William Blake

1757-1827
Some information
He lived in London for his whole life, except for a
gap of three years

Poet, painter and printmaker

Unrecognised during his lifetime (many
considered him mad!)

After his death his work was appreciated. He is
considered an important figure of in the history
of poetry and the visual arts
Poet and Artist
Blake is also famous for his artwork
He made many relief etchings and prints.
These complimented his poetry

What do you think of when you look at some of
his etchings???
The Romantic Period (1785-1830)
The Romantic Period was an era of turbulence.
o Slave trade abolished in 1807
o The American and French Revolutions
o England took on harsh, repressive measures
o The "Industrial Revolution"
Economic turmoil in England brought upon the "Two
Nations": the rich and the poor.
o Urbanization, neighborhood slums, harsh factory conditions
o Industrialists and merchants flourished
Conceptions of proper femininity were altered.
o The new revolutionary ideologies paved the way for new
opportunities.

Blake and Religion
Blake was very spiritual and was a strong believer in
God.

He was frustrated by the Church as an institution, and
the rules and hypocrisy it supported.

He believed that the Church exploited the teachings of
God for their own benefit

Blake believed that those in power played on the
perceived FEAR of God, and the ideas that greater
suffering results in greater heavenly reward, in order to
exploit the lower classes and to decrease their
responsibility for their actions.



The INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION had a
huge impact on society. Blake believed the rise
of capitalism caused more suffering

Whilst many were excited about it, and the
opportunities it provided, Blake believed it
diminished peoples minds and hearts and
that it caused increased suffering...many small
factories had to close, poor working
conditions...


Blake demonstrated the economic hardship many
suffered through the contrast of innocence and
experience
Again, he connected it to making the upper classes
richer, through their exploitation of the working classes

The pollution he wrote about was linked to the smog
of the factories, as well as being a metaphor for
polluting societys morality.

Blake condemned the social structure, conveying his
despair and frustration that the rich were getting richer
whilst the poor continued to suffer.
Poetry Elements
Example: A poem that contains a rhyme scheme, two
stanzas, and a refrain. Every two lines rhyme.

Rhyming lines and Refrain in the poem The Echoing
Green.
The Chimney Sweeper