William Blake’s ‘The Chimney Sweeper’: Social Criticism and Literary Analysis
William Blake’s “The Chimney Sweeper”: Analysis and Context
This analysis focuses on William Blake’s powerful poem, “The Chimney Sweeper,” which appears in his collection Songs of Experience (1794).
Biography of William Blake (1757–1827)
William Blake was a famous poet, painter, and engraver of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Born in London on November 28, 1757, he displayed artistic talent from an early age. In 1794, Blake published Songs of Experience, which includes the famous poem
Read MorePeter Ackroyd’s Frankenstein: A Gothic Reimagining
Victor Frankenstein’s Grim Pursuit in Limehouse
As Victor Frankenstein begins conducting anatomical experiments to reanimate the dead, he at first uses corpses supplied by the coroner. But these specimens prove imperfect for Victor’s purposes. Moving his makeshift laboratory to a deserted pottery factory in Limehouse, he makes contact with the Doomsday Men—the resurrectionists—whose grisly methods put Frankenstein in great danger as he works feverishly to bring life to the terrifying creature
Read MoreModernist Fiction: Key Features and Narrative Innovations
Modernist Fiction: Key Features and Narrative Innovations
Q1. Key Features of Modernist Fiction vs. Traditional Narratives
Modernist fiction, emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, radically departed from traditional narrative forms. It responded to the disruptions of the modern world—industrialization, urbanization, war, and shifting philosophies—which challenged established beliefs. Traditional narratives, especially realism, emphasized linear storytelling, coherent plots, and objective
Read MoreWilliam Blake’s ‘The Clod and the Pebble’: Love’s Dual Views
William Blake’s ‘The Clod and the Pebble’, a profound work from his collection, masterfully presents two distinct and opposing perspectives on the nature of love. This poem, characteristic of Blake’s exploration of duality, delves into the theme of love through the contrasting voices of a humble clod of clay and a resilient pebble. The poem maintains a delicate balance between these two viewpoints, with Blake employing a consistent poetic style across the main stanzas to highlight their
Read MoreLiterary Insights: Neruda, Rilke, Tolstoy, Chattopadhyay, Chekhov
Pablo Neruda’s “Cat’s Dream” Analysis
Uncovering the Soul of Ordinary Things
In Cat’s Dream, Pablo Neruda uncovers the latent soul of ordinary things by meditating on the quiet, mysterious life of a cat. He sees the cat not just as an animal, but as a symbol of peace, grace, and silent wisdom. The poet marvels at the cat’s detachment from the chaos of the human world. By observing its stillness, poise, and independence, he discovers a deeper essence within the mundane. Neruda believes that even
Read MoreMary Shelley’s Frankenstein: Romanticism & Science
Mary Shelley: Life, Romanticism, and Frankenstein (1797-1851)
The Romantic Movement: Origins and Ideals
Romanticism is a cultural and political movement that took place in both Germany and England. The great majority of critics and historians agree that the Romantic Period began in 1798, when Wordsworth and Coleridge published Lyrical Ballads. This period would last until 1829, with Lord Byron’s death. Romanticism arose as a reaction against the rationality of the Enlightenment and neoclassical
Read More