i ask because a lot of people will have heard of him and will have heard his writings praised by the likes of allen ginsberg, but will wonder if books that old can still be relevant.
im not a twentsomething....but i was interested to know what devotees would say in his defence that could make blake sound interesting to know-nothing young whippersnappers!
also he's a distant relative, so ive always wondered if he was much cop... or just an over rated old windbag of a dreamer!
2007-02-26 01:02:23 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
He was the forerunner to what many call the enlightenment.
Writers like Aldous Huxley, DH Lawrence, etc.
I wouldn't call myself a devotee, but if Blake only did one thing in his life, that's his great anthem, Jerusalem, then that would be enough for me.
2007-02-26 01:52:54 · answer #1 · answered by Panama Jack 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A twenty something would want to read his books because they would want to find out what it all means. His poetry is pretty confusing at first and he was considered insane by everybody around him...
Take one of his most famous poems The Tiger. In the original it was Tyger which makes you think of a spring, but burning bright is like the orange on a tigers fur.
You get the point, don't you?
2007-02-26 11:17:39 · answer #2 · answered by Elephante 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
William Blake's writings and art are of considerable relevance today, as indeed they were when he was alive.
If you are lucky enough to go to or listen to the BBC Proms, you will be able to hear one of Wm Blake's greatest poems being performed in a musical format;
[...and did those feet in ancient times, walk upon England's mountain's green.....etc.] Wm. Blake described the coming of the Industrial Revolution as 'those dark Satanic Mills...' Read on.
Wm. Blake joined the Evangelical movement and I guess if we have to pigeon hole him, then the best political slot today would be to describe him as a Liberal *** Socialist.
2007-02-26 09:15:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Blake is still influencing artists and intellectuals today. Philip Pullman's brilliant His Dark Materials was strongly influenced by Blake, and it is not only critically acclaimed but immensly popular.
The Bible is much older, and still much read and influential. I don't think Blake's age is relevant to his relevancy [:)]. It's the quality of the work.
2007-02-26 09:35:41 · answer #4 · answered by suzykew70 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By reading old books of anything, helps us today. We learn a lot from older people and can and do adapt their ideas to our own. A lot of the old ways were the good ways when you look at the state of the world today
2007-02-26 09:11:34 · answer #5 · answered by rockandrollrev 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Brilliant man, inspiration of Jim Morrison of The Doors.
2007-02-26 09:26:38 · answer #6 · answered by SAR13 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All i can say is i saw his artwork at the Tate and think he is a genius- I'm not religious- but this bloke was a lovely character and full of inspiration and charm and innocence. His paintings are gorgeous. If i won the lottery ten times- i'd buy one!
2007-02-26 09:11:04 · answer #7 · answered by brainlady 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he was a man of many interests. a reinasscance (sp?) man if you will. i always remember this beautiful line from one of his poems (the marriage of heaven and hell, i think);
when the doors of perception are cleansed, man will see everything as it truly is; infinite'
2007-02-26 09:16:50 · answer #8 · answered by tainantsy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is relevant because he talks about universals, about thing you and me can still experience, about soul and spirituality.
2007-02-26 09:25:07 · answer #9 · answered by remy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