WILLIAM WORDWORTHWILLIAM BLAKE SONNETS

The sonnet ³London, 1802² written by William Wordsworth, and ³The Lamb² written by William Blake both contain elements of Romanticism.  Both of the poems clearly follow a structure similar to Abrams¹ Romantic formula, which is composed of a realistic setting, visionary experience, and return to a setting with insight.  Both ³London, 1802² and ³The Lamb² are composed of the above elements yet they differ in their approach to each element.  Each poem has its unique atmosphere or tone.  This leads one to be able to identify the contrasts between the meaning and images within the poems.

The Romantic elements of ³London, 1802² are those defined by Wordsworth himself.  This poem¹s origin is spontaneous in nature.  The basic images and metaphors of the sonnet make extensive use of nature, realistic setting.  The idea for the poem sprung from Wordsworth¹s initial reaction to the state of London upon his return from France:

       ...(this was) written immediately after my return from France to London,

       when I could not but be struck...with the vanity and parade of our own

       country

From this account it can be deduced that the poem was spontaneous in nature and originated from an internal response.  The poem¹s use of a realistic setting occurs in line 2 with the reference of England as a ³fen.²  This particular adjective e describes England as a ³land wholly or partially covered by water, mud, clay, or dirt.²(Oxford English Dictionary).  From this line a realistic setting is produced.  The narrator further conveys a visionary experience through the extensive uses of nature via similes and metaphors within the poem.  On lines 2, 9, 10, 11 it states,

       England hath need of thee: she is a fen

       Thy soul was like a Star

       Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea

       Pure as the naked heavens...

This frequent use of nature clearly illustrates the narrator¹s intent to express a visionary experience.  This in turn adheres to Abram¹s Romantic Formula.

The return to setting with insight is used when the narrator speaks of the conflicts within England.  He states on line 7, ³Oh! raise us up, return to us again;²  This passage is literally a return to the setting.  The insight acquired can be viewed when the narrator states, ³Thy soul was like a Star² (line 9).  A star can be portrayed as a possessor of life.  Our sun is a star, and without it, we would die.  MIlton¹s return to England can be seen as a revelation to the problems within England.  References are made about his voice as being ³Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free.²(Line 11)  The narrator views Milton in the highest acclaim.  His role in society is defined by his actions.  However, Milton physically is not present.  What the author uses here is known as an apostrophe, ³the rhetorical addressing of an absent person as present...²(Webster¹s Dictionary)  All of these uses of setting and insight are encompassed within Abram¹s Romantic Formula.

In the poem ³The Lamb², William Blake¹s uses of Abram¹s Romantic Formula are apparent.  However, the way by which the elements are portrayed seem to be different.  This is because Blake¹s style of writing is much different than Wordworth¹s.  It seems to be much lighter, and more inquisitive.

³The Lamb² can be identified as a repetitive poem.  The narrator extensively uses the words Œthee¹, ŒLittle Lamb¹, and ŒGod¹ throughout poem.  The narrator establishes a realistic setting when he states, ³By the stream & o¹er the mead²(Line 4),  This creates a realistic setting.  This is quite different form ³London 1802².  The tone of England was described as Œfen¹, which is portrayed as a muddy, dirty, and unpure setting.  ³The Lamb², however, portrays a tone of serenity, purity, and tranquillity.

The narrator conveys a visionary experience when he describes the Lamb as being ³softest clothing wooly bright²(Line 5).  This is quite symbolic for the tones expressed here are of tenderness and happiness.  This description is opposite from ³London 1802² usage of visionary experience.  Instead of literally using articles of nature, ³The Lamb² allows the reader to identify the tone and ambiance of the setting through the beauty of the visionary image.  These images are achieved while still following the structure of Abram¹s Romantic Formula.

³The Lamb² is a poem of great depth.  The usage of the Lamb is quite parallel to the child mentioned throughout this poem.  The narrator¹s uses of images are apparent.  An example of an auditory image can be viewed in line 7 of the poem, ³Gave thee such a tender voice.²  This reference to the Lamb creates a tone of love and kindness.  This leads us into the final element used by the narrator.  The return to the setting with insight.  This element is not quite as apparent as it was in ³London 1802.²  However, the biblical references within this section cannot be ignored.  The Little Lamb can be viewed as Jesus Christ who in turn is the child.  In line 17 the narrator states, ³He became a little child².   What we have here is the innocence of a child viewing a Lamb and linking its presence with Jesus Christ.  The uses of these images are examples of visionary revelations.

Jesus in known as the ŒLamb of God¹.  He is also known as the ŒGood Shepard¹.  All of these references help to confirm the narrator¹s return to setting with insight.  In the beginning of the poem the narrator states, ³Little Lamb, who made thee?²(Line 1)  In the conclusion of the poem the narrator states, ³Little Lamb I¹ll tell thee²(Line  11).  This clearly demonstrates the narrator¹s enlightenment of insight and knowledge at the conclusion of the poem.  The narrator has had a revelation.  This finally concludes elements needed for Abram¹s Romantic Formula.

Within the poem ³London 1802², by William Wordsworth, and ³The Lamb¹, by William Blake Abrams¹ Romantic Formula is quite apparent.  Though the elements within the poems different, the poem¹s overall effects are equal.  In ³London 1802², the narrator identifies with Milton who is of the past.  In ³The Lamb², the child identifies with Jesus  Christ who is in the past, present, and future.  The characters within each of these poems at first have a problem.  Yet they search for a Œhero¹.  These Œheroes¹, though not literally present, are able to be the solutions.