Blake's Contrary States
The 'Songs of Innocence and Experience' as Dramatic Poems
$41.99 (C)
- Author: Bill Gillham
- Date Published: February 2010
- availability: Available
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9780521129862
$
41.99
(C)
Paperback
Other available formats:
Hardback
Looking for an examination copy?
This title is not currently available for examination. However, if you are interested in the title for your course we can consider offering an examination copy. To register your interest please contact [email protected] providing details of the course you are teaching.
-
In a fresh examination of Blake's Songs of Innocence and Experience, poems which often seem strangely contradictory, Dr Gillham suggests that Blake is not stating his own thoughts and feelings but presenting 'dramatic' statements; he projects himself into other points of view, thus exploring possible states of being and feeling in which spiritual energy expresses itself. Certain eighteenth-century theories of the mind are examines, explaining the mind in terms of self-interest. Blake included this view in his vision of 'Experience'. The poems suggest, and explore the possibility that such a view, while true of the mind in one state, is not true of it in another. This other state, 'Innocence', is more outgoing, more responsible and more self-aware. The two states lead to quite different moral, religious and political beliefs, though they can use the same terms in doing so. Dr Gillham shows that poems seemingly in conflict can be seen from a consistent point of view.
Customer reviews
Not yet reviewed
Be the first to review
Review was not posted due to profanity
×Product details
- Date Published: February 2010
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9780521129862
- length: 268 pages
- dimensions: 216 x 140 x 15 mm
- weight: 0.35kg
- availability: Available
Table of Contents
Prefatory note
Introduction
1. The poet as social critic
2. The poet's detachment
3. Blake's criticism of 'nature'
4. The child and 'nature'
5. The gulf between innocence and experience
6. Blake's criticism of 'love'
7. The poet as moral critic
8. Blake's criticism of religion
Appendix: the date of composition of the Songs
Index to poems cited
General index.
Sorry, this resource is locked
Please register or sign in to request access. If you are having problems accessing these resources please email [email protected]
Register Sign in» Proceed
You are now leaving the Cambridge University Press website. Your eBook purchase and download will be completed by our partner www.ebooks.com. Please see the permission section of the www.ebooks.com catalogue page for details of the print & copy limits on our eBooks.
Continue ×Are you sure you want to delete your account?
This cannot be undone.
Thank you for your feedback which will help us improve our service.
If you requested a response, we will make sure to get back to you shortly.
×