Volume 11 No.

2 September 2018
P-ISSN 2086-6151 E-ISSN 2579-3438
http://ejournal.bsi.ac.id/ejurnal/index.php/wanastra

The Analysis Of Five William Blake’s Poems

Sri Mulyati
Universitas Bina Sarana Informatika
[email protected]

Cara Sitasi :
Mulyati, S. (2019). The Analysis of Five William Blake’s Poems. Wanastra2, 11(2), 113–120.

Abstract - The writer analysis five poems by William Blake. The poems are as follows: "Ah sunflower", "The
Sick Rose", "A Poison Tree", The Lamb ", and" London. The purpose of this study is to show some results of the
study which is limited to diction,figure of speech,and theme. For advance analysis, the writer uses a qualitative
approach as a research metodology. While for analysing the three things, the writer uses a descriptive approach
that reveals the themes of the five poems. From five of the poems, the writer finds most of dictions are
connotation meanings and most of figure of speeches are figurative meanings. Furthermore,the theme of “Ah
sun flower” is about death but is not the bad side of death, and the theme of "The Sick Rose" is about a girl who
was seriously ill of an illness, then The theme of "A poison Tree"is about the bad side of human nature: anger
and desire to win over his enemies.,while the theme of "The Lamb" is about religion, namely; the greatness of
God, His creations, and His tenderness,and the last one is theme of "London" that is about the London’s
citizens who experienced injustice from the government throughout Blake's life.

Keywords : Literature, poetry,poem

INTRODUCTION By this definition, it means that poetry is

composition words that ordered with rhyming lines,
Literature is one of living phenomena that cannot be implying ideas, and its meaning has connection each
separated from human life. Literature is art used to other. It is also can be ordered in a song. And it will
describe written or spoken material or anything from much easier to be remembered by the readers rather
creative writing to more technical or scientific works. than a paragraph on textbook or other sources.
Commonly literature used to refer to works of
creative imaginations. With literature, human can Poetry and poem are different than other types of
depict and explore their imaginations, emotional, literary works. They are not only has characteristic
experiences, and ideas use fiction or nonfiction which makes them different than ordinary speech or
works. Such as poetry,poem, lyric of songs, film,and writing, but also the rhythm is unique, and there is
or drama. beauty in it.

According to Reed (1946:92) in Barnet, Berman, and Other theory by Wordsworth, ”Poetry is the
Burto (1961); “poetry is attempts to put into words spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings…the
feelings and thoughts. Poetry also attempts to do this poet’s job is to treat of things not as they are… but as
in a manner which will make a memorable they seem to exist to the senses and the passions”
impression; it uses memory, devices, and ideas, such (1993:12).
as figure of speech, rhyme, and rhythm. Poetry was
chosen either because of its documentary importance Based on teory above, poem is created through
for a full understanding of the period and the works spontaneous depiction of original ideas or powerful
of the major poets, or because of its intrinsic feelings or thoughts of a poet. It is portrayal the poet
excellence. It means that poetry is describing notions, which based on emotions such as sad,
feelings, reactions, and attitude of the writer about cheerful, desperate, sorrow, pleased, miserable,
daily life of human beings or poetry can also talk worried, anxious, and disappointed. The poet’s job is
about the fact of social life which will make a to process, to treat it as beautiful as possible, so, it
memorable impression”. depicts something has senses and values which can
be felt and imagined by the readers as well.
According to Landy (1984:413), states that poetry is
musical or at least rhythmic speech. It is also usually Another, according to Tolstoy, ”Art is a human
a harmonious speech employing words whose sounds activity consisting in this, that one man consciously
echo each other or blend well. It may even be set to by means of certain external signs, hands on to others
music, to be chanted or sung rather than simply feelings he has lived through, and that others are
spoken. infected by these feelings and also experience them”
(1863:223).

