Comparison Blake and Wordsworth
...wo of the principal canonical figures that one would recognize from The “Romantic period.” Both of these English poets are originally from London. Early works were not widely recognized by either of the poets. William Blake lived in the later half of the eighteenth century and the early part of the nineteenth, born in 1757 and died in 1827. His only formal education was in art. Blake was a man with a very colorful and powerful imagination. He claimed that he had visionary experiences. He developed his own belief system. He created his own mythology to describe what he found. He was an accomplished poet, illustrator, engraver, draughtsman, writer, and painter. He was a profoundly stirring poet, sensitive and responsive to the realities of the human condition and of his time. Blake tends to write about thoughts and feelings and of the society which surrounded him. He could see many restrictions in society and used his voice for freedom. The poem that was chosen for discussion in this paper; “Infant Joy” comes from Blake’s collection from Songs of Innocence, published in 1789. He also wrote a companion piece called Songs of Innocence and Experience, published in 1794. The groups of poems in each book were to represent the two states of the human soul. “Infant Joy” By William Blake "I have no name; I am but two days old." What shall I call thee? "I happy am, Joy is my name." Sweet joy befall thee! Pretty joy! Sweet joy, but two days old. Sweet Joy I call thee: Thou dost smile, I sing the while; Sweet joy befall thee! The personal critical analysis of the poem “Infant Joy,” by William Blake, is first and utmost innocent. The arrival of a new baby is completely innocent in nature. One gets a warm feeling when reading this poem. The poem is warm, innocent, and peaceful. When you read the poem, you can embrace the baby’s new life and surroundings, proclaiming to the world his arrival of only two days before. The baby’s mother is happy and content holding this new bundle of joy. Her happiness is overwhelming, mirrored when she looks at the satisfied baby. The tone is one of optimism mingled with a bright, radiant happiness. The baby’s name is Joy. One gets the impression that the baby is in a state of being very content: happy, smiling, joy, sweet. The mother wants to protect the baby. She is caring and loving. She only wishes the best for her child. As she sings, probably a lullaby to the baby, she only wishes that joy will take place with him. William Wordsworth also lived in the later half of the eighteenth century and the early part of the nineteenth, born in 1770 and died in 1850. Wordsworth was formally educated and well traveled as a young adult. Wordsworth's personality and poetry were deeply influenced by his love of nature. He was a profoundly earnest and sincere thinker. However, he thought on a metaphysics level. He illustrated his meaning of romanticism by using everyday life events and would write in familiar speech. Wordsworth described all good poetry as “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.” He also stated that poems originate from “emotion recollected in tranquility.” Wordsworth wrote telling it like it is. The writing of the here and now, but he was also subjective with his imagination. “The world is too much with us” By William Wordsworth The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers: Little we see in Nature that is ours; We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon! This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon; The winds that will be howling at all hours, And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers; For this, for every thing, we are out of tune; It moves us not, -great God! I’d rather be A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn; So might I, standing on this pleasant lea, Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn; Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea; Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn. The personal critical analysis of the poem “The world is too much with us,” by William Wordsworth, at first is harsh. The speaker...