William Blake
English poet, painter, and printmaker whose Songs of Innocence and Experience and prophetic books created a visionary mythology critiquing rationalism and social injustice. He is considered the first major Romantic poet.
Works
- Songs of Innocence and ExperienceDual collection showing childhood innocence and adult experience through symbolic imagery
- The Marriage of Heaven and HellProphetic prose poem celebrating creative imagination and rebellion against rational authority
- MiltonMystical poem reworking Milton's epic with visionary intensity and personal spiritual mythology
- JerusalemVisionary epic depicting the building of an imaginary city and spiritual redemption
- The Four ZoasComplex visionary poem depicting cosmic drama between warring deities of mind and emotion