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And It Is Not Difficult. «In its usual sense, and could hardly be more simple, though lexicographers can split hairs about it. The usually wise R.W. Burchfield, editor of the latest Fowler's Modern English Usage, in passing implies that and is “complicatedâ€. It isn't. It has just two odd uses known to me. »
“And†in “And did those feet in ancient times…†is playing an curious role. Given that Blake hits you with it right off the bat, it creates a tension as if something else has come before, even though nothing necessarily has to come before it. It almost seems integral to the question that the narrator is asking; without it the line falls flat. It might just intensify the question to the point that it becomes not a real question at all, but an emphatic statement. It would be interesting to seek out other such uses of “and†in questions to suss out what, exactly, it is doing.
Thanks samaphore and Martha and thanks for the kind greeting, Martha! I've been a long time listener and this was my first-time posting.
While I agree that one can take poetic license (especially when trying to make meter) I'm not sure that Blake is doing that here. “And†in the first stanza creates a certain tension that is carried forward in stanza two and resolved by stanza 4 (with the chorus-like “Bring me my bow of Burning gold;….â€). Stanza 4 lacks “and†altogether and seems completely resolute. Perhaps Blake is using “and†in those first two stanzas to twist up the tension between the “holy†Jerusalem that was supposed to be built in England's mountains green and the one that he envisions.
It is fascinating how one word (â€andâ€) can be used to create such tension, isn't it?
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Grant Barrett
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