Abstract:
This thesis attempts to study Romantic Symbolism in Blake's work. William Blake as one of its earliest and most prominent precursors. Since the term is a compound one it has been though that it is appropriate to define its components "Romantic (romanticism) and "Symbolist" (symbolism) and trace them as two trends or movements that spread in Europe , particularly in England , Late 18th and early 19th centuries.
The two terms are closely knitted and inseparably associated since symbolism is widely believed to have resulted from Romanticism.
Symbolism as a movement was a reaction against Realism and Naturalism, which are anti idealistic movement. It attempts to capture reality in its gritty and to elevate the humble and the ordinary over ideal. Symbolism, in art , represents an outgrowth of the more gothic and darker sides of Romanticism.
It began as a literary movement that developed from Romanticism in France in the second half of the 19th century. Symbolism is the applied use of symbols, which carries particular conventional meanings. There are many types like cultural symbols, religious symbols, political symbols, etc….
The researcher used in his study a descriptive and historical method as well as analytical approach and was mostly dependant on what has been written about William Blake.
The study attempts to provide a general survey of Romantic Symbolism by tracing the early beginnings of Romanticism and the origins and precursors of Symbolism. Also, it touches on Romanticism and Classicism by providing a brief comparison between them.
The study refers to William Blake as the and most prominent representative of Romantic Symbolism in poetry and painting.
The bulk of the study deals with some of Blake's works; including "Book of Thel" , " Marriage of Heaven and Hell" , "Relief Etching" , "Tarot" , "Emblem Tradition" , in addition to studying and analyzing of some of his most celebrated poems.
Blake's most famous and celebrated poems have been considered and analyzed in this study, like , "The Tyger" , "The Lamb" , "The Sick Rose", "London" ,The Chimney Sweeper(1) ,The Chimney Sweeper (2).
In conclusion Blake's Romantic Symbolism has been established and supported by the fact that the greater part of his poetic composition is overwhelmingly dominated by his symbolist bent.
