William+Blake+P.5



William Blake(1757-1827) was (and still is) well-known for his unique view of the world. As a child, he was immensely imaginative. Blake claimed to see divine presences in everyday life. When witnessing the death of his brother, Robert, Blake reported seeing Robert's spirit rise up into the air joyfully. During his life, Blake was known to associate with revolutionary thinkers. He did not like to conform, and thought his way of seeing life was superior. He felt creativity surpassed logical thinking and strove to embed this way of thinking into his fellow human beings and change in societal order. through his writing. Throughout his life, Blake saw his writings as items of great import that could be comprehended by all so they might better understand the world (Blake 1757 1). According to one biography, Blake believed "ideal forms should be constructed not from observations of nature but from inner visions," (Blake 1). Though his poetry was not particularly popular while he lived, his art was a matter of controversy. Some found it incredibly ugly and questioned Blake's mental stability, while others applauded his work. In 1825, John Linnell commissioned Blake to illustrate //Dante's Divine// Comedy (Blake 1). Today, the writings of William Blake are far more popular than they once were, and many express ideas with the capacity to inspire deep discussion (Blake 1757 1).

Poems The Tyger Earth's Answer Hear the Voice of the Bard Works Cited:  "William Blake". //Poets//. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 13 May 2013. "William Blake 1757-1827". //Poetry Foundation//. Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web. 13 May 2013.