For this build, I will be focusing on William Blake’s life, and the writing of Songs of Innocence and Experience. Blake was born on November 28, 1757, and lived a life of moderate means. He was an artistic child, and at the age of 10 he was enrolled in a drawing school. He then, at age 14, became apprentice to an engraver, James Basire. Once Blake was 21 years old, he left his apprenticeship and enrolled in the Royal Academy, making a living as an engraver. Blake soon met Catherine Boucher, and they were married on August 18, 1782. Catherine could not read or write, and was actually unable to sign her own name. Blake taught Catherine the skills of a reader and writer, and she actually became a very skilled draftsman, and she helped William with his designs. Their marriage was successful, but they did not have any children.

Thereafter, John Flaxman, a friend of Blake’s, introduced him to Harriet Mathew, (who was the wife of the Reverend Henry Mathew). Henry Mathew’s drawing room was often used as a place for artists and musicians to meet. This is where Blake first began writing and singing his poems. Through the help of John Flaxman and Harriet Mathew, in 1783 few of Blake’s poems were published, titled Poetical Sketches. Only about 50 of these copies were printed.

In 1784, Blake’s father died, and he used his inheritance to set up a shop and become a print seller, but the shop was unfortunately unsuccessful. In addition to this poor luck, Blake’s brother, Robert, was becoming increasingly ill. Blake cared for him, unfortunately watching his health deteriorate. After Robert passed away, Blake explained that he felt his brother’s sprit was always with him. Robert was actually the person who taught Blake how to illustrate his poems using copper plates and liquid that could be then transferred onto paper. He illustrated the plates for Songs of Innocence in 1789.

Songs of Innocence was originally published in 1789, then in 1794 a combined version of Songs of Innocence and Experience was published. In Alexander Gilchrist’s Life of William Blake (1863) told his readers that “neither wrote nor drew for the many, hardly for work’y-day men at all, rather for children and angels; himself ‘a divine child,’ whose playthings were sun, moon, and stars, the heavens and the earth.” However, Blake believed his writings able to be understood by the majority. Although, this is hard to gauge now because of his old English writing, but I would generally agree with that. While most children probably would not have understood the deep meanings behind his writing, they would understand the essential narrative. I think of this in the same light as rewatching a favorite childhood movie. The narrative of the movie was understood in childhood, but all of the underlying themes come to light as a matured adult. Especially in “The Lamb” and “The Tyger,” I can imagine “The Lamb” to be a bedtime story read to children, though they don’t really know the meaning behind Songs of Innocence and Experience.

Works Cited

Poetry Foundation. (n.d.). William Blake. Poetry Foundation. Retrieved March 28, 2022, from https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/william-blake

“Divine Images: The Life and Work of William Blake.” Publishers Weekly, vol. 267, no. 39, Sept. 2020, p. 55. EBSCOhost, https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.uvu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsglr&AN=edsglr.A638637499&site=eds-live.

Wright, Thomas. The Life of William Blake. B. Franklin, 1969. EBSCOhost, https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.uvu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat07712a&AN=flc.140348&site=eds-live.