Garden of Love

In the poem “The Garden of Love”, which has a figurative meaning, the writer makes a contrast of the experience of his childhood with that of his adult life. Which techniques does he use to achieve this objective? In the collection A Choice of Poets, the author, William Blake expresses his feelings about his childhood compared to his adulthood in the poem “The Garden of Love”. The disappointment of the poet is a dominant tone in this piece of literature. The poet used figurative language to bring his point across. Blake uses the first person technique to speak directly to the reader about his dreadful experience as an adult. He also uses this technique to talk about the old days. This shows that he speaks from his experience. Blake also uses personal experience to allow the reader to relate to the poet. This also helps the reader to become more involved. The use of the first person helps readers to understand the feeling that Blake felt as a child; everything was perfect to him. Sadly, as he ventured into adulthood, the happiness and freedom he experienced as a child slowly diminished. “I went to the Garden of Love, And saw what I never had seen; A Chapel was built in the midst, Where I used to play on the green. And the gates of this Chapel were shut And "Thou shalt not," writ over the door; So I turned to the Garden of Love That so many sweet flowers bore.” In the poem, the poet used symbolism to describe his childhood. The Garden of Love was used figuratively; it represents the playground of his youth. However, it was recognized that this

playground was in an internal estate, meaning it only exists