William Blake and Bulleh Shah : A Comparative Study of Their Mystical Poetry

Abstract

In English poetry William Blake emerged as a famous mystic poet having didactic nature while in Punjabi poetry Bulle Shah broke the conventional chains of religious poetry. This article will explore how these two poets penned down their personal views for the readers and to what extent they share similarities and dissimilarities. The research objectives of this study will be to highlight the deviation of mystic poetry from the conventional orthodoxy with special reference to William Blake and Bulle Shah. The study will comprise the selected poems of both the poets and it will aim at to give the comparison and contrast of a few features of both poets. The term ‘mysticism,’ comes from the Greek μυω, meaning “to conceal.” In the Hellenistic world, ‘mystical’ referred to “secret” religious rituals. In early Christianity the term came to refer to “hidden” allegorical interpretations of Scriptures and to hidden presences, such as that of Jesus at the Eucharist. While on the other hand mysticism in Islam started from Arab in the 8^th century A.D. This flourished in various Muslim countries and got a specific colour in the sub continent. Both the poets are called the mystic poets. Besides they share many other qualities in body and substance of their poetical works. These elements are the subjects of this research study and will be discussed in details.

Keywords: Mystic Poets , Didactic , Conventional Chains , Similarities , Dissimilarities , Deviation , Rituals , Substance