The Romantic British Poets. I. Intro I. Introduction A. Definition: B. Defining Moment:

The Romantic British PoetsThe Romantic British Poets

I. IntroI. Introduction

A. Definition:A. Definition:

B. Defining Moment:B. Defining Moment:

I.I. IntroductionIntroduction

C.C. Intellectual BackgroundIntellectual Background 1. transcendentalism1. transcendentalism

2. time, history, and nostalgia2. time, history, and nostalgia

I. Introduction—C. Intellectual I. Introduction—C. Intellectual BackgrounBackgroun

3. Organicism3. Organicism

a. Descartes’ three a. Descartes’ three

substancessubstances

b. Spinoza—matter and mind are both b. Spinoza—matter and mind are both

part of godpart of god

3. Kant—mind is not just a passive3. Kant—mind is not just a passive

receiver; it participates in creationreceiver; it participates in creation

OrganicismOrganicism

universeuniverse

GodGod

HumansHumans

C. Intellectual BackgroundC. Intellectual Background

4. Nature4. Nature

5. The Imagination5. The Imagination

6. The Figure of the Poet6. The Figure of the Poeta.a.b.b.c.c.

II. William Blake (1757—II. William Blake (1757—1827)1827)

A. IntroductionA. Introduction1. Biographical stuff1. Biographical stuff

2. Visionary, Genius, Artist, Poet2. Visionary, Genius, Artist, Poet

II. A. Blake--IntroductionII. A. Blake--Introduction

3.3. Blake’s visionBlake’s vision

4.4. Blake’s Archetypal PatternBlake’s Archetypal PatternRadical InnocenceRadical Innocence

InnocenceInnocence

ExperienceExperience

II. Blake IntroductionII. Blake Introduction

5. Blake’s theory of love and sexuality5. Blake’s theory of love and sexuality

II. Blake IntroductionII. Blake Introduction

6.6. Blake’s Theory or ReligionBlake’s Theory or Religiona.a. Blake saw a gap between real religion Blake saw a gap between real religion

and institutionalized religionand institutionalized religion

a.a. He was a devout Christian, but saw He was a devout Christian, but saw Jesus as not “God becoming man” but Jesus as not “God becoming man” but as “man becoming God,” i.e. a human as “man becoming God,” i.e. a human who reached the level of wisdom (of who reached the level of wisdom (of radical innocence) that is available to radical innocence) that is available to all of usall of us

II. A. Blake IntroductionII. A. Blake Introduction

5.5. Blakean Theory of the ImaginationBlakean Theory of the Imagination1.1. All reality is mentalAll reality is mental

2.2. Inner and outer realities co-create each Inner and outer realities co-create each otherother

3.3. Humanity recreates existence—gives it Humanity recreates existence—gives it meaning (responsibility of the meaning (responsibility of the conscious individual)conscious individual)

B. His PoemsB. His Poems

1.1. Songs of Innocence and ExperienceSongs of Innocence and Experiencea.a. Mock on Mock OnMock on Mock Onb.b. Chimney SweeperChimney Sweeperc.c. Divine Image and Human AbstractDivine Image and Human Abstractd.d. The Lamb and The TygerThe Lamb and The Tygere.e. LondonLondonf.f. Garden of LoveGarden of Loveg.g. Proverbs of HellProverbs of Hell