Encountering the Edge of Reason: Mystery, Madness and Revelation in Blake and Dickinson

Through a study of two iconic short poems — William Blake’s The Tyger and Emily Dickinson’s I felt a Funeral, in my Brain — Encountering the Edge of Reason invites a discussion of sacred fear and inner collapse. This study offers the opportunity for participants to consider how Blake’s hypnotic verses confront the awe and terror of divine creation, while Dickinson’s fragmented lines trace a haunting descent into the mind’s hidden chambers.

We will examine how each poet uses imagery and symbolism to grapple with unanswerable questions about consciousness, free will, transformation, and the terror of the unknowable. Paying careful attention to sound, rhythm and tone, we will compare Blake’s blazing predator, forged in celestial fire, with Dickinson’s surreal funeral of reason, reflecting on how fear and wonder shape our understanding of our existence.

The Tyger is full of hidden complexities while I Felt a Funeral… is openly perplexing. Both offer rich opportunity to consider the mystery and power of the mind. Newcomers to poetry will find this workshop as accessible as long-time appreciators of both Blake and Dickinson’s verse.

JOINING DETAILS:

• Single two-hour study session on Zoom led by Dr Julie Sutherland
• Tuesday 25 November, 5.00 – 7.00 pm (UK)
• £30.00 for two-hour study, including copies of the poems

REDUCED COSTS: we are committed to making our studies as affordable as possible. We have a fund in place to support anyone who would like to register for a study but finds the cost difficult to afford. We can’t promise to help, but please email us at litsalon@gmail.com in confidence if you would like to request a reduction in the cost of a study.