William Blake: the Poems (Analysing Texts)

Focusing on the Songs of Innocence and Experience, this book uses close analysis and interpretation of individual poems to build the reader's confidence when approaching Blake's lyrics and meeting his thought. Chapters on innocence and experience, the natural world, society and personal relationships move from the lyrics and take the reader on towards the later and longer poems, Blake's "Prophetic Books". In the second part, information about Blake's life and work and a comparison of three important critical views, as well as useful suggestions for further reading, provide a bridge towards further study.