A week ago, I was introduced to William Blake in my British Literature Survey class. We studied Blake's Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, as well as The Marriage of Heaven and Hell. I particularly enjoyed Proverbs of Hell. Having analyzed these works, everyone in my class now has a thorough understanding of Blake's worldview.
Fast forward to last night. I happened to be visiting my parents, and decided to pilfer a few books from my mother's library. It contains well over 5,000 books, most of which I haven't read. I realized that The Tales of Alvin Maker is the only Orson Scott Card series that I've never read (very odd), so I grabbed Seventh Son and Red Prophet to start with.
Tonight I was reading Seventh Son, when I was introduced to Taleswapper. The mention of Proverbs of Hell really made me perk up - and as I read the two proverbs mentioned first, I realized that this must be referring to William Blake's works. The reference to Taleswapper as Bill Blake assured me that this was all intentional.
I'm having a hard time processing this odd coincidence, not being one to believe in fate. Still; what are the odds, right?
Does anyone know why Orson Scott Card decided to include William Blake in this book, and why he specifically chose to involve The Garden of Love and Sick Rose? I'm not sure if there are more poems from Blake's collection, I haven't read any further. If there are, I'd love to know why he chose them too.
A quick Google search for "Orson Scott Card Seventh Son William Blake" wasn't very helpful, so I figured coming here might reveal more. Thank you for any information you can provide me with Posted by BandoCommando (Member # 7746) on :
I don't know how far you are in the series, but the Alvin Maker series incorporates quite a few figures from history in an 'alternate universe' fashion. I do not know if Mr. Card had any more thought behind including William Blake than he did many other historical figures in the series, other than, perhaps, his familiarity with and (I presume) appreciation of his body of work.
One of my favorite things about reading the Alvin Maker series was reading about the fictional versions of some of these people. I had heard of many of them, at least in passing, but after reading Maker, I was compelled to research more into the REAL lives (insofar as we can know) of these people.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by BandoCommando: One of my favorite things about reading the Alvin Maker series was reading about the fictional versions of some of these people. I had heard of many of them, at least in passing, but after reading Maker, I was compelled to research more into the REAL lives (insofar as we can know) of these people.
Ditto!
Posted by Rodger Brown (Member # 11476) on :
I will also concur with said statements! I thought William Henry Harrison's story was fascinating.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:A week ago, I was introduced to William Blake in my British Literature Survey class.
What was he like in person?
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
![[Smile]](smile.gif)