Diterima: 17-07-19 Direvisi: 31-08-19 Disetujui: 05-09-19 113

The Analysis of Five William Blake Poem’s

Based on this theory, poem is an art of human human nature, suffering, and happiness in William
activity depicts on words. If a man depicts his Blake’s poems as well
feelings, thoughts, ideas and experiences he has faced
in his life into a poem, it is also probably will inspire By interpreting will give them its meaning by
others to depict their ideas, feelings, thoughts, and relating the context in which appears in those poems.
experiences (Tolstoy, 1863). In describing the dictions, figures of speech, and
themes, the writer bases on formalist theory. It means
Poetry is defined as a literary form of art,evoked in the data will be analyzed by describing the kinds of
language. It can be written on its own or in dictions, figures of speech, and themes.
combination with other arts as in poetic drama,
lyrical poetry, and prose poetry. Moreover, intrinsic elements also build
communication between the readers and the poet. So
Poem is the arangement of words that cantain the readers can understand more about what the poet
meaning and musical element. It is a piece of writing means in the poems.
the expresses the writer’s thoughts and feeling in
order to set a mood. It can be happy or sad, simple or It is clearly that analyzing of intrinsic elements is one
complex. way to get the content of the text. Moreover it is also
helps understanding what the poet wants to show to
the readers. It can be used to find out the contents of
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY the poems by William Blake; “Ah Sunflower”,” The
Sick Rose”,” A Poison Tree”, “The Lamb”, and
In doing the research the writer uses qualitative “London”.
approach as approach of research methodology.
Qualitative approach used because this approach
describes and provides the assumption and FINDING AND RESULT
procedures used detaily.
In this part the writer explains the data by using table,
Qualitative approach is the method which does not and the sentences that contain dictions and figures of
use statistic data. It is associated to hypothesis speech are listed in a table. The poems analyzed are
generating and developing an understanding. This three poems by William Blake; “Ah Sunflower”,
approach will make this research get deeper “The Sick Rose”,” A Poison Tree”,” The Lamb”, and
information and will be easy to collect the data. “London”. The following are presentation of the
descriptions.
“Qualitative methods (or approaches) the human and
social sciences offer several traditions. These 1. Ah Sunflower
traditions may be method types for data collection
analysis, and reporting writing, or overall designs Ah sunflower
that include all phases in the research process”. Ah Sunflower, weary of time,
(Creswell, 1944) Who countest the steps of the sun;
Seeking after that sweet golden clime
Based on the definition above that qualitative method Where the traveler’s journey is done;
is the human’s view through observation that get the Where the Youth pined away with desire,
fact after analyzing, collecting, reporting, and writing And the pale virgin shrouded in snow,
in researching data. Arise from their graves, and aspire
Where my Sunflower wishes to go!
Data Analysis
Based on the lines and appearance, this poem has
In analyzing data the writer uses descriptive method. close structure. This poem is written in 1757. It
The aim of this method is to give a description of consists of two quatrains and with rhyming scheme.
condition in a situation systematically, accurately, This classic poem describes about death but it’s not
and factually. So, it will be easier to comprehend the the dark side of death. The hope of resurrection and
meaning of the dictions, figures of speech, and everlasting peace give hope to anyone who believes in
themes. the hereafter.

Descriptive method is a method which is concise in Table 1. Diction in “Ah Sunflower

order to get and to analyze data much easier that
relate to the matter being studied. By using Line Data Findings Kind of Diction
descriptive method the writer tries to find out the 1 Ah Sunflower, weary of time Connotatio
exact and enough description through process and 2 Who countest the steps of the Connotation
object. Through this method the writer hopes the sun
readers will get the real descriptions about God and 5 Where the youth pined away Denotation
with desire
its creations, God’s grandeur, meekness, death,

