William BlakeBy Wendy Martinez

William Blake was born November 28, 1757 in the Soho William Blake was born November 28, 1757 in the Soho

district of London, England. From an early age he began district of London, England. From an early age he began

his writing, at the age of 10, William claims to have had a his writing, at the age of 10, William claims to have had a

vision of a tree full of angles. He studied engraving and vision of a tree full of angles. He studied engraving and

Gothic art. He incorporated Gothic art in his own unique Gothic art. He incorporated Gothic art in his own unique

works. William Blake was seen as a misunderstood poet, works. William Blake was seen as a misunderstood poet,

artist and visionary through out much of his life. He died artist and visionary through out much of his life. He died

August 12, 1827 at the age of 70. Since his death he has August 12, 1827 at the age of 70. Since his death he has

been vastly influential through out history.been vastly influential through out history. *

BiographyBiography

Poems

Ah Sunflower, weary of time,

Who countest the steps of the sun;

Seeking after that sweet golden clime

Where the traveller's journey is done;

Where the Youth pined away with

desire,

And the pale virgin shrouded in snow,

Arise from their graves, and aspire

Where my Sunflower wishes to go!

Ah Sunflower

Meaning of Ah Sunflower

The sunflower represents a man who is The sunflower represents a man who is bound to earth, but is pinning for bound to earth, but is pinning for

eternity. The face of the sunflower eternity. The face of the sunflower follows the course of the Sun in the follows the course of the Sun in the

hope of reaching a land which is hope of reaching a land which is indifferent to frustration and indifferent to frustration and

restriction.restriction. 11

The Sick Rose O Rose thou art sick!O Rose thou art sick!The invisible worm,The invisible worm,

That flies in the night,That flies in the night,In the howling storm, In the howling storm, Has found out thy bedHas found out thy bed

Of crimson joy;Of crimson joy;And his dark secret loveAnd his dark secret love

Does thy life destroy.Does thy life destroy.

Meaning of The Sick RoseMeaning of The Sick RoseWhile the rose exists as a beautiful natural object that has become While the rose exists as a beautiful natural object that has become

infected by a worm, it also exists as a literary rose, the infected by a worm, it also exists as a literary rose, the conventional symbol of love. The image of the worm resonates conventional symbol of love. The image of the worm resonates

with the Biblical serpent and also suggests a phallus. Worms are with the Biblical serpent and also suggests a phallus. Worms are quintessentially earthbound, and symbolize death and decay. The quintessentially earthbound, and symbolize death and decay. The

“bed” into which the worm creeps denotes both the natural “bed” into which the worm creeps denotes both the natural flowerbed and also the lovers’ bed. The rose is sick, and the poem flowerbed and also the lovers’ bed. The rose is sick, and the poem

implies that love is sick as well. Yet the rose is unaware of its implies that love is sick as well. Yet the rose is unaware of its sickness. This results partly from the insidious secrecy with which sickness. This results partly from the insidious secrecy with which

the “worm” performs its work of corruption—not only is it the “worm” performs its work of corruption—not only is it invisible, it enters the bed at night. This secrecy indeed constitutes invisible, it enters the bed at night. This secrecy indeed constitutes part of the infection itself. The “crimson joy” of the rose connotes part of the infection itself. The “crimson joy” of the rose connotes both sexual pleasure and shame, thus joining the two concepts in both sexual pleasure and shame, thus joining the two concepts in

a way that Blake thought was perverted and unhealthy. The a way that Blake thought was perverted and unhealthy. The rose’s joyful attitude toward love is tainted by the aura of shame rose’s joyful attitude toward love is tainted by the aura of shame

and secrecy that our culture attaches to love.and secrecy that our culture attaches to love. 22

Work Cited

* http://www.biography.com/people/william-blake-9214491

1 http://beamingnotes.com/2013/05/21/summary-and-analysis-of-ah-sunflower-by-william-blake/

2 http://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/blake/section10.rhtml