William Blake

William Blake

Trevor Hoglund & Molly Nettum

William Blake

1757-1827

Born in London

Home Schooled

He married Catherine Boucher

No Children

William Blake

Began artistic training at the age of 10.

Printed his poetry himself using engraving methods he created.

“Art is the tree of life. Science is the tree of death.”

At 14, started 7 year apprenticeship engraving.

Charged with sedition after treasonable remarks against king.

Romantic Period

“The Quest for Truth and Beauty”

1798-1832

Started with the French Revolution

Industrial Revolution

Ended with parliamentary reforms of 1832

King George III 1760-1820

William IV 1830-1837

The Chimney Sweeper By: William Blake

When my mother died I was very young,And my father sold me while yet my tongue,Could scarcely cry weep weep weep weep,So your chimneys I sweep & in soot I sleep.Theres little Tom Dacre, who cried when his headThat curled like a lambs back was shav'd, so I said.Hush Tom never mind it, for when your head's bare,You know that the soot cannot spoil your white hairAnd so he was quiet. & that very night.As Tom was a sleeping he had such a sightThat thousands of sweepers Dick, Joe, Ned, & JackWere all of them lock'd up in coffins of black,

.

And by came an Angel who had a bright keyAnd he open'd the coffins & set them all free.Then down a green plain leaping laughing they runAnd wash in a river and shine in the Sun.Then naked & white, all their bags left behind.They rise upon clouds, and sport in the wind.And the Angel told Tom, if he'd be a good boy,He'd have God for his father & never want joy.And so Tom awoke and we rose in the darkAnd got with our bags & our brushes to work.Tho' the morning was cold, Tom was happy & warm. So if all do their duty, they need not fear

harm.

Onomonapia

“Hush, Tom! Never mind it, for when your head’s bare, You know that the soot cannot spoil your white hair.”

The word hush used in this quotation is a literary device called onomonapia.

Repetition

“Could scarcely cry ‘weep! ‘weep! ‘weep!”

This quotation uses a literary device called repetition.

Rhyming

In every 4-line stanza, the 1st and 2nd line rhyme, and the 3rd and 4th line rhyme.

Simile

“That curled like a lamb’s back,”

This quotation uses a literary device called a simile.

Alliteration

“Then down a green plain leaping, laughing, they run,”

This quotation uses alliteration as a literary device.

Influence

Influenced many Romantic poets with recurring themes of:

good and evil

heaven and hell

knowledge and innocence

external reality versus inner.

Awards

Won Newbery Medal for excellence in American children’s Literature in 1982.

Caldecott Honor Award

Citations

"William Blake." Poets.org - Poetry, Poems, Bios & More. N.P. Web. 09 Feb. 2011. <http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/116>.

"The Chimney Sweeper a Poem by William Blake." Famous Poetry Online. N.P. Web. 09 Feb. 2011. <http://www.poetry-online.org/blake_the_chimney_sweeper.htm>.

Beers, G. Kylene, and Lee Odell. "The Romantics." Holt Elements of Literature :. Vol. 6th Course. Austin, TX: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2007. 718-33. Print. Essentials of British and World Literature.

"ALA | Johnnewberymedal." ALA | Home - American Library Association. N.P. Web. 09 Feb. 2011. <http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/mediapresscenter/presskits/youthmediaawards/johnnewberymedal.cfm>.