114 Sri Mulyati

 Volume 11 No. 2 September 2018
P-ISSN 2086-6151 E-ISSN 2579-3438

6 And the pale virgin shrouded Denotation 5 Has found out thy bed Denotation
in snow 8 Does thy life destroy Denotation
7 Arise from their graves, and Connotation
aspire
7 Arise from their graves, and Denotation Table4. Figure of Speech in “The Sick Rose”
aspire
Line Data Findings Kind of Figure
of speech
Table 2. Figure of Speech in “Ah Sunflower” 1 O Rose ,thou art sick! Personification
2 The invisible worm Metaphor
Line Data Findings Kind of figure of 3 That flies in the night Metaphor
speech 6 Of crimson joy Metaphor
1 Ah Sunflower, weary of time Metaphor 7 And his dark secret love Metaphor
2 Who countest the steps of the Metaphor
sun Theme of “The Sick Rose”
3 Seeking after that sweet Metaphor
golden clime “The Sick Rose” is about a dying girl that infected by
6 And the pale virgin shrouded Metaphor a disease. It is symbolized with two things that is rose
in snow and worm. Where, the rose represents love and
7 Arise from their graves, and Metaphor nature, while the worm symbolizes the destruction of
aspire innocence state. The rose resides in a bed which
8 Where my sunflower whises metaphor means the rose is ill; a larger sense of
to go! unwellcondition.
Theme of “Ah Sunflower” 3. A Poison Tree
The theme of “Ah Sunflower” is about death, but it’s A Poison Tree
not the dark side of death. It is about the hope of I was angry with my friend:
resurrection and everlasting peace, and a yearning to I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
go to better place that is go to the heaven. It gives I was angry with my foe;
hope to anyone who believes in the hereafter. It I told it not, my wrath did grow.
means that if anyone died they do not need to afraid And I water'd it in fears,
of their next life. Because of death is not something Night & morning with my tears;
frightening, but death is a resurrection and everlasting And I sunned it with my smiles
peace in hereafter. And with soft deceitful wiles.
And it grew both day and night,
2. The Sick Rose Till it bore an apple bright;
And my foe beheld it shine,
The Sick Rose
And he knew that it was mine,
O Rose, thou art sick!
And into my garden stole
The invisible worm
When the night had veil'd the pole:
That flies in the nigt,
In the morning glad I see
In the howling storm,
My foe outstretch'd beneath the tree
Has found out thy bed
Of crimson joy: “A Poison Tree” is one of Blake’s poems in song of
And his dark secret love experience. It was written in 1794. Based on the lines
Does thy life destroy. and appearance this poem is close structure and
consists of four quatrains, each with rhyming scheme
“The Sick Rose” is Blake’s poem in the song of
AABB. This poem is about the dark side of human
experience. Based on the lines and appearance this
nature; anger and desire to triumph over the enemies.
poem is close structure. This poem is written in 1794.
The speaker had a disagreement and felt anger toward
It consists of two quatrains with a rhyme scheme of
his friend and his enemy, because his enemy stole his
ABCB, and it sets in the wider context of the songs
apple (poison apple) and ate it. Finally the speaker
and represents a fall from the state of innocence. The
found his enemy died under the tree. The speaker was
rose itself symbolizes the innocence, and suggestions
glad and satisfied.
that it represents love, and nature. The worm itself
symbolizes the destruction of the innocence state. Table 5. Diction in “Poison Tree”
Table 3. Diction in “The Sick Rose” Line Data findings Kind of
Line Data Findings Kind of Diction Diction
1 O Rose , thou art sick! Connotation 4 I told it not, my wrath did Connotation
2 The invisible worm Connotation grow

