WILLIAM BLAKEBy 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 DREAMMade 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?p

age=3

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

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

http://sjcrasenglish.blogspot.com/