Blake's 'Jerusalem' As Visionary Theatre

Before etching Jerusalem William Blake wrote about creating ''the grandest poem that this world contains.'' Blake''s avowed intention in constructing the work was to move readers from a solely rational way of being (called Ulro) to one that is highly imaginative (called Eden/Eternity), with each word chosen to suit ''the mouth of a true Orator.'' Rational interpretation is of limited use when read...