Blake Romanticism the poems Introduct and Earths Answer
Blake Romanticism - the poems Introduct and Earth’s AnswerThe poems “Introduction” from Songs of Experience and “Earth’s Answer” by Blake illustrate well the aspects of literary works of the Romantic Age. These poems are identifiable to this age because of the themes they contain and how Blake uses poetic diction. Using these tools of writing, Blake impresses upon the readers his thoughts and ideas. With these three elements, Blake presents these two poems, good examples of the Romantic works of the era.
These poems contain prominent themes of the Romantic Age: nature, love, and reform. Blake uses the Earth as the subject spoken to, and the one who speaks back. Instead of having the Bard speak to the human race, Blake has him speak to the Earth herself. The Bard states that the Earth and her people have fallen from grace and that she has turned away from God. The Bard demands “O Earth O Earth return! /Arise from out of the dewy grass” and “Turn away no more” (ISOE 11,12,16). The Earth has a different side to the story. The Earth says she is weary and filled with despair. And the way to help her is “That free Love with bondage bound” (EA 25). Blake expresses through these poems his wish for reform. He feels that the world is digressing, and wishes for it to return into the light of God. He feels this must be done through love. Romantic writers generally saw humanity as naturally good, but corrupted because of society and its institutions of education, religion, and government. Blake is expressing this feeling in these two poems, and offers that the solution is through the powers of love.
Poetic diction is used profusely in writings from the Romantic Age. These poems use personification and visual immediacy. Personification is the most predominant use of poetic diction in these works. Earth comes to life and represents the state of mankind. She is spoken to by the Bard, and gives answers to the Bard’s demands. The “earth rais’d up her head” (EA 1) in her weariness...
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