William Blake Poems - Poem Analysis (2024)

‘The Tyger’ is a well-known poem by William Blake. It explores the dark and destructive side of God and his creation.

Perhaps Blake’s best-known poem, and certainly one of the most widely anthologized, ‘The Tyger’, delves into the nature of God and creation. The speaker considers the ferocity of the tiger and how they are supposed to reconcile its fearsome nature with the goodness and peacefulness of God seen through other elements of his creation. Blake’s speaker asks the tiger where its eyes were made and how any divine being could’ve made the decision to craft it in such a way. Although admitting his own fear of this creature, he also acknowledges its beauty and the skill it would’ve taken to create it.

Tyger Tyger, burning bright,

In the forests of the night;

What immortal hand or eye,

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

‘The Sick Rose’ by William Blake describes the loss of a woman’s virginity through the metaphor of a rose and invisible worm.

This is one of William Blake’s best-known poems. It is made up of one extended metaphor that alludes to perceived female purity. The speaker compares the rose, a symbol of nature, beauty, and fragility, to a woman’s innocence or chastity.

O Rose thou art sick.

The invisible worm,

That flies in the night

In the howling storm:

‘A Poison Tree’ presents the consequences of harboring anger, which becomes a poisonous tree wreaking devastation.

‘A Poison Tree’ was published in 1794 in William Blake’s Songs of Experience. It is noted for its simple language and rhythm that evokes the patterning of nursery rhymes. But, there is much more to it than initially meets the eye. Blake’s speaker considers what anger is and two different ways of confronting it. First, one might move past it by speaking about its cause. In the second, the anger takes root through the image of a tree that unfortunately, bears poisoned apples. This is an outcome that is far from ideal and only perpetuates the cycle of anger and violence.

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.

‘London’ by William Blake exposes the dreadful realities of the poor who call the city home, placing particular blame upon the religious and political institutions that have seemingly turned a blind eye to the horror.

Originally appearing in Blake's collection of poetry entitled 'Songs of Experience,' this poem explores the social turmoil that has consumed the city of London. Through his use of imagery and figurative language he laments over the nightmarish existence faced by its inhabitants. Even centuries later, the poem's daunting illustrations of life in this industrial and politically oppressive city remain exceptionally relevant as an image of dystopian horror.

I wander thro' each charter'd street,

Near where the charter'd Thames does flow.

And mark in every face I meet

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Marks of weakness, marks of woe.

‘The Lamb’ by William Blake was included in The Songs of Innocence published in 1789. It is regarded “as one of the great lyrics of English Literature.”

‘The Lamb’ is the companion piece to Blake’s ‘The Tyger’. It was published at the same time and uses the lamb as an image of God’s goodness and overarching will. The perspective is a little different in ‘The Lamb’ than it is in ‘The Tyger,’ but there is a similarity in that the speaker, this time a child, is addressing the title animal. They speak to the creature and take note of its soft wool and the simple noises it makes. The second stanza answers any questions the speaker posed in the first half. The childish speaker tells the reader and the lamb that it was, in fact God, another lamb, who created everything on earth, including the child himself.

Little Lamb who made thee

Dost thou know who made thee

Gave thee life & bid thee feed.

By the stream & o'er the mead;

‘Never Seek to Tell thy Love’ by William Blake describes one man’s choice to reveal his true feelings to his “love” and the failure of that effort.

‘Never Seek to Tell Thy Love’ describes one man’s choice to reveal his true feelings to his “love” and the failure of that effort. The speaker addresses the reader of the poem, whoever that might be. He tells them that they should abstain if they consider sharing their emotions with another person. The confessor might think that sharing their most intimate feelings is a good thing, but even a “gentle wind” is felt. Everything has an impact.

Never seek to tell thy love

Love that never told can be

For the gentle wind does move

Silently invisibly

In 1789 (the year of the beginning of the French Revolution), Blake brought out his Songs of Innocence, which included ‘The Chimney Sweeper.’

This piece was published in two parts in 1789 and 1794 in Songs of Innocence and of Experience. It focuses on the horrors of child labor, a practice that was unfortunately rampant in 18th century England, and around the world. In the case of this poem, the speaker considers the plight of young boys who were sold as chimney sweeps. Due to their small size, they were able to fit into the smallest of places.

When my mother died I was very young,

And my father sold me while yet my tongue

Could scarcely cry " 'weep! 'weep! 'weep! 'weep!"

