Question

Which Romantic poet excelled all his contemporaries in sustained symbolism?

• A. John Keats
• B. William Blake
• C. Samuel Coleridge
• D. Lord Byron

Answer 1

Answer:

B. William Blake

William Blake: Master of Sustained Symbolism

• William Blake (1757-1827) was a prominent figure in the Romantic era, unique for his dual genius as both a poet and an artist (engraver and painter). His works are often characterized by their profound mystical and visionary elements.
• He excelled in sustained symbolism by creating a complex and highly personal mythological system, which he developed and referenced consistently across many of his major works, particularly his 'Prophetic Books'. This is unlike other Romantic poets who might use symbolism extensively but not build an entire interconnected world of symbols.
• Blake's symbolism is sustained because his characters (e.g., Urizen, Los, Orc, Albion), places, and concepts (e.g., states of Innocence and Experience) are not merely isolated metaphors but form an elaborate, evolving cosmology that explores themes of creation, fall, redemption, and the human condition.

• Key Examples of Blake's Symbolism:

  • Songs of Innocence and of Experience: This collection famously uses contrasting symbols like the Lamb (representing innocence, gentleness, and Christ) and the Tyger (representing awe-inspiring, fearsome, and divine creation, or the 'fearful symmetry' of the sublime). The Chimney Sweeper and the Little Black Boy also carry deep symbolic weight.
  • Prophetic Books (e.g., Milton, Jerusalem, The Four Zoas): These massive, illuminated poems delve into his complex mythology.
  • Urizen: Often symbolizes oppressive reason, conventional religion, and tyranny.
  • Los: Represents the prophetic imagination, artistic creativity, and divine inspiration.
  • Albion: The primordial giant, symbolizing humanity or England in its fallen and potentially redeemed state.
  • The Four Zoas (Urizen, Los, Tharmas, Luvah/Orc): Represent fundamental aspects of the human psyche or divine principles that become fragmented and fallen.
• Blake's method of illuminated printing, where he etched his poems and illustrations onto copper plates, ensured that his visual symbols were inextricably linked to his poetic text, reinforcing the sustained nature of his symbolic narratives.
• Unlike contemporaries like Wordsworth or Coleridge, whose symbolism often drew from nature or specific allegories, Blake constructed an entire internal symbolic universe that he believed reflected ultimate spiritual truths.
• His work challenges conventional religion, politics, and rationality, advocating for the supremacy of imagination and artistic vision as pathways to truth.
• For competitive exams, remember Blake as the Romantic poet known for his visionary mysticism, his unique mythopoeia, and his integrated approach to poetry and visual art.