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The poem has to be read within the context of when it was written. That would be the Industrial Revolution in England specifically London.


  1. Auguries of Innocence - Wikipedia.
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  3. Analysis of Auguries of Innocence by William Blake.

Blake was witness to child labor which included chimney sweepers which would cut the life of children dramatically. Of course he was witness to prostitution and the merciless life of factory workers and the epic divide between the rich and the poor.

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Basically how inhumane man was to his fellow man. Not only that he mourned the transition from the natural worl The poem has to be read within the context of when it was written. Not only that he mourned the transition from the natural world to the mechanized. The poem is mostly symbolic questioning the choices made and the price that will be paid. It also questions those who are rich whether they can live with themselves knowing people are suffering. Feb 06, Jad Hafez Wannous rated it really liked it. Nov 28, Anuja Papriwal rated it really liked it Shelves: Blake was a maestro! Jun 05, Colton Osborn rated it it was amazing.

Auguries of Innocence

The door to a grander world view. Nov 23, John Yelverton rated it liked it. It's a good poem, but I'm used to much better work from William Blake. Read the poem for the exercise in poetry, but don't hang a theological hat on it. Oct 27, VII rated it liked it. I am not sure but I think I first heard about this poem from the movie "Dead Man". I do know that these lines continue to haunt me: Every night and every morn Some to misery are born, Every morn and every night Some are born to sweet delight. Some are born to sweet delight, Some are born to endless night.

To give a stupid example, two days ago, while working the logistics of the shift of my sleep schedule to a more convienent cycle, I imagined that I was cycling at 4am and that a Aug 26, Logan rated it liked it Shelves: I'm usually not one for poems, but this one definitely makes it to my favorites if only for some lines' sheer beauty. The poem itself takes maybe five minutes to read, and it's well worth every moment. Oct 28, Ivan rated it really liked it. Feb 13, Ellis Knox rated it really liked it.

This book was given me by Tim Jennings, a school friend. It's Blake; no more need be said. All of these small things have ripples and ripples of dire consequences.


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  • Despite all the misery that exists, Blake does not want us to despair: Society moves on, and everyone is important, and becomes a part of the eternity that we strive towards in the end. The noises of a distraught world continue, however Blake wants to show that these sounds are not in vain: This is not to say that there is no retaliation on the earthly plain — as the last two lines show, whoever does bad things on earth will be punished in the afterlife.

    Here are more examples of men whose life will be set to rights in the Heaven: This is parallel to the couplet that came before — the man who teaches children to believe will never die. Blake writes here about the importance of thinking, of trying to understand the world around you, of making up your own philosophy rather than following the perceived status quo.

    Arts, on the other hand, help to strengthen society; a society built on peace can never truly be destroyed. Does doubting everything do good? Blake does not believe so. One must have a system of belief; one cannot get through life without it, and he shows that everyone, from the philosopher, to the layman, has a system of belief; even nature itself believes in greater things.

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    This might be a dig at the scientific ideas of the French Revolution, where there was no greater thought than the destruction of religion. Here, Blake thinks that the small corruptions will ultimately ruin England itself. By allowing prostitution and gambling, one is setting up the irreversible fate of England. Nothing is set in stone. Although one day you may be unhappy, the next you might be happy. Blake therefore does not want the reader to despair; there is a better life ahead.

    The winner's shout, the loser's curse, Dance before dead England's hearse. Every night and every morn Some to misery are born, Every morn and every night Some are born to sweet delight.

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    Some are born to sweet delight, Some are born to endless night. We are led to believe a lie When we see not thro' the eye, Which was born in a night to perish in a night, When the soul slept in beams of light. God appears, and God is light, To those poor souls who dwell in night; But does a human form display To those who dwell in realms of day.

    William Blake - Auguries of Innocence

    Clever indeed is the stead That seeks to lead others on their knees. Where dos thou go in times of strife Surely not towards sounds of delight. The crow caws same as leaves fall As so too do people ever wonder. A dollar to a man, a sheet for the eyes A sheet is set ablaze by power and knowledge.

    To know is the key To unlock the forever mysterious glee The fog creepith in sight, Just as readily as moonlight. The cries of change are no longer nigh As we close ours eyes to a slow demise. Tomorrow is the new day Same as a blind man choosing another way. Together there is strength as sticks in a bunch Steadfast we hold, to hold up another day. At last we see it the end is in sight Do not dare to shut off your own light.


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    • When the goal has been reached The poor man and rich man together may stand. Forever the head of the beggar held high As all of mankind stand as one and equals. Lines from the poem were set to music in by Benjamin Britten as part of his song cycle Songs and Proverbs of William Blake. The Agatha Christie novel Endless Night ' s title was inspired by this poem.

      Six lines of the poem were recited in a film, Dead Man. The lines were recited by the character named Nobody. The first four lines of the poem were recited in the film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider by Angelina Jolie. On May 10, , the first four lines of the poem were recited in Season 2 Episode 2 titled "Verbis Diablo" [5] of the television series Penny Dreadful. The four lines were recited by the character "The Creature" better known as John Clare played by Rory Kinnear to the character Vanessa Ives played by Eva Green during a conversation the two were having about theology and philosophy.

      The first four lines were heavily tied into the main plot of Alex Comfort 's novel Tetrarch.

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      In the film Dead Man, directed by Jim Jarmusch, used the lines "Some are born to sweet delight, others born to endless night. A character in the film called 'Exabucha,' a native American, who goes by Nobody, befriends Johnny Depp's character, William Blake, and mistakes him for the poet as they share the same name. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. This article is about the poem by William Blake. This article needs additional citations for verification.

      Auguries of Innocence by William Blake

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