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Class 11 Alternative English Chapter 10 The Divine Image
–William Blake
About the Author
William Blake (1757–1827) was an English poet, painter, and visionary thinker, born on November 28, 1757, in London. Though not widely recognized during his lifetime, he is now
considered one of the most original and influential figures of the Romantic Age.
Blake was largely self-educated and developed a unique style that combined poetry with visual art. He is best known for his collections Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, which explore themes of innocence, experience, spirituality, and social injustice.
His famous poems include The Divine Image, The Tyger, and The Lamb. Blake’s works often criticize organized religion and emphasize imagination, freedom, and the divine nature of human beings.
He died on August 12, 1827, in London. Today, William Blake is celebrated for his imaginative vision, symbolic poetry, and profound spiritual insights.
Word Notes
Divine Image: The idea that humans reflect God’s nature through their qualities.
Mercy: Kindness and compassion shown to others, especially in times of suffering.
Pity: A feeling of sympathy and sorrow for others’ pain.
Peace: A state of calmness, harmony, and absence of conflict.
Love: Deep affection and care for others; the highest human and divine virtue.
Virtues of delight: Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love, which bring comfort and joy.
Distress: A state of suffering, pain, or trouble.
Human form divine: The concept that the human form reflects God’s image.
Prayer: A way of seeking help or expressing gratitude to God or divine qualities.
Compassion: Deep concern for others’ suffering with a desire to help.
Sympathy: Sharing the feelings of another, especially in sorrow.
Universal: Applicable to all people, regardless of differences.
Heathen: A term used for someone who does not follow a major religion.
Turk: Refers to a Muslim person in the poem’s context.
Jew: A follower of Judaism; used here to represent religious diversity.
Brotherhood: A sense of unity and equality among all human beings.
Equality: The idea that all people are equal and deserve respect.
Divinity: The state of being divine or connected to God.
Embodiment: The representation of an idea or quality in a visible form.
Grace: Kindness, goodwill, and divine favor.
Summary
William Blake’s The Divine Image presents a deeply spiritual and humanistic vision of the relationship between God and humanity. The poem centres on four key virtues—Mercy, Pity,
Peace, and Love—which Blake describes as “virtues of delight.” These qualities are not only attributes of God but are also naturally present in human beings, suggesting a profound unity between the divine and the human.
Blake personifies these virtues, giving them human form and characteristics. Mercy is associated with the human heart, Pity with a compassionate face, Peace with human clothing, and Love with the human body itself. Through this imagery, the poet emphasizes that God is reflected in human nature, and that every individual carries a divine essence within.
The poem also conveys a strong message of equality and universality. In the line “In heathen, Turk, or Jew,” Blake asserts that all people, regardless of religion or cultural background, share these divine qualities. This challenges narrow religious views and promotes a vision of unity based on shared human values.
At a deeper level, the poem suggests that true worship of God lies not in rituals but in practicing these virtues in daily life. When individuals show kindness, compassion, peace, and love, they embody the presence of God. Thus, Blake redefines divinity as something internal and accessible rather than distant and abstract.
Overall, The Divine Image is both a celebration of human goodness and a critique of divisions within society. It highlights the idea that the divine is inseparable from the human, and that a just and harmonious world can be achieved through the practice of these universal virtues.
Comprehension: Textual Questions & Answers
I. Answer these questions in one or two words.
1. When do people pray to Mercy, Pity, Peace and Love?
Ans: People pray to Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love in times of distress or trouble.
2. What do people return to the ‘virtues of delight’?
Ans: People offer thanks to the virtues of delight—Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love.
3. Who is God for us?
Ans: God is our loving and caring father.
4. Which of the virtues has a human face?
Ans: Pity has a human face.
5. Who is seen as God’s child and care?
Ans: Humans are seen as God’s children under His care.
II. Answer these questions in a few words.
1. What do people do in distress?
Ans: In distress, people pray to Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love as divine and human qualities for comfort.