115
The Analysis of Five William Blake Poem’s

5 And I water’d it in fears Connotation “The lamb” is Blake’s poem in the song of innocence.
7 And I sunned it with my Connotation It is written in 1789. Based on the line and appearance
smiles this poem has close structure. It is a meditation poem;
9 And it grew both day and Connotation means about a physical object; an animal, but it
night addresses to God grander and his creation. It has
10 Till it bore an apple bright; Connotation
peaceful style.
12 And into my garden stole Connotation
16 My foe outstretch’d beneath connotation Table 7. Diction in “The Lamb”
the tree
Line Data Findings Kind of Diction
Table 6. Figure of Speech in “A Poison Tree” 1 Little lamb, who made thee? Connotation
3 Gave thee life, and bid thee Connotation
Line Data Findings Kind of Figure of feed
speech 6 Softest clothing, woolly, Connotation
2 I told my wrath, my wrath Metaphor bright
did end 13 He is called by thy name Connotation
4 I told it not, my wrath did Metaphor 16 He became a little child Connotation
grow
5 And I water’d it in fears Metaphor Table 8. Figure of Speech in “The Lamb”
6 Night and morning with my Metaphor
tears line Data Findings Kindof Figure
7 And I sunned it with my Metaphor of speech
smiles 1 Little lamb, who made thee? Metaphor
8 And with soft deceitful wiles Metaphor 3 Gave thee life, and bid thee Metaphor
10 Till it bore an apple bright Meaphor feed
12 And my foe beheld it shine Metaphor 4 By the stream and 0’er the Metaphor
14 When the night had veil’d the Metaphor mead
pole 5 Gave thee clothing of Metaphor
delight
Theme of “A Poison Tree” 6 clothing, wooly, bright Metaphor
7 Gave thee such a tender Metaphor
This poem tells about anger and desire to triumph voice
over the enemies; the dark side of human nature. The 8 Making all the vales rejoice? Metaphor
speaker anger is toward his friend and his enemy. He 14 For he calls himself a lamb Metaphor
had a disagreement with his friend and he can relieve 15 He is meek, and he is mild Metaphor
of it. And he also had a disagreement with another 16 He became a little child Metaphor
person that is his enemy, but towards his enemy he 17 I a child, and thou a lamb Personification
did not express relieve his anger. The enemy grew his 20 Little lamb, God Bless thee! Metaphor
fury.
Theme of “The Lamb”
4. The Lamb
The theme of this poem is spirituality that is s about
The Lamb god grander, his creations, peace, and meekness. It’s
A Little Lamb, who made thee? clearly stated with the use of the name of God. The
Dost thou know who made thee? poet explains how a higher power created something,
Gave thee life, and bid thee feed, and it is described with a physical appearance of an
By the stream and o'er the mead; animal as a symbol that is lamb, but virtually it is
Gave thee clothing of delight, about God itself and his creations. On the other word,
Softest clothing, woolly, bright; The lamb symbolizes peace and meekness.
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice? 5. London
Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee? “London” is another Blake’s poems in the songs of
Little Lamb, I'll tell thee, experience. It is written in 1794. Based on the line
Little Lamb, I'll tell thee. and appearance this poem has close structure, and it
He is called by thy name, consists of four quatrains with rhyming scheme
For He calls Himself a Lamb. ABAB. “London” is one of the most famous Blake’s
He is meek, and He is mild; poems in his songs of experience. It is a depiction
He became a little child. about suffering and unhappiness of London people.
I a child, and thou a lamb, The man lack of freedom and the causes of this lack is
We are called by His name. “the mind forg’d manacles”; attitude which take away
Little Lamb, God bless thee! of thought and action.
LittleLamb,God bless thee

116 Sri Mulyati

 Volume 11 No. 2 September 2018
P-ISSN 2086-6151 E-ISSN 2579-3438

London marriage-hearse

I wander through each chartered street, Theme of “London”

