William Blake Birth:
William Blake was born in London on November 28, 1757. He was the third son of a London hosier. Largely self-taught, Blake read the Bible, John Milton, Greek classics, Latin texts, William Shakespeare, and Ben Jonson.
William Blake was born in London on November 28, 1757. He was the third son of a London hosier. Largely self-taught, Blake read the Bible, John Milton, Greek classics, Latin texts, William Shakespeare, and Ben Jonson.
William Blake Death:
William Blake died on August 12, 1827. He was buried in an unmarked grave at the public cemetery of Bunhill Fields. At the time of Blake's death, Wordsworth wrote, "There was no doubt that this poor man was mad, but there is something in the madness of this man which interests me more than the sanity of Lord Byron and Walter Scott."
William Blake died on August 12, 1827. He was buried in an unmarked grave at the public cemetery of Bunhill Fields. At the time of Blake's death, Wordsworth wrote, "There was no doubt that this poor man was mad, but there is something in the madness of this man which interests me more than the sanity of Lord Byron and Walter Scott."
William Blake Occupations/Training:
William Blake became an Engraver's apprentice in 1771 (to James Basire). After 1779, he became an engraver for a local Bookseller. With the help of his a friend, he was eventually able to set up his own engraving business in 1784. He continued to work as an engraver-poet-prophet.
He also spent all but three years of his life in London. And, from the time he was four years old, Blake saw visions. He created poetry and engravings that were a mix of vision, cruelty and death, beliefs, and dreams.
William Blake became an Engraver's apprentice in 1771 (to James Basire). After 1779, he became an engraver for a local Bookseller. With the help of his a friend, he was eventually able to set up his own engraving business in 1784. He continued to work as an engraver-poet-prophet.
He also spent all but three years of his life in London. And, from the time he was four years old, Blake saw visions. He created poetry and engravings that were a mix of vision, cruelty and death, beliefs, and dreams.
William Blake Quotes:
"Man has closed himself up, till he sees all things through the narrow chinks of his cavern."
"No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings."
"Prudence is a rich, ugly old maid wooed by incapacity."
"Man has closed himself up, till he sees all things through the narrow chinks of his cavern."
"No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings."
"Prudence is a rich, ugly old maid wooed by incapacity."
Lines from "A Cradle Song":
"Sweet babe, in thy face
Soft desires I can trace,
Secret joys and secret smiles,
Little pretty infant wiles."
"Sweet babe, in thy face
Soft desires I can trace,
Secret joys and secret smiles,
Little pretty infant wiles."
Lines from "The Grey Monk":
"For a tear is an intellectual thing;
And a sigh is the sword of an angel-king;
And the bitter groan of a martyr's woe
Is an arrow from the Almighty's bow."
"For a tear is an intellectual thing;
And a sigh is the sword of an angel-king;
And the bitter groan of a martyr's woe
Is an arrow from the Almighty's bow."
Lines from "The Sunflower":
"Ah, Sunflower, weary of time,
Who countest the steps of the sun;
Seeking after that sweet golden clime,
Where the traveller's journal done;
Where the youth pined away with desire,
And the pale virgin shrouded in snow,
Arise from their graves, and aspire
Where my Sunflower wishes to go!"
"Ah, Sunflower, weary of time,
Who countest the steps of the sun;
Seeking after that sweet golden clime,
Where the traveller's journal done;
Where the youth pined away with desire,
And the pale virgin shrouded in snow,
Arise from their graves, and aspire
Where my Sunflower wishes to go!"
William Blake Brief Biography:
(1757-1827) British writer. William Blake was an artist, mystic, and poet, who is often considered the first of the great English Romantic poets.
In 1789, the year of the French Revolution and the Storming of the Bastille, Blake's early masterpieces, The Book of Thel and Songs of Innocence appeared. After that, Blake created "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell" (1790-93), "The French Revolution" (1791), "America: A Prophecy" (1793), "Visions of the Daughters of Albion" (1793), the "Songs of Experience" (1793-4), "Europe: A Prophecy" (1794), "The Book of Urizen" (1794), "The Book of Los" (1795), "The Four Zoas" (1795-1804), "Milton" (1804-1809), and "Jerusalem" (1804-1820).
(1757-1827) British writer. William Blake was an artist, mystic, and poet, who is often considered the first of the great English Romantic poets.
In 1789, the year of the French Revolution and the Storming of the Bastille, Blake's early masterpieces, The Book of Thel and Songs of Innocence appeared. After that, Blake created "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell" (1790-93), "The French Revolution" (1791), "America: A Prophecy" (1793), "Visions of the Daughters of Albion" (1793), the "Songs of Experience" (1793-4), "Europe: A Prophecy" (1794), "The Book of Urizen" (1794), "The Book of Los" (1795), "The Four Zoas" (1795-1804), "Milton" (1804-1809), and "Jerusalem" (1804-1820).
