1. A War Song to
Englishmen and A
Dream
By Daniel Adams
2. Background of William Blake
He was born on November 28,1757 in London, England. William began
writing at an early age and claimed to have had his first vision, of a tree full
of angels, at age 10. He studied engraving and grew to love Gothic art,
which he incorporated into his own unique works. He was a misunderstood
poet, artist and visionary throughout much of his life, but he found
admirers in the later part of his life, which has been very influential since
his death on August 12, 1827.
His main influence was the Bible
3. William Blake Collections
A war song for Englishmen
America, a prophecy
The Tyger
The Lamb
Songs Of Experience
Songs Of Innocence
4. Meaning of A war song to Englishmen
The poem is a general call to war for countrymen, only not a
war for aggression, supremacy, hegemony, or territorial gain,
but instead a call of rebellion to an individual right to fight to
be set free.
The symbols of the poem is war and religion
5. Poetry elements of A war song to
Englishmen
There is no set rhyme scheme for this poem
The poem uses a meter that is set to a deliberate
marching rhythm pattern that produces the solemn
and unified tone that of a battle cry.
The alliteration used in this poem is souls must seek,
his harp, well fought-field, shall smile and Black-
Brow’d
6. Meaning of A Dream
The poem is about a dream that Blake had about A
mother ant has lost her way in the night and fears
for her children.
The poem uses the same imagery that is in a little
boy lost and little boy found which was about a
mother that represents the human soul that is
longing for peace and comfort only God can give
7. Poetry elements of A dream
The rhyme scheme
He uses a trochaic meter with rhyming couplets that
gives the poem a nursery- rhyme quality of work.
The poem has a soft alliteration of the words hie,
thee, and home.