A poet does not reach the highest levels of success until generations and generations after his death have criticized and recognized his works of art, as revered poet William Blake saw it. He lived and created his most beautiful masterpieces during the era of romanticism, marked by the first poems of William Blake in 1783 (Anthology, p. 3). Along with this, modern poetry was created (Anthology, p. 8). In the 18th and 19th centuries, poetry describing nature and landscapes emerged. Blake was a somewhat ambitious artist who questioned the world and rebelled against traditions and customs. He considered these aspects of life troubling because he did not always agree with the way society pressured him to conform. Although Blake eventually married, his marriage went through tumultuous periods, sometimes filled with sexual jealousy. This can be interpreted in the “Sick Rose”. William Blake could be described as antinomian. He was a person who based his own religion and morality on personal experiences with God or a higher power (Notes, 6/27). His individualistic approach to life can be seen in his modernizing work Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience. One of Blake's most difficult works to evaluate is the pair of Maundy Thursday poems. The first and most obvious difference between these poems lies in the way they are constructed. In Songs of Innocence, Blake tells a story that simply explains the irony of Maundy Thursday, which is the fortieth day after Easter. The children he refers to who wear red, blue and green are actually chimney sweeps. The irony is that the Church, which in an ideal society has a moral obligation to help...... middle of paper ....... Although these collections of poems contrast with each other , they enrich and complement each other. by taking the same feelings and manipulating them. For example, exploitation was seen in Songs of Innocence as sad and depressing, while in Songs of Experience the same exploitation was seen as angry, bitter, and deeply questioned by Blake. Ultimately, I believe these poems reflect different periods in William's Blake's life where he might have been at peace and also frustrated with life in general and its meaning. Works Cited Kermode, Frank and Hollander, John. The Oxford Anthology of English Literature: 1800 to the Present. Oxford University Press: London, 1973. Poets' Corner. www.theotherpages.org/poems/blake02.html. Accessed July 12, 2007. Shelson, John. Engl 212-British Literature II: course notes. Professor Craig Laird: Drexel University, June 27 2007.