Author : Nancy Willard
Illustrator : Alice Provensen
Publisher : Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
ISBN : 0152938222
(Buy / Borrow)
Back when I was studying for my undergraduate degree in Computer Science and Mathematics, I came to a point when I thought I was finished with all of the work I needed to do, and was simply biding my time until I received my diploma. Imagine my surprise, however, when I submitted my application for graduation and found out that I hadn't completed all of my required liberal arts curricula! I was enraged! Due to a difference of opinion (and a decidedly unpublicized change in the course description) with regard to whether or not an English class I had taken previously was considered "writing intensive", I still needed to complete an English 110 course to be eligible to graduate. I was so close to being done, that I didn't put up much of a fight, grudgingly located an English 110 class that didn't start too early in the morning, and signed up for it in my final semester.
Now, that I'm a little older and much less of a brat, I look back at that class as one of my best experiences in college, and firmly believe that I was made to take it for a reason. We studied amazing literature like Seamus Heaney's brilliant translation of Beowulf, the insightful and provocative work of Allen Ginsberg, and last, but in no way least, the wonderful poetry of William Blake. Until that time, I had considered myself a well read individual, possessing a fair bit of knowledge about literature and prominent literary figures. The most important lesson I learned in that class, though, was that in reality, I hadn't even scratched the surface with regard to such knowledge. My professor helped me to dive, head first, into the exploration of what is truly awesome work, and I haven't looked back since. In celebration of that leap, I've chosen this week's subject "A Visit to William Blake's Inn : Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers" to cover in my post.
The title of Willard & Provensen's book is a reference to two of Blake's most celebrated works, "Songs of Innocence" and "Songs of Experience", which are now mostly published as a single volume. Widely misunderstood by those of his own generation, Blake's contention was that all children are born innocent and as they grow and move toward adulthood, that innocence is lost, making them largely the sum of their life experiences.
A skilled apprentice of renowned engraver James Basire, he was a visual artist long before he was a literary one. Using copper plates as his canvas, William meticulously drew his poetry and illustrations onto the metal using acid-resistant material. Once complete, he would then etch the plates using acid to burn away any copper remaining uncoated. The plates were then used to print his images on paper which he would paint using watercolor.
I find it very fitting that Alice Provensen's illustration earned her a 1982 Caldecott Honor, given the artistic beauty which provided the inspiration for her work on this book. That being said, I must also pay hommage to Nancy Willard's excellent poetry and how well it lends itself to the interpretation and adaptation of Blake's original verses and thoughts. It is certainly worthy of an award such as the Newbery Medal and I think, sheds a lot of light (no pun intended) onto the key concept he was trying to convey. As its title suggests, individuals of any age, from innocent to experienced, will be able to glean some special or personal meaning from their visit to William's inn, and that is an experience containing a lot of inherent value, not just for the students, but everyone involved.
When I think about how I'm going to use this book with elementary school classes in the future, I can hardly contain my enthusiasm. There are just so many ways in which it can be used in lessons from grades 2 through 5. For the younger students, it is an amazing example of the use of rhyme, rhythm, and repetition as well as a practically perfect introduction to the the various forms of meter style. Without even delving beneath the literal meaning of Willard's words, there is much to be learned in the form of vocabulary, history, and basic symbolism.
With older, more developed students, an educator could begin looking at the deeper meaning behind the poetry, and have them create compositions, art projects, or even poetry of their own in reaction to what they've read. My first choice for an assignment like this would be the poem "Blake Leads a Walk on the Milky Way", the illustration of which is pictured at the top of this post. I would structure the exercise with a series of open-ended questions for the students to consider, such as "Is the rat's poor, "sullen" attitude a result of its being presented with boots of iron, while others received those made of emerald, silver, and gold? Or was it presented with those iron boots because of its sullen negativity?", and "As what kind of metaphor do you think Nancy Willard created this poem?". I'd be most interested to see the variety of insight among my students, and would highly encourage them to develop their ideas fully.
Another intriguing idea, would be to coordinate with teachers from each level to cover "A Visit to William Blake's Inn" several times over the course of grades 2 through 5, having students add to the work they've previously completed, and finishing the book in possession of a volume of their own creation. A project like this, I feel, would allow them to reflect on their thoughts and ideas over the course of their development and provide them with a certain understanding of themselves that is greater than merely the sum of each lesson's individual parts. I think this would benefit our students over their entire academic careers too, not just during those years in which they participated in the project. Imagine, if you will, how much further they will be able to take their ideas when, as they are applying for graduation from their own colleges, they have the great fortune to be told that they need just one more English class. After all, it was one, Mr. William Blake, who so accurately stated :
"No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings".
