William Blake and the World

Dates: January 28 - February 18, 2026
Meets: W from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
 Location: Bozeman, MT - Hope Lutheran Church
Cost:  $50.00

There are still openings remaining at this time.

Date Day Time
01/28/2026Wednesday1 PM to 3 PM
02/04/2026Wednesday1 PM to 3 PM
02/11/2026Wednesday1 PM to 3 PM
02/18/2026Wednesday1 PM to 3 PM

OR

Please note: This course program requires membership in a 2025-2026 OLLI at MSU Membership

Description

This course will explore the visual and verbal art of the English Romantic poet William Blake. Blake is one of the few figures in history to become famous and hugely influential in two separate mediums, painting and poetry, sometimes combining the two in works such as the "Songs of Innocence and Experience." His work played a significant role in the rise of comic books and pop art. He is also the author of some fantastic poetry, including the best-known poem in the English language, "The Tyger."

Course Takeaways

  • Participants will be introduced to the interesting life and visual and verbal works of this eighteenth-century poet (1827-1757).
  • We will explore Blake's observations on science, religion, philosophy, mysticism, politics, economics and art, and their relevance today.
  • We will see how Blake's works are reworked in contemporary music, art and even advertising.
  • We will explore Blake's favorite poetic form, the proverb, and examine how he responds to biblical proverbs, as well as why he remains so quotable today.

Scholarship

Apply for a needs-based scholarship to take this offering.

Fee:  $50.00

Bozeman, MT - Hope Lutheran Church

2152 W Graf St
Bozeman, MT 59718
View the location on a map.

Marvin Lansverk

Marvin Lansverk recently retired after 36 years of teaching at MSU. As a longtime professor of English, his research focused on eighteenth-century British literature, including William Blake's works and Jane Austen's novels. He is an award-winning teacher, having won national and MSU awards for outstanding teaching, both face-to-face and online. He has taught several OLLI courses, including the Bible as Literature, World Mythology and a course on Jane Austen.
Date Day Time Location
01/28/2026Wednesday1 PM to 3 PM Bozeman, MT - Hope Lutheran Church
02/04/2026Wednesday1 PM to 3 PM Bozeman, MT - Hope Lutheran Church
02/11/2026Wednesday1 PM to 3 PM Bozeman, MT - Hope Lutheran Church
02/18/2026Wednesday1 PM to 3 PM Bozeman, MT - Hope Lutheran Church