William Blake was born on November 28, 1757 in London England. Blake was home schooled by his mother and not sent to schooll because of his headstrong temperament but instead his parents had enrolled him into art class. At the age of 12, Blake begin to write his first poems. In 1778, Blake attended the Royal Academy in Old Somerset House near the Strand. In 1780, while walking towards Basire's shop in Great Queen Street, Blake was swept up by a rampaging mob. On August 18,1782 he married Catherine Boucher, who helped him with his illuminated works and kept his spirits up through the hard times. Blake's most famous poem, 'The Tyger,' was part of the Song of Innocence, which was published in 1794. Blake died on August 12, 1827.

Blake was influenced by the world that he grew up in. His poems and engravings were done about the things that surrounded him and that he saw daily in the 18th century England. His poems are asking questions about nature, God, and life its self. With everything that Blake was seeing through his own eyes is what had influenced him in writing poems or engraving of art.

Blake showed the 18th century England in his works by talking about or painting things that was happening during this time period. 'The Tyger' and 'The Lamb' are both about good and evil; life and death; weak and strong; and peace and scary things. In the 18th century there was a war going on and Blake wrote the two poems from above to represent what was happening.

The 18th century work of William Blake has influenced many of the newer poets. Matthew Gilbert was greatly influenced by
Blake and for this Gilbert created a webpage just for him. This webpage is also used to help those studying Blake. It helps those people out by haveing a lot of information on Blake and haveing sources and links to other sites that have information about Blake.

Blake has influenced art works today by allowing the artist to use what they see around them in their works. He thought that if you use what is around you in your works then it would be more appealing to the people that was reading, listening to it, or looking at it. A poem, picture, or song that is about what the artist sees in their daily life is able to be appreacated better because the viewer would be able to relate to what the artist is trying to say.


The Tyger is describing how a tiger should look and that everyone should be afraid of them. The first stanza says that what person or thing could be scarier than a tiger. In the second stanza it says that who would want to seize the fire that burns in a tiger's eye which causes fear in everything else. The third stanza states that when a tiger is being developed it is being made to be fierce and scary to everyone else around it. In the fourth stanza it is asking how hot the fire was that created the tiger's brain. In the fifth stanza it is saying that when it rained God must have looked down at the tiger and smiled at his wonderful creation. In the final stanza it is saying the same thing that the first one said.

The Lamb

Little Lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee
Gave thee life & bid thee feed.
By the stream & o'ver the mead;
Gave thee clothing wooly bright;
Softest clothing wooly bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice!
Little Lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee

Little Lamb I'll tell thee,
Little Lamb I'll tell thee!
He is called by thy name,
For he calls himself a Lamb;
He is meek & he is mild,
He became a little child:
I a child & thou a lamb,
We are called by his name.
Little Lamb God bless thee.
Little Lamb God bless thee.

The Lamb is about a lamb who does not know who made it. The first stanza is asking the lamb who made it, gave it food, made its wool to be so soft, and gave it a very tender voice that made the angels rejoice. In the last stanza it is saying that the writer will tell it who made it and himself. That person is God. This stanza is also saying that God blessed the Lamb for it is a good, kind hearted creature that is friendly to mankind.