William Blake?A-level essay!

does anyone do english literature a-level? if so have u studied william blake. im trying to tackle an essay on The Tyger and struggling! anyone any info on how the french revolution, religion and other things happening at his time influenced his work and this poem in particular??!!

if not any good web sites i could visit for info? thanks guys! xx

Reply 1

Tnacilppa

He was heavily influenced by Jean Jacques Rousseau apparently. May be worth looking him up.

Adam

Reply 2

jammyd

Tnacilppa

He was heavily influenced by Jean Jacques Rousseau apparently. May be worth looking him up.

Adam

'Man was born free, yet everywhere he is in chains'. The first line of Rousseau's 'The Social Contract'. It can be linked to 'The Schoolboy', in 'Innocence', as Blake writes, 'How can a bird that is born for joy sit in a cage and sing'.

I only enjoyed Blake towards the end of studying his work which was a shame, but we had an excellent question in the exam about Blake being a madman then, but a revolutionary now.

Reply 3

babyboo

same here my mum got me a tutor to help me n he helped me look at ol blakey completely differently! his work bored me at first but then i found it so interesting to analyse!