Here's how he explored this dynamic:
* Fantasy as a Way to See Reality: Blake believed that true reality was hidden beneath the surface of the everyday world. Fantasy, with its heightened senses and symbolic language, allowed him to peel away the layers of illusion and reveal the deeper truths about human nature, society, and the divine. He saw imagination as a powerful tool to access this deeper reality.
* The Power of Imagination: Blake placed a high value on imagination, seeing it as a vital human faculty that allowed us to perceive the world in new and transformative ways. Through his poetry, he aimed to ignite the reader's imagination and help them see the world through fresh eyes.
* Symbolism: Blake used symbols extensively in his poems. These symbols are not merely decorative; they are doorways to deeper meanings, allowing the reader to navigate between the literal and the allegorical. He used symbols to express abstract ideas, emotions, and spiritual truths.
* The Spiritual World: Blake was deeply spiritual, and his poems often depict a world populated by angels, demons, and other spiritual beings. He saw the spiritual realm as a tangible force in the everyday world, influencing both human experience and the natural world.
* The Human Condition: Blake's exploration of fantasy and reality was often tied to his understanding of the human condition. He was deeply concerned with issues of social justice, oppression, and the loss of innocence. His poems often contrasted the harsh realities of the world with a vision of a more just and harmonious future, a future attainable through imagination and spiritual awakening.
Examples:
* "The Tyger" - This poem is an exploration of both the beauty and terror of creation, using the tiger as a symbol of the wild, untamed forces of nature.
* "The Lamb" - This poem contrasts the innocence of the lamb with the more complex and difficult realities of human experience.
* "The Clod and the Pebble" - Here, Blake explores two opposing perspectives on the nature of love and the world, using the clod and the pebble as symbols for different ways of seeing and interacting with reality.
In conclusion, Blake's poetry is a unique blend of the fantastical and the real, demonstrating his belief that the two are not mutually exclusive but rather complementary forces. Through his use of vivid imagery, symbolism, and spiritual insights, he invites readers to explore the unseen depths of human experience and discover the extraordinary hidden within the ordinary.