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Romanticism in The Marriage of Heaven and Hell by William Blake

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Romanticism in William Blake's Poem William Blake was a poet, painter, and a printmaker all during the period in literature known as the Romantic time period. The Romantic time period, also known in Literature as 'Romanticism' began in Europe, mainly France and Britain around the 1800s (Barker) and it was first defined as a tool to in literature and literary criticisms (Galitz). The Romantic period did not just focus on literature, but also on the subjects of art and knowledge which was "fueled by the French Revolution" and was also "a reaction to the scientific rationalism and classicism of the Age of Enlightenment" (Foundations of Romanticism). "Romanticism emerged also as a response to the disillusionment with the Enlightenment values …show more content…

The theme of imagination was a critical authority in the Romantic time period as well (Characteristics of Romanticism). William Blake uses aspects of Romanticism in his poem "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell", by including themes such as the supernatural, love of nature, and lastly, imagination. In the poem "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell" by William Blake, one of his most prominent and obvious themes of Romanticism is that of the supernatural. The word supernatural means "attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding of the laws of nature" (Merriam-Webster). "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell" was Blake's way of taking his emotions and painting us a picture but in a way that was made up, or imaginative. (Cuddon, Morner and Rausch). In Blake's poem "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell" there are examples of the supernatural theme present because of how he is comparing and contrasting both heaven and hell. Blake makes the Devil and evil seem very real in a very gothic and gory way, but he also does not fail to mention the importance of good in relation to God, also Blake mentions Angels in his poem too. Throughout the poem, there is a never-ending battle between dualism because Blake says that without good or evil, we are nothing. (Reflections on Great Literature). Having to do with the good and the bad, Romantics believed that humans were already naturally good (Characteristics of Romanticism). Blake assures that without

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