Songs of Experience - With the Original Illustrations by William Blake

William Blake

Publisher: DigiCat

Summary

In 'Songs of Experience,' William Blake presents a profound exploration of the duality of human existence, contrasting innocence with the harsh realities of experience. Through a series of emotive poems complemented by his signature illustrations, Blake employs a vivid and often symbolic literary style that blends Romanticism with the prophetic vision of a mystic. This collection serves as a sequel to his earlier work, 'Songs of Innocence,' inviting readers to reflect on the loss of purity and the complexities of the human condition amid the backdrop of an industrializing society. The poems are imbued with philosophical musings and religious undertones, demonstrating Blake's mastery in intertwining personal and universal themes while adhering to an innovative use of meter and rhyme. William Blake (1757-1827) was not just a poet but also a painter and engraver, characteristics that deeply influenced his writing process. A nonconformist thinker, Blake's radical views on religion and society shaped his literary vision. His experiences in a rapidly changing England—from the rise of industrialization to the stark social inequalities—formed the foundation of 'Songs of Experience,' where he critiques societal norms and the moral decay he perceived around him. Readers interested in delving into the complexities of existence and the human psyche will find 'Songs of Experience' a powerful and thought-provoking work. It is a vital addition to any literary collection, offering insights that resonate with modern readers and urging them to confront the often-uncomfortable truths of our world.

Available since: 05/25/2022.

Print length: 15 pages.

Poetry & Theatre

Other books that might interest you

The Iliad

Homer Homer

"Sing, Goddess, of the ruinous wrath of Achilles..."

Set in the tenth year of the siege of Troy, The Iliad focuses on the "Menin"—the soul-consuming anger—of the Greeks' greatest warrior, Achilles. When the high king Agamemnon dishonors him, Achilles withdraws from battle, leaving the Greek forces to face the devastating might of the Trojan prince, Hector. What follows is a visceral, blood-soaked drama that explores the high cost of pride and the crushing weight of fate. It is a world where the gods walk the earth, where men seek immortality through "Kleos" (eternal glory), and where even the greatest heroes must face their inevitable end.

The Human and the Divine: The Iliad is a masterpiece of dual perspectives. On the ground, men struggle with the physical and emotional toll of war. Above, on Mount Olympus, the gods—from the vengeful Hera to the meddling Aphrodite—manipulate the conflict like a game of chess. This divine intervention raises the stakes from a mere tribal dispute to a cosmic tragedy.

The Shield of Achilles: In one of the most famous passages in literature, Homer describes the forging of Achilles' new armor. The shield is a microcosm of the world, depicting scenes of peace, harvest, and justice alongside the horrors of war. It serves as a haunting reminder of the life and civilization that the heroes are fighting to preserve—or destroy.

Experience the foundational story of Western culture. Purchase "The Iliad" today and witness the dawn of the hero.

Show book

Born in England – Exploring...

Sir Philip Sidney, Sir Thomas...

Poetry. A form of words that seems so elegantly simple in one verse and so cleverly complex in another. Each poet has a particular style, an individual and unique way with words and yet each of us seems to recognise the path and destination of where the verses lead, even if sometimes the full comprehension may be a little beyond us.

Through the centuries every culture has produced verse to symbolize and to describe everything from everyday life, natural wonders, the human condition and even in its more hubristic moments, the crushing triumph of an enemy.

In the volumes of this series, we take a look at poetry through the prism of individual regions of England, or sometimes more quaintly known as ‘Albion’, or ‘Blighty’, through the centuries of its gloried history.

England, despite its perception of reserve and under-statement has, in reality, strode the global stage at various time in many things, both good and bad, from Empire to long distance running. Here our focus in on its literature. Famed for its fiction and dramas, it is equally admired for its plethora of gifted poets and the dazzling verse which has added so much to its artistic legacy. These classic poets are wonders of their age and of their art. Genius is written in their names.

In this volume we explore through many centuries the poetry written by the Nobility of England. Their titles may be inherited and reek of undeserved privilege but their verse is the inheritance of us all. Our poets include Sir Thomas Wyatt, W S Gilbert, Sir John Beaumont, Sir John Suckling and many others. Genius is written in their names.

Show book

Heartbreak agony & pain - poetry...

D. R. Nguyen

heartbreak agony & painis a collection of poetry and prose that takes the reader on an odyssey of heartache, grief, agony, and pain coping with the aftermath of a breakup.

Show book

Eggenwise - and Other Poems

Andrea Davidson

Can you feel homesick and at home at the same time? Ever felt lost for words but full of things to say? Meet Andrea Davidson.
In Eggenwise, Andrea explores moving to a different country, learning a new language, growing up and falling in love through poems that notice the remarkable in the everyday: a salted parsley sprig, thundering raindrops on windowpanes, and the buzzzZZZzzz of a pesky pet fly.
Through warm and conversational verse, Eggenwise invites you to step into the author's new home in Belgium, to roll your tongue around new words, savour their sound and share your own story through poetry…
Fully illustrated throughout by Amy Louise Evans.

Show book

Ground Provisions

Shauna M. Morgan

In her debut collection, Ground Provisions, Shauna M. Morgan takes us on a sensory journey across landscapes of the body and the earth. Immersing readers in lush language and imagery, the collection traverses the natural world from the Caribbean to North America and provokes questions about identity in the making of diasporas and the formation of multi-ethnic realities. What remains and what is created anew? Who emerges at the fissures of culture? What is learned from human relationships with the land? How do we make provisions between generations?
These poems guide us through a backabush Jamaican community to an often-hostile US environment as they interrogate power, follow the desire for freedom, explore the necessity of ancestral memory, and answer the crucial need to touch the earth and each other.
Sonnet and sestina walk alongside contemporary poetic forms such as haibun and duplex to explore family origins and Afro-Indo cultural syncretism while offering intimate views of the speakers and their interior lives. We witness grief overwhelming the mind and body, children holding painful secrets, women leaning into sensuality, and families coming to terms with fracture and reconciliation.
Through intertwined familial and historical inheritances, these poems ask us to imagine the liberatory possibilities of establishing new roots with legacy seeds.

Show book

Jekyll and Hyde

Robert Louis Stevenson

'If I am the chief of sinners, I am the chief of sufferers also.'
A series of random nocturnal assaults in the back streets and alleyways of Victorian London are spreading fear and panic. Meanwhile, the friends of a highly respected doctor are beginning to wonder why he goes missing on exactly the same nights…
Neil Bartlett's inventive, brilliantly theatrical adaptation cuts right to the heart of Robert Louis Stevenson's darkly fascinating tale of male violence, guilt and privilege.
It premiered at Derby Theatre in 2022, directed by Artistic Director Sarah Brigham, before transferring to Queen's Theatre Hornchurch. Written for an ensemble and with several key roles for women, this adaptation will appeal to any theatre or company looking to thrill their audiences with a bold new take on this classic tale of murder and mayhem.

Show book