2. What does the term ‘virtues of delight’ refer to?
Ans: It refers to Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love, which bring relief and comfort in times of suffering.
3. Name the different human forms represented by ‘virtues of delight’?
Ans: Mercy (kind heart), Pity (compassionate face), Love (divine human form), and Peace (gentle appearance).
4. What kind of man prays to the ‘human form divine’?
Ans: Any person in need or difficulty prays to the ‘human form divine.’
5. Where does God dwell?
Ans: God dwells wherever Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love exist.
III. Answer these questions briefly.
1. What human form must all men love?
Ans: All people must love the “human form divine,” as it reflects God’s presence in humanity.
2. How do the qualities of Mercy, Pity, Peace and Love embody both God and Man?
Ans: These qualities are both divine and human. When people express them, they reveal the presence of God within themselves.
3. What is the significance of the expression ‘In heathen, Turk, or Jew’?
Ans: The phrase shows that all people, regardless of religion or background, possess these divine qualities, emphasizing equality and unity among humanity.
IV. Answer these questions in detail.
1. Bring out the central idea of the poem The Divine Image by William Blake.
Ans: The central idea of the poem is that human beings possess divine qualities such as Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love. These “virtues of delight” connect humans with God and with one
another. The poet suggests that these qualities define both God and humanity, showing that God’s presence exists within every individual. Thus, all humans are united through shared divine virtues.
2. How does the poem The Divine Image illustrate the Biblical idea “God created man in his own image”?
Ans: The poem shows that the qualities of Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love are present in both God and humans. These virtues reflect the divine nature within human beings, suggesting that humans are created in God’s image. By expressing these qualities, people reveal the connection between the human and the divine, highlighting the unity between God and humanity.
Additional Questions & Answers
I. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. From which collection is The Divine Image taken?
(a) Songs of Experience
(b) Lyrical Ballads
(c) Songs of Innocence
(d) Leaves of Grass
Ans: (c)
2. How many virtues are highlighted in the poem?
(a) Two
(b) Three
(c) Four
(d) Five
Ans: (c)
3. Which of the following is NOT a virtue mentioned in the poem?
(a) Mercy
(b) Pity
(c) Courage
(d) Love
Ans: (c)
4. When do people pray to Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love?
(a) In happiness
(b) In distress
(c) In sleep
(d) In silence
Ans: (b)
5. What are Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love called in the poem?
(a) Divine gifts
(b) Virtues of delight
(c) Human faults
(d) Natural forces
Ans: (b)
6. Who is described as “our Father dear”?
(a) Nature
(b) Man
(c) God
(d) Poet
Ans: (c)
7. Which virtue is associated with the human heart?
(a) Peace
(b) Mercy
(c) Love
(d) Pity
Ans: (b)
8. Which virtue has a human face?
(a) Love
(b) Peace
(c) Mercy
(d) Pity
Ans: (d)
9. What does Peace symbolize in human form?
(a) Clothing
(b) Voice
(c) Thought
(d) Action
Ans: (a)
10. What does Love represent in the poem?
(a) Human hands
(b) Human form divine
(c) Human speech
(d) Human mind
Ans: (b)
11. What idea does the poem mainly promote?
(a) War and power
(b) Equality and unity
(c) Wealth and success
(d) Fear and control
Ans: (b)
12. What does the phrase “human form divine” suggest?
(a) Humans are weak
(b) Humans reflect God’s image
(c) Humans are sinful
(d) Humans are powerless
Ans: (b)
13. What is the significance of “In heathen, Turk, or Jew”?
(a) It shows religious conflict
(b) It shows religious superiority
(c) It shows unity among all people
(d) It shows political power
Ans: (c)
14. What literary device is mainly used to describe virtues as human qualities?
(a) Simile
(b) Personification
(c) Irony
(d) Alliteration
Ans: (b)
15. Where does God dwell according to the poem?
(a) In temples only
(b) In heaven only
(c) Wherever Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love exist
(d) In books
Ans: (c) 0 0 0
