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Jerusalem Analysis
Author: Poetry of William Blake Type: Poetry Views: 2655
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And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark Satanic mills?
Bring me my bow of burning gold:
Bring me my arrows of desire:
Bring me my spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire.
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.
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||| Analysis | Critique | Overview Below |||
.: stan asmus :.
The poem simply refers to the old tradition that Christ the holy lamb has really spent some time in England, in the Glastonbury region. Possible evidence for this can easily be found.
The dark satanic mills can indeed refer to the terrible consequences of the industrialization of England.
We should take up arms against this and make England the green and pleasant land again. Just as it was when His feet walked on England`s mountains green
| Posted on 2008-05-09 | by a guest
The poem simply refers to the old tradition that Christ the holy lamb has really spent some time in England, in the Glastonbury region. Possible evidence for this can easily be found.
The dark satanic mills can indeed refer to the terrible consequences of the industrialization of England.
We should take up arms against this and make England the green and pleasant land again. Just as it was when His feet walked on England`s mountains green
| Posted on 2008-05-09 | by a guest
.: GaryR :.
The poem itself suggests that we have to work to obtain our "Jerusalem" in England. But the fact that Blake discusses England's mountains suggests that he still believes in the beauty of the country.
The fact that Blake uses weapons as a metaphor for work is simply a reflection of the language and artistic work of the time. The Old Bailey in London features a statue of Lady Justice on the roof. In one hand she has a sword, in the other scales. This is not seen as a violent symbol, when understood properly. Neither should Blake's poem.
| Posted on 2008-03-04 | by a guest
The poem itself suggests that we have to work to obtain our "Jerusalem" in England. But the fact that Blake discusses England's mountains suggests that he still believes in the beauty of the country.
The fact that Blake uses weapons as a metaphor for work is simply a reflection of the language and artistic work of the time. The Old Bailey in London features a statue of Lady Justice on the roof. In one hand she has a sword, in the other scales. This is not seen as a violent symbol, when understood properly. Neither should Blake's poem.
| Posted on 2008-03-04 | by a guest
.: Jihad's comment :.
Jihad is reading something into this poem that is not there. Perhaps he wants to imagine that Christians are warlike? The poem Jerusalem is actually an excerpt from the preface to one of Blake's book, 'Milton'.
Jerusalem is the symbol of utopia where man is freed from the chains of commerce, British imperialism, and war. Blake's "mental fight" is directed against these chains. In his Blake: Prophet Against Empire, David Erdman tells us that Blake's "dark, Satanic Mills" are "mills that produce dark metal, iron and steel, for diabolic purposes. London was a war arsenal and the hub of the machinery of war, and Blake uses the symbol in that sense."
So, actually, Blake's poem is anti-war which is a fair representation of the New Testament.
| Posted on 2007-04-28 | by a guest
Jihad is reading something into this poem that is not there. Perhaps he wants to imagine that Christians are warlike? The poem Jerusalem is actually an excerpt from the preface to one of Blake's book, 'Milton'.
Jerusalem is the symbol of utopia where man is freed from the chains of commerce, British imperialism, and war. Blake's "mental fight" is directed against these chains. In his Blake: Prophet Against Empire, David Erdman tells us that Blake's "dark, Satanic Mills" are "mills that produce dark metal, iron and steel, for diabolic purposes. London was a war arsenal and the hub of the machinery of war, and Blake uses the symbol in that sense."
So, actually, Blake's poem is anti-war which is a fair representation of the New Testament.
| Posted on 2007-04-28 | by a guest
.: jihad :.
I can't claim an academic understanding of this poem, but it reads to me like a Christian exhortation to holy war. The bow of burning gold and arrows of desire are metaphorical enough, but when Blake promises not to let his sword sleep until he has built Jerusalem in England, it sounds a lot like he's talking about killing people in the name of God.
| Posted on 2007-03-05 | by a guest
I can't claim an academic understanding of this poem, but it reads to me like a Christian exhortation to holy war. The bow of burning gold and arrows of desire are metaphorical enough, but when Blake promises not to let his sword sleep until he has built Jerusalem in England, it sounds a lot like he's talking about killing people in the name of God.
| Posted on 2007-03-05 | by a guest
.: :.
This is not, as is commonly held and proudly sung, a eulogy of a lost and merry England. Read carefully it is a stinging indictment on the current changes in English society witnessed by an inhabitant of the richest and largest city in the world at the beginning of the industrial revolution. It characterises England as non-Christian, removed from God/Nature (to Blake the same thing)and having the dehumanising and sacreligious machine factories of Evil. Blake wants to destroy this God-forsaken reality, battle it, burn it and replace it with a New Jerusalem YET to be realised. This poem in no way sanctifies England nor Englishness despite the popular misconception.
| Posted on 2005-09-17 | by Approved Guest
This is not, as is commonly held and proudly sung, a eulogy of a lost and merry England. Read carefully it is a stinging indictment on the current changes in English society witnessed by an inhabitant of the richest and largest city in the world at the beginning of the industrial revolution. It characterises England as non-Christian, removed from God/Nature (to Blake the same thing)and having the dehumanising and sacreligious machine factories of Evil. Blake wants to destroy this God-forsaken reality, battle it, burn it and replace it with a New Jerusalem YET to be realised. This poem in no way sanctifies England nor Englishness despite the popular misconception.
| Posted on 2005-09-17 | by Approved Guest
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