Question: How did the Industrial Revolution affect the poetry of William Blake and William Wordsworth?
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Okay, I'm not quite sure if I understand this correctly. Wasn't Wordsworth a supporter of the IR? And wasn't Blake thought to see the IR as a prophetic sign of the transformation of the world and hope that society would of been destroyed and remade?
But were the two Romantics after shunning the IR for it bought the change of being not close to nature in Europe?
Was Blake seeking peace? He had obvious Christian themes in his poetry?
And didn't Wordsworth think the world was happening too fast?
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&as_q=Industrial+Revolution+affect+poetry+of+William+Blake+&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&num=10&lr=&as_filetype=&ft=i&as_sitesearch=&as_qdr=all&as_rights=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=images
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&as_qdr=all&q=Industrial+Revolution+affect+poetry+of+William+Wadsworth&btnG=Search
Let us know what your conclusions are.
Hmmm...this question is one I just can't seem to correctly phrase.
Answer: The poetry of William Blake and William Wordsworth was each individually affected by the Industrial Revolution. The older poet, Blake, could simply be said to hate the Revolution and the way it affected England while expressing that opinion in his work. When Blake wrote his work had a dark tone, expressing his dislike of the change as seen in “The Tyger”.
The younger poet took every aspect of nature and beautified it. He brought out the hidden, true beauty of life and showed it to all those who read his work. Wordsworth saw the change in the social and economic conditions and it had become an ugly scene. He had tried to express to his readers that the factories, mines, and other fields of the Industrial Revolution were cause of all the social and economic problems. Wordsworth wanted those who read his work to see that all those new inventions were doing was causing life's hardships.
Yes, you're correct that there were differences in how William Blake and William Wordsworth viewed the Industrial Revolution and how it influenced their poetry. Let's break it down:
1. William Blake:
- Blake was critical of the Industrial Revolution and the societal changes it brought. He saw it as a dehumanizing force that moved society away from nature and the spiritual.
- His poetry often expressed concern for the loss of human connection, spiritual values, and the impact on the working class.
- Blake's Christian themes were prominent in his poetry as he sought to critique the negative effects of industrialization and call for a return to a more idealized and harmonious world.
2. William Wordsworth:
- Wordsworth's stance towards the Industrial Revolution was more complex. In the early stages, Wordsworth was optimistic and supportive, believing that industrialization could lead to progress.
- However, as the negative consequences of industrialization became evident - degradation of the natural environment, social inequality, and a loss of connection with nature - Wordsworth's attitude changed.
- In his later poetry, he expressed a sense of loss and lamented the disconnection from nature and traditional ways of life brought about by rapid industrialization.
While Blake and Wordsworth had different perspectives, they shared a common concern about the impact of the Industrial Revolution on human experience and the natural world. Their poetry reflected these concerns and served as a means to express their thoughts and critique the changes they observed.
To further explore this topic, you can refer to the works of Blake and Wordsworth, analyze their poems in relation to the Industrial Revolution, and explore the historical context of the time. This will provide a deeper understanding of their viewpoints and how they influenced their poetry.