There are eight known copies of The Book of Urizen, numbered
Copy A through Copy G and Copy J. In addition there are a number
of unbound pages. The arrangement of the 28 plates varies from
copy to copy, with various plates missing in each copy. The 18
plates with text on them have a continuous order; however, Plate 4 is missing from Copies D, E, F, G. The
10 plates with illustrations and no text (Plates 9,
12, 14, 16,
17, 21,
22, 24,
26, and 27)
vary widely in there placement from copy to copy.
The order of Copy D is used here, following David Erdman's standard edition of the poem. Copy D lacks Plates 4 and 16. The placement of 4 is determined by the text, the placement of 16 was an editorial decision based on the subject of the illustration and its placement in other copies.
Note: The links are to various external WWW sites, therefore any buttons on the page with the plate will not bring you back to this site. Right now Copy G is available in two forms. The Blake Archive Copy G is a much higher quality reproduction, can be resized and zoomed in on to focus on detail. In addition, it is indexed both by images and by text. However, it takes much longer to load. As other copies become available, they will be added. To look at the plates as they are ordered in Copy G, click on «Copy G» or on «Blake Archive Copy G» below. Consult the opening page of the Blake Archive for information on the fair use of the Archive. To look at the Plates as they are ordered in Copy D, click on Plate 1, 2, and so on. The «Back to the Text» buttons below will take you back to the first line of the text of each plate (thus it may not take you back to the place you were in the text).
«Copy G» «Blake Archive Copy G»
The Book of Urizen, Plate 1.
Urizen, with his eyes closed, is seated on a book, to his right and left are books that he is writing, and behind him are stone tablets similar to those of Moses's laws. The tablets also suggests grave stones. To each side of him are trees, their branches crossing above him, the lower branches joined to form an arch, almost a cave (In Copy G, one of the branches is extended so that "First" in the title is deleted). We see roots shooting out at the lower right and left of the plate.
Erdman suggests that the book Urizen is seated on is the book of nature which he is reading with the toes of his foot (Illuminated 183). The roots suggest that the book is enrooted in the vegetative world (for Blake the vegetative world is the fallen material world, the world of death or Ulro). Since this world is his own creation, in writing his book of laws, he is copying his own creation.
The enclosing trees also suggest that Urizen has fallen into a vegetative state.
Note: Look at the Introduction to the Plates for information on navigating the plates and on the different copies of the plates.
«Copy G» «Blake Archive Copy G»
«Introduction to the Plates»
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The Book of Urizen, Plate 2.
The text of the "Preludium" is in a single column (the rest of the text of the poem is in double columns) at the bottom of the page surrounded by green flames or flame like plants. Above the flames floats a clothed woman reaching a hand toward a flying infant who in turn reaches for her. The tranquility of the figures, suggesting a mother and child, are belied by the subject of the poem, the anguished creation of the fallen world. These figures suggest a peacefulness, perhaps of Beulah or the Beulah like space Los creates to protect Enitharmon from the horrors of Urizen's world (20.42-45).
Blake uses small designs to divide the verse paragraphs and the columns from one another. These designs will most often suggest vines, or leaves, or flowers, sometimes flames, and sometimes figures of birds (see Plate 3), insects (see Plate 3), or humans (see Plate 5). Here, as Erdman notes, there is a quill plume beginning the "D" of "Dictate" (Illuminated 184).
The flames cover "First" in Copies A and G.
«Copy G» «Blake Archive Copy G»
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The Book of Urizen, Plate 3.
One of the Eternals runs through the flames of Eternity, looking inward, perhaps at the round globe of Urizen. This figure is suggestive of Los, but may be any one of the Eternals. Since fluctuating energy symbolized by fire is the Eternals natural home, the figure seems out for a run rather than fleeing danger. Compare this figure to the figure in Plate 4.
A flock of birds rises into the air between paragraph 3 and 4 of Chapter I, and another bird rises into the air between paragraph 2 and 3 of Chapter II. There is also a butterfly or moth between paragraph 1 and 2 of Chapter II. There is a flower to the right and toward the bottom of paragraph 4 of Chapter I.
«Copy G» «Blake Archive Copy G»
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The Book of Urizen, Plate 4.
Urizen (or one of the other Eternals) tries to protect himself from the fire raining down on him. He grasps his hair as a sign of anguish as he tries to protect himself from the "unquenchable burnings" of the fires of Eternity (4.13). Urizen's view of the fires of Eternity is in contrast to that of the other Eternals depicted in Plate 3.
Plate 4 does not appear in Copies D, E, F, and G.