Near where the chartered Thames does flow,
And mark in every face I meet, This poem tells about London’s citizens. Specifically,
Marks o fweakness, marks of woe. it is about Blake’s anger towards political times
In every cry of every man, throughout Blake’s life. Which means it is about
In every infant's cry of fear, unhappiness; atrocities, poverty, and injustice that
In every voice, in every ban, happened in London. The man lack of freedom and
The mind-forged manacles hear: the causes of this lack is “the mind forg’d manacles”;
How the chimney-sweeper's cry attitude which take away our freedom of thought and
Every blackening church appals, action. The examples of those who are not free are;
And the hapless soldier's sigh the chimney sweep, the soldiers, and prostitute. It is
Runs in blood down palace-walls. something ironic where the fact the monarchy sits
But most, through midnight streets I hear within the palace.
How the youthful harlot's curse
Blasts the new-born infant's tear, a. Analysis of “Ah Sunflower”
And blights with plagues the marriage-hearse.
“Ah sunflower” is a classic poem. Ah Sunflower is
Table 9. Diction in “London” about a death, but it is not the dark side of death. It is
about the hope of resurrection and everlasting peace.
Line Data Findings Kind of Diction Furthermore, person in Ah sunflower is a youth that is
1 I wander through each Denotation girl; a dying girl that infected by a disease. It can be
chartered street interpreted that this person is a girl because symbol
3 And mark in every face I Denotation flower usually refers to the youth especially a girl.
meet Like in the first line;
4 Marks of weakness, marks of Denotation
woe “Ah sunflower, weary of time”. The word sunflower
5 In every cry of every man Denotation in this poem represents connotative meaning. The
6 In every infant’s cry of fear Denotation connotation for the word sunflower gives the hints
7 In every voice, in every ban Denotation
that the person is young girl. The sunflower has a
8 The mind-forged manacles I Denotation
hear
yearning to go to a better place and most importantly
9 How the chimney-sweeper’s Denotation it wants to go to the heaven. The sunflower is just
cry counting down the days or hours of her life. This idea
10 Every blackening church Connotation is supported with simple metaphor in the line “Who
appalls countest the steps of the sun”. The word sun in this
11 And the hapless soldier’s Denotation line is also represents connotative meaning. The
sigh connotation for the word sun could include time or
14 How the youthful harlot’s Denotation hours of the day. To “countest” is to count something.
curse What is being counted is “the steps of the sun”.
15 Blast the new-born infant’s Denotation “Steps of the sun” is interpreted as the movement of
tear the sun or hours of the day. It is just counting down of
her life also can be seen in the first line of the poem,
Table 10. Figure of Speech in “London” “Ah Sunflower, weary of the time”. By “weary of the
time” can be easily interpreted into being tired with
Line Data Findings Kind of diction
her life.
1 I wander through each Metaphor
chartered street
2 Near where the chartered Metaphor
At the line three and four “Seeking after that sweet
thames does flow golden clime”, and “Where the traveler’s journey is
4 Marks of weakness, marks of Metaphor done”. With simple metaphor the poet is creating an
woe image of a person going through difficult tasks before
8 The mind-forged manacles I Metaphor reaching the goal. The goal is that the person is trying
hear to go to the heaven. “And the pale virgin shrouded in
9 How the chimney-sweeper’s Hyperbola snow” at line six, which means that the sunflower
cry dream is deterred and her hope lost. The denotative
10 Every blackening church Metaphor meaning is also found at line five; youth and desire.
appalls The word youth refers to the young person, while the
12 Runs in blood down palace Metaphor word desire refers to the willingness to get something.
walls
Then in the next line the word virgin represents
15 Blasts the new-born infant’s Metaphor
tear denotative meaning. The denotation of the word
16 And blights with plagues the Metaphor virgin is a teenager or young girl.

117
The Analysis of Five William Blake Poem’s

Another meaning of this poem in the two last lines at differed. It means that his anger towards his friend
second stanza the speaker expresses his idea with can be relieved, but his anger towards his enemy, he
simple metaphor, “Arise from their graves, and did not express it. Like in the 2nd line “I told my
aspire”, and “Where my sunflower whises to go!”, wrath, my wrath did end”, continuing to 4th line “I
which means that the sunflower wants to go to the told it now, my wrath did grow”.
better place that she want, that is go to the heaven.
Other meanings at the word aspire. The word aspire This poem teaches how anger can be dispelled by
represents denotative meaning; it has the same goodwill or cared to become a deadly poison. The
meaning with desire; willingness to get something. opening stanza sets up everything for the entire line,
from the anger with the friend to the continuing anger
b. Analysis of “The Sick Rose” to the enemy. Besides that in the 1st stanza also
contains the word with connotative meaning.then the
“The Sick Rose” is one of Blake’s poems in the song writer found out in the 4th line; grow. It can be
of innocence. The sick rose tells about a dying woman interpreted that the anger of the speaker toward his
or girl. It can be interpreted as a woman because rose enemy cannot be relieved. Even it was getting worse.
is flower. Flower gives the hints that the person is
woman. The sick rose has two symbols; they are In second stanza the speaker described how his wrath
“rose” and “worm”. While the connotation for the toward the enemy was getting grown. By describing
word rose has meaning as a woman. In this poem the the growing and nurturing the tree (it), and the word
rose has infected by a worm. tree that has connotative meaning, it represents a hate
of the speaker. “And I water’d it in fears”, “Night and
The rose is immediately setting a tone of despair that morning with my tears”, “And I sunned it with my
is by using the word “sick”, which carries a larger smiles”, and “And with soft deceitful wiles”. Then
sense such as “unwell” or “ill”. As in the 1st line “O the words water’d and sunned in this stanza contain
rose, thou art sick!. Then the speaker uses the connotative meaning. Those represent the process of
metaphor in the 2nd line “The invisible worm”. It growing the wrath.
means that the woman is sick because of a disease.
The word worm contains connotative meaning that is In 3rd stanza the speaker described the living nature
represents a disease. In the next line the speaker uses of the wrath, “And it grew both day and night “(line
hyperbola to express his idea, “That flies in the night” 9th) and “Till it bore an apple bright”(line 10th). This
and “In the howling storm”. It can be interpreted that comparison by metaphor of wrath to a tree describes
the disease attacks the woman in the night when she the speaker idea that like growth of a tree; slow and
was sleeping. It suggests work of corruption. It comes steady. Anger and wrath gradually accumulate and
and enters the bed at night. form something mighty and deadly as a poisoned tree.

