Class 12 English Notes Poetry 3 (Poems by Blake) – Kaliedoscope Book
Detailed Notes with MCQs of the two poems by William Blake prescribed in your Kaleidoscope textbook: "The Divine Image" and "The Human Abstract." These are crucial not just for understanding Blake, but also because his contrasting perspectives often feature in competitive exams.
William Blake (1757-1827): An Introduction
- Context: Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, he is now considered a seminal figure in the history of the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age.
- Mysticism & Visionary: Blake claimed to experience visions throughout his life, which heavily influenced his work. He created his own complex mythology and symbolism.
- Songs of Innocence and of Experience (1794): This is Blake's most famous collection. It presents poems in pairs, showing "the Two Contrary States of the Human Soul."
- Innocence: Represents a state of genuine love, naive trust, childhood, and harmony with nature and God. Poems often have a simple, song-like quality. ("The Divine Image" is from this section).
- Experience: Represents the adult world of disillusionment, corruption, social and political injustice, and the loss of innocence. Poems are often darker, more complex, and critical. ("The Human Abstract" is from this section).
Poem 1: The Divine Image (From Songs of Innocence)
-
Central Theme: The poem celebrates the divine virtues of Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love, arguing that these are not only God's attributes but also the ideal essence of humanity. God and Man are intrinsically linked through these virtues.
-
Stanza-wise Analysis:
- Stanza 1: Introduces the four cardinal virtues: Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love. Blake states that all people pray to these virtues in times of distress.
- Stanza 2: Explicitly identifies these four virtues with God ("Our father dear"). God is these qualities.
- Stanza 3: Connects these virtues directly to Man. Man embodies these qualities: Mercy (human heart), Pity (human face), Peace (human form divine), Love (human dress). This suggests humans are made in God's image, reflecting these divine traits.
- Stanza 4: Reinforces the idea that people pray to the "human form divine" embodying these virtues, regardless of their cultural or religious background ("Heathen, Turk or Jew"). This emphasizes universality.
- Stanza 5: Concludes that where Mercy, Love, and Pity dwell, God dwells too. It equates loving the "human form divine" (i.e., humans embodying these virtues) with loving God.
-
Literary Devices:
- Repetition: "Mercy Pity Peace and Love" is repeated, emphasizing their importance.
- Personification: The abstract virtues (Mercy, Pity, Peace, Love) are treated as entities to whom one prays.
- Symbolism: The virtues themselves symbolize the divine essence within humanity. The "human form divine" symbolizes the ideal human potential.
- Simple Diction & Rhyme Scheme (ABCB): Creates a song-like, innocent, and easily accessible quality, typical of Songs of Innocence.
-
Tone: Devotional, optimistic, simple, universal, harmonious.
-
Key Takeaways for Exams:
- Know the four virtues: Mercy, Pity, Peace, Love.
- Understand the core message: God and Man are united through these virtues; humanity reflects the divine.
- Recognize it belongs to Songs of Innocence due to its optimistic and harmonious view.
- Note the emphasis on universality and innate goodness.
Poem 2: The Human Abstract (From Songs of Experience)
-
Central Theme: This poem offers a starkly contrasting, critical perspective. It argues that the virtues celebrated in "The Divine Image" (specifically Pity and Mercy) only exist because of human-created suffering (poverty and misery). It further explores how abstract virtues like Humility can be hypocritical and lead to the growth of "Mystery" (obscurantism, often associated with organised religion) and Deceit, ultimately rooted in the human mind.
-
Stanza-wise Analysis:
- Stanza 1: Directly challenges the premise of "The Divine Image." "Pity would be no more, / If we did not make somebody Poor;" and "Mercy no more could be, / If all were as happy as we;". Virtues arise from negative conditions.
- Stanza 2: Explores the origin of 'Peace'. It arises not from divine harmony, but from "mutual fear". Selfishness ("selfish loves") increases, creating a false sense of security.
- Stanza 3: Introduces "Humility," which takes root hypocritically ("underneath his foot"). This false humility grows into "Mystery," suggesting obscure religious dogma or oppressive systems that thrive on ignorance.
- Stanza 4: Mystery spreads, nourished by "Catterpillar and Fly" (often interpreted as priests or parasitic elements of society) who feed on it. This creates a dark, oppressive environment ("shade").
- Stanza 5: This "Tree" of Mystery bears the fruit of "Deceit," which appears attractive ("ruddy and sweet") but is fundamentally false and harmful.
- Stanza 6: The ultimate source of this corrupting tree is identified: "The Gods of the earth and sea, / Sought thro' Nature to find this Tree / But their search was all in vain: / There grows one in the Human Brain". Evil and corruption are not external forces but originate within the human mind and its constructs. The "Raven" (symbol of death, ill-omen) nests in its shade, signifying the deadly nature of this system.
