1. William Blake
1757-1827 1

2. Biography
 Blake was born in Soho, London on November 28, 1757.
 Got first education at home by mother, Catherine
Wright Armitage.
 On August 4, 1772, was apprenticed to engraver James
Basire of Great Queen Street.
 In 1774 was sent to London to copy images from the
Gothic churches.
 On October 8, 1779, became a student at the Royal
Academy in Old Somerset House.
 Rebelled against Joshua Reynolds and created his own
style.
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3. Biography
 On August 18, 1782 married to Catherine Boucher.
 First collection of poems, Poetical Sketches, was printed
around 1783.
 Inspired by Shakespeare, Spencer, Milton, Ben Jonson and
the Bible.
 Opened a print shop with James Parker, in 1784.
 Died in London on August 12, 1827 and was buried in an
unmarked grave in Bunhill Fields, a Dissenters’ cemetery.
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4. The Most Famous Works
 Songs of Innocence (1789)
 “Introduction”, “Infant Sorrow"," Nurse's Song”, “The
Garden of Love”, “”The Chimney Sweeper”, “The Cold and
the Pebble”, “Holy Thursday”
 Songs of Experience (1794)
 “Introduction”, “ London”, “ The Sick Rose”, “Ah! Sun-
Flower”, “The Tiger”, “ A Poisen Tree”,
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5. The Most Famous Works
 The Book of Thel
 Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
 « The Voice of Devil », « The Proverbs of Hell »
 The Vision of the Daughters of Albion » (1793)
 « America, a Prophecy » (1794)
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6. A Poisen Tree
 “A Poison Tree” is one of the lesser-known of the 26
poems that published as Songs of Experience
 Published in 1793, belongs to Songs of Experience
 Written as a protest to the Anglican Church.
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7. I was angry with my friend;
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
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8. And I waterd it in fears,
Night & morning with my tears:
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.
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9. And it grew both day and night.
Till it bore an apple bright.
And my foe beheld it shine.
And he knew that it was mine.
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10. And into my garden stole,
When the night had veild the pole;
In the morning glad I see;
My foe outstretchd beneath the tree.
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11. Glossary
 Wrath – anger (qəzəb)
 Deceitful – false (yalançı)
 Wile – trick (kələk, hiylə)
 Behold – see, observe (görmək, müşahidə
etmək)
 Veil – curtain, cover (örtmək,örtük)
 Outstretch – (çəkmək, uzatmaq)
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12. Rhyme Scheme
I was angry with my friend; A
I told my wrath, my wrath did end. A
I was angry with my foe: B
I told it not, my wrath did grow. B
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13. Style – Iambic Tetrameter
i WAS / an-GRY / with MY / friend
i TOLD / my WRATH, / my WRATH / did END
Truncated Iambic Tetrameter Lines
and I / waTERD / it IN / fears"
"and HE / knew THAT / it WAS / mine.
Return to Iambic Tetrameter
"in THE / mornING / glad I / see,"
"my FOE / outSTRETCHED / beNEATH / the TREE,"
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14. Themes
• The Cultivation of Anger
• The Wrathfulness of the Old Testament
God
• Suppression versus Expression
• Hypocrisy
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15. Prepared by:
Aytekin Aliyeva
04.10.2011
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