The garden of love

Question 1

Time period

Answer 1

Romanticism

18th century

Question 2

Blake’s approach to religion

Answer 2

Christened, married and buried by the rise of the Church of England

His creed was likely to outrage the orthodox

Appreciated the spiritual aspects of religion but rejected institutional religion, especially when linked with government

True worship was private communion with the spirit
Believed love is “the humane form divine”

Two contrast states to the human soul, that a person makes their own condition, although children born are “naturally good”

Runs against religious thoughts at the time which suggested that children were “naturally bad” due to Original Sin

The contraries are apparent throughout the “Songs”, in innocence versus Expercnes

Question 3

Where is the poem from?

Answer 3

Innocence

Question 4

Methods used

Answer 4

Metaphor
Symbolism
Shift in tone
Allusion 
Death imagery

Question 5

What is stanza 1 about?

Answer 5

Grown adult reflecting on visiting a place when he as a child when he is older but is a figurative genre- realisation

Question 6

What is stanza 2 about?

Answer 6

Institutional religion has strict rules which therefore restrict people

Question 7

What is stanza 3 about?

Answer 7

Organised religions restrict/kills the possibility of real love

Question 8

Themes

Answer 8

Unattainable love/ barriers to love