The worm here symbolizes the destruction of the The last stanza, in the end of the poem, finally, the
innocence state. It is earthbound that suggests death speaker killed his enemy. The enemy came into the
and decay. The worm is also described as “invisible” speaker garden. He stole and ate the poison apple. As
thing. As in the 2nd line “The invisible worm”. in the line 13th and 14th; “And into my garden stole”,
“When the night had veil’d the pole”. In the morning,
Another metaphor of this poem is at second stanza. the speaker found out the enemy dead beneath his
“Has found out thy bed”, is interpreted that the rose tree. The speaker was glad and satisfied to find his
resides in a bed, which is denoting a human one. In enemy dead; “In the morning glad I see”, and “My
the next line speaker uses metaphor to express his foe outstretch’d beneath the tree”.
feeling, “Of crimson joy”, which is it often used to
describe the appearance of blood and suggestion of In this stanza, besides figurative meaning found by
death. Indeed, a literal death is not suggested, the writer it is also contain about diction; connotative
however, a figurative one the rose’s life is words. They are the word garden and the word tree.
“destroyed”. “And his dark secret love” connotes The word Garden represents the life of the speaker,
feelings of jealousy and possessiveness that are while the word tree represents the hate or the anger of
explored elsewhere. The words bed and destroy the speaker.
represent denotative meaning. The word bed refers to
the place for sleeping or lying down, while the word d. Analysis of “The Lamb”
destroy is refer to the something irreparably.
“The Lamb” by Blake is a meditation poem written in
c. Analysis of “A Poison Tree” 1789. It tells about spirituality. A physical object; an
animal, but it addresses to the much grander of God
This poem is used as an extended metaphor, which and his creations. It’s clearly stated with the use of the
means explain a dark side of human nature. In the name God, in the words like “bless thee” and “gave
beginning of this poem the speaker tells about his thee life”. It also stated with metaphor in the 1st
anger toward a friend and an enemy and how each line;”Little lamb, who made thee?”. Then, a gentle

