1. The parable of the blind

3. The Parable of the Blind Opening Activity: What details do you see in the painting that were not mentioned in the poem? Why do you think Williams’ omitted this? (class discussion)

4. THE PARABLE OF THE BLIND THESIS: Williams’ use of a biblical allegory and negative imagery/ diction to show how the painting, The Blind Leading the Blind, depicts ignorant people leading more ignorant people into a path they think is the path to God.

5. Senses: Meaning and Language 8 “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’” … 13 He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” Matthew 15: 8-9, 13

6. Interpretation Modern - Ignorant person following another = Disaster Religious - False teachings lead to blindness

7. Sense: Meaning & Language Archetype: Beggars - Poor - Deceiving Allegory: Basin - Religious symbol for purity Irony “ This horrible but superb painting” Connotation “Diagonally Downward” - Misguided Tone: Descriptive Mood: Sad

8. Senses: Meaning and Language Understanding the parable = Word of God Those who don’t = ignorant The Purpose of Parables Mark 4:10-12 But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. 11 And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, 12 so that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And their sins be forgiven them.’”

9. Sense: Meaning & Language Motif : Religion - Basin - Church spire - Light Speaker - Admiring Theme - Deception POV 3 RD Person Allusion “Parable of the blind” Matthew 15: 1-16

10. Senses: Imagery & Symbols Basin:  Represents place where water is held  Water is used by church to cleanse sin  Instead leading into dirty bog Basin:  Represents place where water is held  Water is used by church to cleanse sin  Instead leading into dirty bog Light  God Blind:  Not literally  Blind in the heart  Intentions lead to believe they are going in the path towards God Color  “without a red”  Color-blind

11. Structure: Form, Organization, Pattern Enjambment - All Pattern - 3 lines 8 Stanzas Repetition - Composition 2x Syntax - No period

12. Style: Poetry Techniques Juxtaposition – used to emphasize the main meaning of the poem through contradictions Ex. Stanza 1 This horrible but superb painting the parable of the blind without a red Ex. Stanza 8 to the composition one follows the others stick in hand triumphant to disaster Metaphor – to make a reference to God Ex. the faces are raised as toward the light there is no detail extraneous

13. Other Poetry Techniques Oxymoron: This horrible but superb painting the parable of the blind without a red to the composition one follows the others stick in hand triumphant to disaster

14. Sound: Musicality & Auditory Techniques Alliteration – used in 3 stanzas to emphasize the main points of the poem Ex. Stanza 1 This horrible but superb painting the parable of the blind without a red Ex. Stanza 2 in the composition shows a group of beggars leading each other diagonally downward Ex. Stanza 6 pitiful possessions a basin to wash in a peasant cottage is seen and a church spire No repetition of vowels & consonants No repetition of vowels & consonants Free Verse (no meter, some type of rhythm but no specific rhythm) Free Verse (no meter, some type of rhythm but no specific rhythm)

15. Sound Continued This horrible but superb painting the parable of the blind without a red in the composition shows a group of beggars leading each other diagonally downward across the canvas from one side to stumble finally into a bog where the picture and the composition ends back of which no seeing man is represented the unshaven features of the des- titute with their few pitiful possessions a basin to wash in a peasant cottage is seen and a church spire the faces are raised as toward the light there is no detail extraneous to the composition one follows the others stick in hand triumphant to disaster Enjambment – used to connect ideas freely to the next stanza

16. Connection to Other Works by Williams Main focus on the poor and all based on a paintings by Brueghel  Landscape With the Fall of Icarus  Peasant Wedding

17. Closing Activity. What are some events in history or in your life in which you think the idea of The Blind Leading the Blind relates to?

18. CONCLUSION Williams’ use of a biblical allegory and negative imagery/ diction to show how the painting, The Blind Leading the Blind, depicts ignorant people leading more ignorant people into a path they think is the path to God.