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"Every nation under heaven": national unity in the poetry of William Blake
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Date
2018
Authors
Farrow, Andrew
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University College Cork
Published Version
Abstract
This thesis explores the function of the national mythopoeia of William Blake. An examination of Blake's poetry reveals his gradual progression through national unity towards personal w1jty in response to the political, social and religious contexts of the Romantic period. This movement can be broadly categorised as a combination of his nation's history and the creation of a new mythology, the culmination of which is Blake's last and longest poem Jerusalem: The Emanation of lhe Giant Albion. Tensions between history and mythology consistently threaten to undermine Blake's pursuit of national unity. Through an analysis of his re imagined national identity, as well as his profound reflection on selflrnod, l propose a legitimate return to Blake's critical engagement with the concept of nationhood focusing on aspects of his work that have been overlooked or understood only in paitial ways.
The first chapter of this thesis addresses the fact that there is no major study of Blake's interest in Geoffrey Chaucer. However, an analysis of Blake's engagement with his work suggests Chaucer was a major influence on his ideas concerning the nation. Chapter Two provides new insights into Blake's perception of a national poetic lineage, and deals with criticaJ issues that seem to obstruct national identity. Chapter Three investigates perceived instabilities in global unity with a focus on the concept of empire as a negative form of natjonal expansion. Subsequently, J re-evaluate Blake's response to empire by examining the setting for his all-encompassing mythology, and examine the function of space as a manifestation of the human body. Chapter Four revises Blake's use of allegory. Blake, equating allegoresis with eternity, relies on allegory to successfully achieve both structural and conceptual unity in his national mythology.
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Keywords
Poetry of William Blake , National mythopoeia
Citation
Farrow, A. 2018. "Every nation under heaven": national unity in the poetry of William Blake. PhD Thesis, University College Cork.