the clod and the pebble

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The Clod and the Pebble William Blake

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The Clod and the PebbleWilliam Blake

William Blake (1757 – 1827)

• English painter, poet & printmaker• Largely unrecognised during his lifetime• Now considered one of the most influential

figures in the history of poetry and visual arts in the Romantic Age.

• His poetry was prophetic, and he was considered mad by some of his contemporaries.

• He is now considered a visionary!

Romanticism• Romanticism was an artistic, literary, and intellectual movement

that originated in Europe toward the end of the 18th century• At its peak from 1800 to 1850. • Partly a reaction to the Industrial Revolution, it was also a revolt

against the aristocratic social and political norms of the Age of Enlightenment (which only valued reason and individualism) and a reaction against the scientific rationalization of nature.

• It was embodied most strongly in the visual arts, music, and literature

• The movement validated intense emotion as an authentic source of aesthetic experience, placing new emphasis on such emotions as apprehension, horror and terror, and confronting untamed nature.

Influences• Blake was reverent of the Bible, but hostile to the Church of

England, and all forms of organised religion• He was influenced by some of the ideals of the French and

American Revolutions• Blake was critical of the marriage laws of his day, and

generally railed against traditional Christian notions of chastity as a virtue.

• He advocated for the removal of all state restrictions on sexual behaviour (“free love” movement later in the 19th century)

• One of Blake's strongest objections to orthodox Christianity is that he felt it encouraged the suppression of natural desires and discouraged earthly joy.

Childhood

• Born in London, 3rd of 7 children• Parents were English Dissenters (separated from

the Church of England in 16th Century)• Blake was baptised• The Bible had a profound influence on him• Left school at the age of 10, to attend drawing

classes• Apprenticed to an engraver• Aged 21, he became a professional engraver

Career• After 2 years in his apprenticeship, Blake was sent to

copy images from the Gothic churches in London• He experienced visions in Westminster Abbey – he saw

Christ and his apostles!• He married the illiterate Catherine Boucher in 1782

and taught her to read and write, as well as to help him engrave

• He made a career of engraving and illustrating, with the addition of poems

• It is claimed that on his deathbed, he burst out singing of the joys of Heaven which he could now witness!

The Clod and the Pebble

• The Clod and the Pebble is from a collection of poems called the Songs of Experience.

• Succeeding the Songs of Innocence, Blake explores the themes of love and the human spirit through the personification of a clod of clay and a pebble in a brook.

The Clod and the Pebble

‘‘Love seeketh not itself to please,Nor for itself hath any care,But for another gives it ease,And builds a heaven in hell’s despair.’’

So sang a little clod of clay,Trodden with the cattle’s feet,But a pebble of the brookWarbled out these metres meet:

‘‘Love seeketh only Self to please,To bind another to its delight,Joys in another’s loss of ease,And builds a hell in heaven’s despite.’’

In Summary• The soft malleable clay has a positive view of love, while the hardened pebble

holds a negative view. The clod of clay has experienced the physicality of being literally, down trodden, yet still holds onto the positive view of love. The pebble, within its song filled picturesque setting, holds to a negative view. Love, according to the clod, has the ability to relieve burden and suffering, to forge a heaven of hope within hellish despair. Love therefore is a force of good; it seeks no reward and takes no position. It is without motive or intent.

• Conversely, the Pebble inhabits an idyllic setting, yet holds onto an embittered view of love. The Pebble says “Love seeketh only self to please,” framing love as a twisted and malicious force intent on inflicting pain and misery for its own delight. This idea is made evident by the line “Joys in another’s loss of ease”. Echoes of the Christian ethos are evident. The meek downtrodden Clod understands at depth, the true nature of love, which the privileged Pebble fails to understand. These two differing views are representative of real life personality types. One person may be wracked with arthritic pain and totally blind, yet still manage a greeting with a joke. Another person may be in perfect health yet always greet one with a complaint about a petty grievance.

Viewpoints to Consider…• It seems that many people condemn the pebble while warmly

embracing the viewpoint of the clod. But as usual, the superficial appearance of the poem masks Blake's true intent. He ridicules the clod as much as he does the pebble, getting crushed underfoot by a stupid bovine for lack of ability to stand up for itself!

• He is really contrasting two extremes of character, both of which he condemns. The clod is too passive, it can bring nothing into a love relationship other than it's pathetic ability to serve, which the pebble brings nothing other than a will to dominate. Whereas in real life, both members of a relationship must have the backbone to stand up for what they believe in, but the empathy to realize when they're in the wrong, and submit to their partner.

Post-reading

• In fact, the Pebble and Clod (published in his book of experience) is best understood if we look at its counterpart \"The Little Black Boy\" in the Songs of Innocence. Much of Blake's poetry is written with an intended counterpart in his other collection of songs. In my opinion, Blake is saying that the clod, despite its innocence, has the courage to love selflessly.