118 Sri Mulyati

 Volume 11 No. 2 September 2018
P-ISSN 2086-6151 E-ISSN 2579-3438

and meek creature that is “The lamb” represents both The repetition of the words marks, it stresses the
daring and submissive creature. A lamb is like a child. despair and tiredness that they feel because of their
oppressed way of life. Through his feelings of every
The word “lamb” in this poem represents connotative man and child are suppressed, it is as if the fear and
meaning. It is can be interpreted to Christ; God of their cries are audible to him as he walks by.
Christianity. Christianity is full of allusions to lambs
as a sign of peace and meekness. in the line “Gave The repetition of the phrases in every in the second
thee clothing of delight, Softest clothing, wooly, stanza; “In every cry of every man”, “In every
bright” and “Gave thee such a tender voice”, those are infant’s cry of fear” and “in every voice in every
easy to interpret to the tender curls of the little animal; ban”. It contributes to the sense of urgency. Then the
the lamb. The lamb is calm and spiritual and can give writer could find the words that have denotative
its reader a sense of peace. Then Blake attributes meaning. Among them is the word cry. It refers to the
human qualities to a lamb. Throughout the entire of weeping of the London people. Then, it is the word
this poem the lamb and the child are interchangeable. man. It refers to the man who populated London. The
Its mean the child is a lamb the lamb is a child. It’s a other is the phrase infant’s cry and the words voice
metaphor that extends throughout the poem. Such as and ban. Infant’s cry refers to the weeping of the
in the lines “He became a little child” and “I a child, babies, voice refers to the sounds of the people in
and thou a lamb”. The word child and he in this poem London, while ban refers to the laws or rules that
also represent connotative meaning. The connotation manacle them.
for child refers to the lamb and he refers to Christ or
God. In the ninth line he mentioned “How the chimney-
sweeper’s cry”. It is heavily oppressed group of
The word “thee” is also has connotative meaning children who were forced into manual labor with a
which refers to the creations of God. “By the stream big risk of their health. Other metaphor in the tenth
and o’er the mead” in fourth line as metaphor refers line says “Every blackening church appals”. It
that god gives the life to his creations by providing suggests both literal pollution and an injustice that
them enough water and grass for the lambs, which horrible. On the other hand the phrase chimney-
means for living his creations God not only gives they sweeper contains connotative meaning. It can be
life but also everything they needs. It’s solely for their interpreted as children that populated London.
peace on earth.
In the next line with figurative language Blake says
At the lines “Little lamb, who made thee?”, “Little “And the hapless soldier’s sight”, and “Runs in blood
lamb I’ll tell thee”, and “Little lamb, God bless down palace wall“(line 11and 12). It suggests that the
thee!”. With extended metaphor, those explain how a government is directly responsible for their death.
higher power has created something and it’s deeply There is something horribly ironic about the fact that
emotional themes of peace and spirituality. monarchy sits within the palace while such atrocities
are occurring outside. It means that the functionaries
e. Analysis of “London” in the palace are enjoying their positions and all of
facilities provide, but poverty, atrocity, prostitution
“London” is one of the most famous Blake’s poems in and slavery are happening to the masses outside.
his songs of experience. This poem focuses on the
social and political background of London and At the lines of the last stanza “How the youthful
described the differences between the wealth of the harlot’s curse”, and “Blasts the new-born infant’s
ruling classes and the poverty facing the common tear”. It is about other groups of citizens that
people of London. He witnessed the suffering and populated London. With extended metaphor Blake
unhappiness that is related in the poem. He used describes a sexually transmitted disease to suggest
metaphor in the first stanza (line 1 and 2); “I wander how injustice is passed by the generations. A lot of
through each chartered street”, and “Near where the youth woman are working as prostitute. And the new
chartered thames does flow” are describe as charter’d generation that is the babies are borne within injustice
implying that citizens are controlled by the state. The government. Then the word tear in the 15th line is
repetitive of the word chartere’d describe Blake’s also has denotative meaning. It refers to the babies
anger at the political times and his feelings towards tear that populated in London.
the ruling classes with their controlling laws and
oppressive ways. The words street and face in the first
stanza contain denotative meaning. Street refers to the
roads of London, while face refers to the citizens of CONCLUSIONS
London.
In this part the writer conclude the analysis of diction,
People of London describe as being week and full of figure of speech, and theme of five William Blake
woe as the marks and it’s reveal on their faces. Like poems.
in the fourth line “Marks of weakness, marks of woe”.

