THE DIVINE IMAGE Poem by William Blake Line by Line Explanation in Hindi and Urdu

 “THE DIVINE IMAGE”

William Blake 1757-1827

William Blake Introduction

The Divine Image Publication, Meter, Rhyme

The Divine Image Themes and setting

The Divine Image Summary

The Divine Image line by line Analysis

The Divine Image Notes PDF

Lecture by Uffaq Zahra www.bseln.com for free notes PDF

William Blake was an English poet, painter, and visionary thinker of the

Romantic Age. He was largely unrecognized during his lifetime but is now

considered one of the greatest poets and artists in English literature. His works

combine poetry, visual art, and philosophy, often dealing with themes of

innocence, experience, imagination, spirituality, and social criticism.

Born: 28 November 1757 in London, England.

Died:12 August 1827 in London.

The poem “The Divine Image” is part of his collection Songs of Innocence

(1789). It reflects his belief that human virtues are reflections of God’s presence

within mankind.

Iambic Pentameter with Regular Rhyme

The poem consists of five stanzas of four lines (quatrains) each.

Blake uses ABAB, giving it musical childlike quality.

“The Divine Image” Setting is within the human soul and conscience, where

divine virtues live, rather than in an external place.

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Background

•Blake wrote “The Divine Image” against the backdrop of industrialization and

rigid religion.

•Industrialization is the process of shifting from an agricultural, handcraft-

based society to one dominated by machines, factories, and mass production,

leading to urbanization and major social and economic changes.

•While industrialization made society harsh and mechanical, the Church

focused more on rules than compassion.

•In contrast, Blake emphasized that true spirituality lies in human virtues

Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love, which he saw as both the real image of God

within humanity and a reflection of the Romantic ideals of innocence,

imagination, and natural goodness.

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Themes

•Divine in Humanity: God is present in human virtues Mercy, Pity,

Peace, and Love.

•True Religion: Real worship is shown through kindness and

compassion, not rituals.

•Unity of Man and God: Human goodness reflects divine qualities.

•Innocence and Purity: A vision of the world as naturally good and

harmonious.

•Romantic Idealism: Focus on imagination, spirituality, and human

dignity over materialism

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Text of the Poem Line By Line Explanation

Stanza 1

“To Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love

All pray in their distress,

And to these virtues of delight

Return their thankfulness.”

Stanza 2

“For Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love

Is God our father dear;

And Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love

Is man, his child and care.”

Stanza 1

When people suffer, they pray for mercy, pity, peace,

and love. When they are relieved, they feel thankful

for these virtues.

Blake personifies these four virtues as almost divine

beings. Prayer is not directed at a distant God but at

these qualities that live within humanity.

Shows the human need for compassion and kindness

during suffering.

Stanza 2

These virtues define both God and man. God is like a

father who embodies them, and man, as His child,

also reflects them.

Blake erases the distance between man and God by

showing their shared essence. God is love, but so are

human beings.

Suggests unity of divine and human nature.

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Text of the Poem Line By Line Explanation

Stanza 3

“For Mercy has a human heart,

Pity a human face,

And Love, the human form divine,

And Peace, the human dress.”

Stanza 4

“Then every man of every clime

That prays in his distress

Prays to the human form divine,

Love, Mercy, Pity, Peace.”

Stanza 3

Each virtue is given a human form mercy is in the

heart, pity is seen in the face, love makes up the

divine human form, and peace is like the clothing that

covers and protects.

Blake grounds spirituality in human qualities, not in

abstract theology. He makes virtues concrete and

visible.

God dwells in ordinary human emotions and

expressions, not in churches or rituals.-

Stanza 4

People across all lands and cultures, when they suffer,

pray to these same virtues.

Blake stresses universality—humanity everywhere

shares the same moral and spiritual essence.

A vision of unity beyond race, nation, or religion.

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Text of the Poem Line By Line Explanation

Stanza 5

And all must love the

human form,

In heathen, Turk, or Jew;

Where Mercy, Love, and

Pity dwell, There God is

dwelling too.”

Stanza 5

Everyone, regardless of religion

pagan, Muslim, or Jew deserves

love and respect. Wherever these

virtues exist, God is present.

Blake rejects religious division

and prejudice. True religion is love

and compassion, not church

authority or dogma.

Brotherhood of mankind; God is

universal, not limited to

Christianity.

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Summary of the poem

The poem teaches that four virtues Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love are the true

qualities of both God and man.

In times of suffering, people pray for these virtues, and when they are

blessed, they give thanks through them.

Blake shows that these virtues give God a human form: mercy is the heart,

pity the face, love the human form divine, and peace the clothing.

He stresses that people of every nation and religion Christian, Muslim, Jew,

or heathen share these values. Wherever these virtues dwell, God is present.