. The child also suggests poetic inspiration and biblically
it refers to Jesus Christ. The rural pen  of the hollow reed  undoubtedly epitomizes the pastoral elements
of the piece. The ink is made by staining clear water– symbol of purity. On the other hand, piping is a
word that evokes our sense of hearing, hollow reed, water etc. evoke sense of touch and the vivid
description allows our sense of sight. Not only hear but also in Introduction  of Songs of Experience we
find ancient trees  that evoke the readers’ sense of sight and dew, sense of sight as well as touch. Thus
the two introductory poems include imagery and symbols.

The next poem is The Lamb that continues the same symbolic significance. In it, clothing of delight
symbolically may refer to the innocent childhood or joyous time that has covered life just as cloth covers
body and protects from harm and dirt. The contrast poem of it in Songs of Experience, The Tyger is
more significant for us.

Blake’s spelling of Tyger is worth noting for it seems to emphasize the symbolic quality of the animal.
The tiger symbolizes the fierce forces in the soul which are needed to break the bonds of experience. To
some the tiger with its fearful symmetry stands for the pervasive evil; in the world of others, the tiger
symbolizes an awful beauty in creation and for some others, the tiger is a symbol of praise for the
creation of the universe. The forest of night represents ignorance, repression and superstition. To some,
the forest is the world of Experience:

“Tyger! Tyger! Burning bright

In the forests of the night”

The word fire of this line Burnt the fire of thine eyes to some is a symbol of wrath. Further
the stars in when the stars threw down their spears  symbolize the material power. The stars also
suggest the angels. The lamb and the tiger are symbols for two different states of the human soul. When
the lamb is destroyed by experience, the tiger is needed to restore the world.

The Tyger is a classic poem in its abundant use of imagery. The images used in the opening lines of the
poem have vivid visual effects. The tiger lurking in the darkness is a stupendous creation. In the
alliterative line a sound imagery has also been created. The metallic, clanging imagery has been used in
mid-sentences like what the hammer? what the chain? There is a power in the phrase fearful
symmetry.

In Nurse’s Song of Songs of Innocence  several more symbols have been used. In the poem, the most
important symbols have been used in And the dews of night arise. Here night is the symbol of world of
experience and dews symbolize materialism. On the other hand, in Songs of Experience  with same titled
poem, the word green stands for green eyed monster which in jealousy. Then spring stands for
childhood and winter for oldhood.

Though at first consideration Blake’s The Chimney Sweeper  does not show inner meaning, it has several
elements of symbolic significance. The utterance weep  in place of sweep symbolizes a lamentable
situation in which children find themselves. The lamb indicates a child’s innocence while the shaving of
his head suggests his embracing of a life of poverty and deprivation. Again, white hair  stands for an
object of delicate beauty while the soot represents a dirty worm that is determined to destroy a
beautiful flower. Coffins of black  signify, on the one hand, soot coated chimneys and on the other, close
space, suffocation and confinement. Coffins, again represent their shriveled and death like situation
although they were fully active and alive. In the poem the word weep of cry weep! weep! weep! creates
a sound imagery. Later white hair, coffins of black, bright key, shine in the sun etc. contribute to the
imagery evoking sense of sight and so on.

William Blake is one of the greatest symbolist poets of the world. In his poems Blake does not present
ordinary events common men see and understand them; rather describes spiritual events which have to
be portrayed symbolically to render them intelligible. Blake is unique because of his ability to
communicate beyond immediate context and space. Actually it is impossible to go through his poems
without considering the symbolic significance and finally we observe that while presenting symbols from
various sources in writing plenty of images are created.