119
The Analysis of Five William Blake Poem’s

First, in “Ah Sunflower” the writer found out that Morton Berman, and William Burto, 1961,
diction is dominated by denotative meaning. Figure of Boston; Little, Brown and Company.
speech is dominated by metaphor. while, the theme is Adelina, Heidy, 2001, a thesis of Petra ,University
about death, but it is not the dark side of death. It is a
Surabaya.
yearning to go to the better place that is go to the
heaven. It gives hope to anyone who believes in the Brooks, Cleanth, 1959, Understanding Fiction,
hereafter. Appleton-Century-crofts,inc
Beaty, Jerome, Alison Booth, and J.Paul Hunter,
Second, in “The Sick Rose” the writer found out that Kelly J. Mays, 2002, The Norton
diction is balance between denotative and connotative Introduction to Literature ,London; W.W
meaning. Figure of speech is dominated by metaphor, Norton Company, inc.
and theme is about a dying girl that infected by a
disease. It is symbolized by two things, they are rose Barnet, Silvan, Morton Berman, and William Burto,
which represents love and nature, and worm 1961, An Introduction to Literature;fiction,
symbolizes the destruction of innocence state. poetry, and drama, Boston; Little, Brown and
Company
Third, in“A Poison Tree” the writer found out that Creswell, John W, 2003, Research Design
diction is dominated by connotative meaning. Figure Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Method
of speech is dominated by metaphor, while the theme Approaches, London; Sage publications, inc.
is about anger and desire to triumph over the enemies;
the dark side of human nature. The speaker anger is Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, 1997, in Literature
toward his friend and his enemy. Approaches to Fiction, Poetry, and, Drama
by Robert DiYanni, 2004, New York;
Fourth, in “The Lamb” the writer found out that McGraw-hill Companies, inc.
diction is also dominated by connotative meaning. In Creswell, John W, 2008, Educational Research;
the figure of speech is dominated by metaphor.
planning, conducting, and evaluating,
Meanwhile, the theme is about spirituality; God
qualitative and quantitative Research, USA;
grander, God creations, peace, and meekness.
Pearson Education, inc.
Fifth, the last poem “London”, the writer found out Creswell, John W, 1994, Research Design Qualitative
that diction is dominated by denotative meaning. In and Quantitative Approach, London; Sage
the figure of speech is dominated by metaphor. Then Publications, inc.
the theme is about London’s citizens and Blake’s DiYanni, Robert, 2004, Literature Approaches to
anger toward political time throughout Blake’s life. Fiction, Poetry, and Drama, New York;
Where, unhappiness, atrocities, poverty, and injustice
McGraw-hill Companies, inc.
are faced by common people.
DiYanni, Robert, 2002, Literature Reading Fiction,
Finally, the writer concluded that William Blake poetry, and Drama, New York; McGraw-Hill
poems mostly uses connotative words which stand for Companies, inc.
something else more abstract. The symbols are also
Dewi, Mayasari, 2001, a thesis of Petra University
used such as plant symbol found in “Ah Sunflower”,” Surabaya.
The Sick Rose”, and in “A Poison Tree”. And animal
symbol found in “The Lamb” and “The Sick Rose”. It Emil, and Sandra Roy, 1974, Literary Spectrum,
is important part to convey something that means Boston; Allyn and Bacon, inc.
more than what it is; he can say what he wants Eviyanti, 2006, a thesis of Pamulang University
indirectly. Each of the intrinsic elements that used Tangerang.
gives sense of inner sensation to describe about the
situations or conditions and stories in the poems. It
will help to comprehend its meaning and will give WRITER’S BIOGRAPHY
clear interpretation of the poems.
SRI MULYATI S.S, M.Pd, was born in Kebumen,
Central Java. Studied English language at Pamulang
University (S1),2011 and English language at
REFERENCES IndraPrasta PGRI University (S2),2015. Have been
teaching at BSI University since 2012 up to now. A
Altenbernd, 1970, in Pengkajian Puisi; analisis strata paper have been published entitled: “Pengaruh
norma dan analisis structural dan semiotic by Penguasaan Kosakata dan Tata Bahasa Terhadap
Rachmat Djoko Pradopo, 2005 Fakultas Kemampuan Menulis Bahasa Inggris”.
Sastra Universitas Gadjah Mada.
Auden, W.H, 1946, in An Introduction to Literature;
fiction, poetry, and drama by Sylvan Barnet,

120 Sri Mulyati