The Life and Work of William Blake

The Life and Work of William Blake

Although William Blake was one of the most extraordinary English poets, Blake was known in his own time as a failed Artisan. This paper will outline his works in order that we can better understand him. This paper will sight some of Blake’s works but will focus on 1The Marriage Between Heaven and Hell. Blake, being self-taught artisan, was thoroughly intrigued by the Bible and the Works of Milton. Blake’s major works attempt to create a modern myth of the World, as we know it. The purpose of this paper is to attempt to help us, the readers, to view that myth through Blake’s eyes.

William Blake was born in London, England on November 28, 1757, and then baptized in St. James Church. His parents were James Blake and Catherine Harmitage Blake (Britannica). Some say that the Blake’s were Swedenborgianism (Ward, Walter, 181). The second born out of six children, was Blake, his older brother’s name was James. In 1760 his brother John was born. In 1761 at the age of four he envisioned “Our Lord’s” Head in a window (Britannica). In 1762 his brother Richard was born, but passed away as a baby. Then in 1764 his sister and only girl were born.

William was ten in 1767 when his brother, Robert was born. He began sketching lessons at Henry Par’s Academy. Blake began his Poetical Sketches that same year.

When Blake was fourteen years old he went to work with James Basire, the local engraver. Basire taught Blake the mastery of engraving. Blake began his apprenticeship under Basire. Basire sent Blake to do sketches of minister abbeys and ancient churches all over the areas in and around London (Britannica).

Blake’s his first engraving was, Joseph of Ari...

... middle of paper ...

...his engravings. This included twenty-one plates of The Book of Job.

In 1824, symptom of gallstones started to bother him. As time went by Blake suffered because of the gallstone. This condition eventually took his life on August 12, 1827, approximately six p.m. He was seventy years old. His wife Catherine Harmitage Blake died on the eighteenth of October 1831 four years later. William and Catherine Blake never were able to bare children.

I think what surprised me the most was how long poems could be. They can be pages and not only a paragraph or two. Poems are not just a bunch of words that rhythms, but words that tell a story. After writing this paper I was left wanting to know more about different kinds of poetry. I am glad I chose this topic because it was not only poetry, but also history of some of the greatest combinations of artwork and poetry.