English Preromanticism: William Blake
Klaipeda University
Institute of Continuing studies
Department of English Philology
Diana Griciuvien'
English Preromanticism: William Blake
Term Paper
Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. M. Šidlauskas
2008
CONTENTS
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………...............3
1. William Blake-a forerunner of English Romanticism 1 William Blake-a social critic of his own time………………………………………..6 2 William Blake’s ideas and the Modern World………………………………………6
2. “Songs of innocence and of Experience”-the most popular W.Blake’s poem book 1 The social significance of W. Blake’s work…………………………………………8 2 Paired poems-one of the most important characteristic……………………………....8
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………..11
References……………………………………………………………………………………...12
INTRODUCTION
The object of this work is the features of English Preromanticism. The 18th century was a period of great literary works which focused on public and general themes, until the Preromantic era when literary works began to focus on personal expression. The Preromantic period presents the gap between the Enlightenment period and the Romantic period. The period of Enlightenment was a time of extensive change in people’s lives and ways of thinking. Economic and social advancement of the middle classes also helped to characterize the social history behind the Enlightenment movement. In England Preromanticism started with what is usually known as “The Graveyard School of Poetry”. The preromantics were a group of poets-Blake, Crabbe, Smart, Cowper, Gray, Collins and others-who aims were to pay more attention at the lower class and the social problems, and to the love of nature that became typical of English romanticism. Preromantics so emphasized the ideals of originality and sincerity. Although they prepared the way for the full flowering of Romanticism for Wordsworth, Keats, Coleridge and the lot. The Preromanticism was undoubtedly the reaction to the
Institute of Continuing studies
Department of English Philology
Diana Griciuvien'
English Preromanticism: William Blake
Term Paper
Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. M. Šidlauskas
2008
CONTENTS
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………...............3
1. William Blake-a forerunner of English Romanticism 1 William Blake-a social critic of his own time………………………………………..6 2 William Blake’s ideas and the Modern World………………………………………6
2. “Songs of innocence and of Experience”-the most popular W.Blake’s poem book 1 The social significance of W. Blake’s work…………………………………………8 2 Paired poems-one of the most important characteristic……………………………....8
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………..11
References……………………………………………………………………………………...12
INTRODUCTION
The object of this work is the features of English Preromanticism. The 18th century was a period of great literary works which focused on public and general themes, until the Preromantic era when literary works began to focus on personal expression. The Preromantic period presents the gap between the Enlightenment period and the Romantic period. The period of Enlightenment was a time of extensive change in people’s lives and ways of thinking. Economic and social advancement of the middle classes also helped to characterize the social history behind the Enlightenment movement. In England Preromanticism started with what is usually known as “The Graveyard School of Poetry”. The preromantics were a group of poets-Blake, Crabbe, Smart, Cowper, Gray, Collins and others-who aims were to pay more attention at the lower class and the social problems, and to the love of nature that became typical of English romanticism. Preromantics so emphasized the ideals of originality and sincerity. Although they prepared the way for the full flowering of Romanticism for Wordsworth, Keats, Coleridge and the lot. The Preromanticism was undoubtedly the reaction to the
References: Does thy life destroy?”(Blake, 1998). Profumo, M. 2006. The Cultural Significance of William Blake, available from: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/; Internet Morris, E Mooney P. 1997. William Blake’s Relevance to the Modern World, available from: http://mythosandlogos.com/Blake.html; Internet Milošas, Č