A Career In William Blake's Poetry

Different things affect the way we live our lives. Whether its through family, friends, or different events. For William Blake it is his life and career that affect the way he writes poetry. Blake is one of England’s most famous literary figures. He is admired for his skill as a poet, engraver, and painter. William Blake’s “The Tyger” and “The Lamb” are both highly influenced through his early life and career. William Blake was born in London on November 28, 1757 to James and Catherine Blake. (Beer) Blake had an early influence from the bible that would later play a role in his works. There are multiple times in Blake’s early years where he speaks of seeing things. (bio.com) Henry Crabb Robinson wrote: Blake saw God’s head appear in a

Both of these works are centered around creation. One is about the creation and the other is about the creator. “The Tyger” is talking about the origin of the jungle cat. (Bloom) It is comfortable in its domain and assertive with its authority. (Bloom) In each line of the poem the tiger grows more powerful. “The Lamb” answers the question of: Who made us? (“Interpreting William Blake’s Poetry: An Analysis of ‘The Lamb’”) Although it deals with a religious question that scholars have discussed for centuries; the answer to this question its easily understood by a child. It leads one to think that we all need to become like a child to understand our eternal nature. (“Interpreting William Blake’s Poetry: An Analysis of ‘The Lamb’”) This poem sees God as gentle and kind. This makes him more like us and helps us

It is seen as an animal with raging violence. Blake asks the question of: what kind of God could create such terror? In William Blake’s poem “The Tyger” it says: When the stars threw down their spears/ And water 'd heaven with their tears/ Did he smile his work to see?/ Did he who made the Lamb make thee? (RPO—William Blake: The Tyger) There is not an answer that ever comes. The reader has to assume that God made both the lamb and the tyger. God created both good of the lamb and violence of the tyger. These perspectives can not be true by themselves. They are both needed to be understood. Blake asks how it is possible for both the lamb and the tiger to be made by the same person. He wants to know how it is possible for humans to be both good and evil. (“An Analysis of ‘The Tyger’”) In both poems there is repetition of the first few lines throughout the poem. Blake uses them to finish the poems as well. As one can see, William Blake uses all of his life experiences throughout his work. His early life as a painter and engraver is where Blake draws his inspiration from. His influence from the bible early in life is the biggest influence on his work. Many of his works have to do with God and creation. He uses his poems as a way to ask questions. This is seen in both “The Lamb” and “The Tyger”. His inspiration for both of these poems is clearly seen through his life