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Hi CW,
The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared arrived last week but I’ve been so busy I haven’t had time to open it yet. I work at a school and next week is our last week of term. After that I have lots of time over Christmas to catch up on my reading (and writing).
Having mentioned it to you, I have prompted myself to return to Blake and review some of my favourite verses. Apart from the enjoyment of just reading the poems, it’s good to read them alongside the illustrations which provide greater depth to the experience. Also, my enjoyment is definitely enhanced knowing some of the symbolism he used. For example, trees and forests often represent knowledge and the psyche but flowers and children innocence. And Tyger is the flip side of Lamb in the ‘Innocence’ section. Some interpretations have this as Blake seeing the first coming of Jesus as an innocent, meek lamb to the slaughter but the second coming will be as a tiger!