Why Blake Called the Precursor of Romantic Poetry

Blake, The Precursor of Romantic Poetry

William Blake is regarded as the precursor of romantic poetry. He belongs to the age of transition from late 18^th century to early 19^th century poetry. Some of his poems are like the poems of 18^th century poets because they give us a picture of life and society. His group of poems give us the impression of English romantic poetry because they are imaginative, sensuous and simple like the romantic poets. He writes about the beauty of nature, hills, sea, birds, tress, forest etc. which became the subject matter of romantic poets. Before the arrival of the romantic poets he wrote romantic poetry. Therefore he can be called the precursor of romantic poetry. It seems that romantic poets followed the style of Blake and gave a full expression to Blake’s romanticism.

Blake’s poems were published into two collections- Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience. Songs of Innocence are poems about the innocence state of mind, the beauty the simplicity of life. These poems show love for nature, beauty, imagination etc. Which was the favorite subject matter of the romantic poets? The romantic poets were inspired by Blake. It seems that they got a ready-made form of poetry from Blake. If he born later he would have been grouped with the romantic poets.

 

You Can also Read: Auden as an Anti-Romantic Poet