So your chimneys I sweep & in soot I sleep.

‘The Little Boy Lost’ by William Blake is the story of a young child who while out searching for his father gets lost in the woods.

‘The Little Boy Lost’ was first published in 1789 in William Blake’s famous volume, Songs of Innocence. It is only eight lines long, but it digs deep into the terrifying struggles of a young child. Broadly, the poem tells the story of a boy who, while out searching for his father, gets lost in the woods. By the end of the poem, an important moral message comes through. Blake seeks to compare the loss of faith the child felt in the woods and their doubt that they were going to find their father, to a loss of faith in God.

Father, father, where are you going

O do not walk so fast.

Speak father, speak to your little boy

Or else I shall be lost,

‘On Another’s Sorrow’ by William Blake describes the love God has for the world and how it has inspired the speaker to act similarly.

‘On Another’s Sorrow’ was published in William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and is one of the longer poems on this list, reaching nine stanzas. God’s enduring love is the main theme of the poem and the conclusion of nine stanzas of build-up as the speaker moves through natural imagery. He discusses the worth of the smallest of creatures, such as the wren, and how everything and everyone suffers.

Can I see another's woe,

And not be in sorrow too?

Can I see another's grief,

And not seek for kind relief?

‘Song: How sweet I roam’d from field to field’ by William Blake describes the wanderings of a woman who is captured by Apollo.

The female speaker of this poem tells the distressing story of her capture by Apollo (referred to as “Phoebus”). Apollo is notorious in Greek mythology for his often unwanted forays into relationships with women. He is the clear antagonist in this text, but his status as a god complicates the narrative. Apollo kidnaps this woman from a field after appearing to her as the “prince of love.”

How sweet I roam'd from field to field,

And tasted all the summer's pride,

'Till I the prince of love beheld,

Who in the sunny beams did glide!

William Blake’s ‘The Angel’ is told through the frame of an angel who appears in a dream to the narrator throughout their life.

This poem is a representative example of William Blake's poetic style, which is characterized by mystical and visionary themes, often drawing on Christian symbolism and mythology. The poem's emphasis on spirituality and the divine aligns with Blake's broader body of work.

I dreamt a dream! What can it mean?

And that I was a maiden Queen

Guarded by an Angel mild:

Witless woe was ne’er beguiled!

‘Earth’s Answer’ by William Blake is a deep and complicated poem that explores the Earth’s pleas for freedom from oppression. It has been interpreted in a few different ways.

In this poem, he uses personification and symbolism to critique oppressive forces. These represent broader concerns about societal constraints and institutionalized religion. His unique approach, combining visionary mysticism with sharp societal critique, is evident in this poem.

Earth rais'd up her head,

From the darkness dread & drear.

Her light fled:

Stony dread!

And her locks cover'd with grey despair.

‘The Little Girl Lost’ by William Blake weaves innocence, nature’s guardians, and divine intervention into a tapestry of protection and transformation.

This poem encapsulates William Blake's quintessential themes—innocence, mysticism, and the interplay of the divine. The poem's prophetic tone, symbolic imagery, and unexpected transformations align with Blake's visionary style. It resonates with his broader body of work, capturing the mystical and transformative essence that defines his poetry, making it a fitting representation of Blake's distinctive voice and thematic preoccupations.

In futurity

I prophesy

That the earth from sleep

(Grave the sentence deep)

In ‘A Little Boy Lost’ Blake critiques oppressive authority, questioning blind adherence and societal complicity.

This poem exemplifies the quintessential themes found in William Blake's works. The poem showcases Blake's distinctive blend of religious critique, vivid imagery, and symbolic depth. It reflects his recurring motifs, such as the clash between innocence and authority, and highlights his overarching skepticism toward established norms. The poem captures the essence of Blake's unique poetic style and thematic concerns.

‘Nought loves another as itself,

Nor venerates another so,

Nor is it possible to Thought

A greater than itself to know:

‘The Blossom’ by William Blake illustrates that even the natural world is imbued with a range of emotions, as is seen through the robin, the blossom, and the sparrow.

Many of Blake's poems aim to uncover deeper truths about spirituality, emotion, and the human experience through images of nature. In this poem, by focusing on the sparrow and the robin, Blake continues his exploration of contrasting emotional states. This is a theme he also discusses in his other works, such as "Songs of Innocence and Experience."

Merry, merry sparrow!

Under leaves so green

A happy blossom

Sees you, swift as arrow,