«Copy C» «Plate 4 is missing from Copy G»
«Introduction to the Plates»
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The Book of Urizen, Plate 5.
Urizen is "unclasping / The Book of brass" (4.43-44), displaying his laws to the other Eternals. Behind his head, a sun radiates light, perhaps the enlightenment he thinks he is bringing to others. Worrall suggests that the book is being offered to the Eternal in Plate 3, who would be looking inward at it (29). Erdman points out that the book itself cannot be deciphered and may itself be a representation of Urizen's chaos (Illuminated 187)
«Copy G» «Blake Archive Copy G»
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The Book of Urizen, Plate 6.
Three figures with serpents twining around them fall into an abyss filled with flames. On each side of the central figure a face appears in the flames. The central figure has his arms outspread as if he is being crucified. In Copy D the other two figures are painted over so that only the central figure is visible. Mitchell suggests that the iconography of the plate is "a complex metaphorical fusion of the Creation, the Fall, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, and the Last Judgment into a single glowing form" (150). Erdman see the figures as Satan and his host being driven from heaven (Illuminated 188). He notes that the central figure looks more like Los than Urizen, with the serpent entwining him suggesting the way he is caught in Urizen's toils.
«Copy G» «Blake Archive Copy G»
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The Book of Urizen, Plate 7.
Los howls "in a dismal stupor" (7.1), showing his anguish as Urizen is rent from his side in his fall from Eternity.
«Copy G» «Blake Archive Copy G»
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The Book of Urizen, Plate 8.
The skeleton of Urizen is in fetal posture after Los binds his chaotic members. This posture suggests both the globe which encloses Urizen and the birth of his world.
«Copy G» «Blake Archive Copy G»
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The Book of Urizen, Plate 9.
Earth, one of the four elements forming the foundation of the material world, is depicted here. There are full plate depictions of each of the elements (Plate 12, water; Plate 14, air; and Plate 16, fire) and a plate showing the birth of the elements (Plate 24). A human figure, kneeling on one knee with arms braced, holds up the weight of rock resting on his back. He is surrounded on each side by earth and rock. He looks as if he is trying to stand, but he is too weighed down by his material creation to be able to push himself erect. The flowing white hair and beard suggest Urizen, although the element of earth is Grodna, Urizen's third son, who as a manifestation of Urizen may have his appearance.
«Copy G» «Blake Archive Copy G»
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The Book of Urizen, Plate 10.
An energetic human figure seen from behind lifts the weight of the earth. Erdman suggests that the plate depicts Los toiling to give shape to Urizen and his world (Illuminated 192).
«Copy G» «Blake Archive Copy G»
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The Book of Urizen, Plate 11.
The still skeletal Urizen, bound in the flames of Los's smithy, looks up toward the receding Eternity. He is still seated, but no longer in a fetal position (see Plate 8). His ankles are bound by the chain Los has forged. His skeleton is beginning to gain flesh. Los is seated beside him, looking up in horror as Eternity recedes. He grasps his hammer in his right hand. Behind him is a leaning tower and a dome, partly obscured by flames. Erdman suggests that these buildings are the "blacksmith's credentials as builder of cities" (Illuminated 193).
«Copy G» «Blake Archive Copy G»
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The Book of Urizen, Plate 12.
Water, one of the four elements forming the foundation of the material world, is depicted here. There are full plate depictions of each of the elements (Plate 9, earth; Plate 14, air; and Plate 16, fire) and a plate showing the birth of the elements (Plate 24). The figure swims in the water, his beard floating out around him. Utha, water and Urizen's second son, looks like Urizen as do Thiriel (air) and Grodna (earth) in the other pictures of the elements.
«Copy G» «Blake Archive Copy G»
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The Book of Urizen, Plate 13.
Pity divides the world; she is suspended in space, her back to the viewer, pushing apart the clouds and creating an empty space between them. The motif of division is reinforced by the placement of the illustration, which takes up the middle of the page rather than the top or bottom as in the other plates and thus divides the text, pushing it apart.
«Copy G» «Blake Archive Copy G»
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The Book of Urizen, Plate 14.
Air, one of the four elements forming the foundation of the material world, is depicted here. There are full plate depictions of each of the elements (Plate 9, earth; Plate 12, water; and Plate 16, fire) and a plate showing the birth of the elements (Plate 24). The figure seems to be lowering itself down through the air, holding on to a cloud. Thiriel, air and Urizen's first son, looks like Urizen as do earth and water.
«Copy G» «Blake Archive Copy G»
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