-
Literary Devices:
- Allegory: The entire poem, particularly the growth of the "Tree of Mystery," is an allegory for the development of oppressive systems (religious, social, psychological) rooted in human hypocrisy and fear.
- Symbolism:
- Tree: Represents the growth of error, Mystery, Deceit, rooted in the mind.
- Humility: Represents false, hypocritical virtue.
- Mystery: Represents obscurantism, dogma, oppressive religious/social structures.
- Caterpillar and Fly: Represent those who perpetuate and feed off Mystery (e.g., corrupt clergy).
- Fruit of Deceit: Represents the harmful outcomes of these systems.
- Raven: Represents death, darkness, evil finding a home within this structure.
- Human Brain: Symbolizes the origin of these abstract evils.
- Irony: Virtues like Pity and Mercy are shown to depend on negative states. Peace arises from fear.
- Contrast: Directly contrasts the naive view of virtues in "The Divine Image."
- Rhyme Scheme (AABB): Simple structure, but the content is complex and dark.
-
Tone: Critical, cynical, analytical, disillusioned, dark.
-
Key Takeaways for Exams:
- Understand the critique: Virtues can be dependent on suffering and can be corrupted.
- Know the allegory of the Tree of Mystery and its components (Humility, Mystery, Deceit, Raven).
- Recognize the source of evil identified: the Human Brain/Mind.
- Recognize it belongs to Songs of Experience due to its critical and disillusioned view.
- Contrast its message directly with "The Divine Image."
Comparison: Innocence vs. Experience
- "The Divine Image" presents an idealised world where divine virtues are inherent in humanity. God = Virtues = Man.
- "The Human Abstract" presents a fallen world where virtues are either reactions to suffering or hypocritical constructs that breed deceit and oppression, originating in the human mind. Suffering -> Virtue; False Virtue -> Mystery -> Deceit.
Understanding this contrast is key to grasping Blake's dualistic vision.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
-
Which collection does "The Divine Image" belong to?
a) Songs of Experience
b) The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
c) Songs of Innocence
d) Poetical Sketches -
According to "The Divine Image," which four virtues represent both God and the ideal human?
a) Faith, Hope, Charity, Love
b) Mercy, Pity, Peace, Love
c) Justice, Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence
d) Humility, Kindness, Patience, Joy -
What is the central argument of "The Human Abstract" regarding virtues like Pity and Mercy?
a) They are the highest forms of human achievement.
b) They are divine gifts unrelated to human conditions.
c) They only exist because of human-created suffering like poverty and misery.
d) They are illusions and do not truly exist. -
In "The Human Abstract," what does the "Tree" that grows symbolize?
a) The beauty of nature
b) The growth of genuine wisdom
c) The Tree of Life from the Bible
d) The growth of Mystery, Deceit, and oppressive systems -
According to "The Human Abstract," where does the Tree of Mystery ultimately grow?
a) In Heaven
b) In Hell
c) In the Human Brain
d) Throughout Nature -
Which literary device is most central to the structure and meaning of "The Human Abstract"?
a) Simile
b) Metaphor
c) Allegory
d) Onomatopoeia -
What creature nests in the branches of the Tree of Mystery in "The Human Abstract," symbolizing death or evil?
a) A Dove
b) A Sparrow
c) An Eagle
d) A Raven -
The tone of "The Divine Image" can best be described as:
a) Cynical and critical
b) Optimistic and devotional
c) Satirical and humorous
d) Melancholy and regretful -
In "The Human Abstract," "Humility" is depicted as:
a) A genuine virtue leading to enlightenment
b) A hypocritical act that allows "Mystery" to grow
c) A sign of weakness to be overcome
d) The foundation of true peace -
The primary difference between "The Divine Image" and "The Human Abstract" lies in their depiction of:
a) The beauty of the natural world
b) The relationship between God, humanity, and virtue
c) The importance of political revolution
d) The structure of the afterlife
Answer Key:
- c) Songs of Innocence
- b) Mercy, Pity, Peace, Love
- c) They only exist because of human-created suffering like poverty and misery.
- d) The growth of Mystery, Deceit, and oppressive systems
- c) In the Human Brain
- c) Allegory
- d) A Raven
- b) Optimistic and devotional
- b) A hypocritical act that allows "Mystery" to grow
- b) The relationship between God, humanity, and virtue
Study these notes carefully, focusing on the core themes, symbolism, and the contrast between the two states Blake presents. Good luck with your preparation!