WILLIAM BLAKEMeghan Inman

ABOUT WILLIAM BLAKE

Born on: November 28,1757 Died on: August 12,1827 Famous Works: The Nurse’s Song The Lamb A Posion Tree Cradle Song Influences:His first influence came from when his brother died.

A POISON TREE

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.

And I waterd it in fears,Night & morning with my tears: And I sunned it with smiles,And with soft deceitful wiles.

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.

And into my garden stole, When the night had veild the pole; In the morning glad I see; My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

A POISON TREE THEMES & MEANINGS

Themes: Anger- This poem displays the most brutal type of anger in which the person holds in their anger and allows it to consume them from the inside out. Symbols: Plants- The plants are a metaphor for his anger growing, essentially into a poison apple tree, and killing his enemy. You must water a plant in order for it to grow so the water is represents his tears and angst that fuels his anger.

METER & RHYME SCHEME

The meter is iambic tetrameter and trochaic trimeter. The reason he picks these two rhythms is because iambic and trochaic are opposites. Therefore, it symbolizes the dislike between the narrator and his enemy.

Rhyme scheme is AABB. Although this may be a simple poem to read, it hides complex meanings. The simplicity of it symbolizes how the simplest of things can set of the human nature and essentially cause the death of many.

THE LAMBLittle Lamb who made theeDost thou know who made theeGave thee life & bid thee feed.By the stream & o’er the mead;Gave thee clothing of delight,Softest clothing wooly bright;Gave thee such a tender voice,Making all the vales rejoice!Little Lamb who made theeDost thou know who made thee

Little Lamb I’ll tell thee,Little Lamb I’ll tell thee!He is called by thy name,For he calls himself a Lamb:He is meek & he is mild,He became a little child:I a child & thou a lamb,We are called by his name.Little Lamb God bless thee.Little Lamb God bless thee.

THE LAMB THEMES & MEANING

Themes: Innocence is a prevalent theme throughout all of Blake’s poetry. The other theme is man and the natural world. In the poem, the natural world is not a bad place like reality. In this, the poem implies that God is a kind caretaker and will lead us innocent lambs through the world. Symbols: The lamb represents the innocence in the natural world and the theme of childhood.

METER & RHYME SCHEME

The meter is Iambic pentameter. This meter sounds much like a child’s rhyme. The meter connects with the innocence of children and lambs.

The rhyme scheme is AABBCCDDAA for the first stanza and AAEFGGEFAA. The rhyme scheme also contains a song like quality or represents the soft bleating of a lamb.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/175222

http://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/blake/section1.rhtml