Preparing for English Assessment

How does Blake highlight his concerns to the reader?

William Blake highlights his concerns to the reader through his poetry, which often explores themes of
innocence and experience, good and evil, and the nature of God. In "Tyger," for example, he raises
questions about the intentions behind creating such a fierce creature, suggesting that it must have
been created by a being with both creative power and destructive tendencies. Similarly, in "The
Lamb," he asks who could create something so innocent and pure, while also referencing the
dangerous and wild Tyger. Finally, in "Chimney Sweep," Blake explores the injustice of humanity's
suffering on Earth while contrasting it with the joyful location of heaven where the creator resides.
Through these poetic devices, Blake highlights his concerns about morality, justice, and the nature of
God to his readers.

Paragraph 1: Tyger – Why does the creator make such an evil and dangerous animal?

In "The Tyger," William Blake raises profound questions about the nature of the creator's intentions by
contemplating the purpose behind the creation of an evil and dangerous animal like the tiger. "The
Tyger" delves into the existential quandary of why a creator, traditionally associated with goodness
and benevolence, would bring into being a creature as fierce, dangerous, and seemingly evil as the
tiger. This exploration stems from Blake's fascination with the paradoxes and dualities of the human
experience, a characteristic theme of Romantic literature. The Romantic period was marked by a shift
in perspective, as poets sought to explore the intricacies of human emotions, the power of the
individual imagination, and the awe-inspiring forces of nature. Central to this exploration was the
questioning of established religious and philosophical beliefs, particularly concerning the presence of
evil in the world. Blake, known for his visionary and mystical worldview, used "The Tyger" to provoke
contemplation on theodicy and challenge conventional notions of the divine. Blake utilises rhetorical
language when expressing "Tyger! Tyger! burning bright / In the forests of the night, / What immortal
hand or eye / Could frame thy fearful symmetry?" to emphasise the mysterious nature of the creator's
actions in bringing forth such a fearsome creature as the tiger. By posing these questions, he
challenges the reader to contemplate the intentions and motives behind the creation of something
both beautiful and terrifying. The repetition of the exclamatory "Tyger! Tyger!" creates a sense of awe
and wonder, drawing attention to the paradoxical nature of the tiger's existence and intensifying the
reader's engagement with the theme of theodicy. In stanza 3, "What the hammer? what the chain? / In
what furnace was thy brain? / What the anvil? what dread grasp / Dare its deadly terrors clasp?" The
repetition of questions throughout the poem intensifies the reader's engagement and underscores the
speaker's sense of wonder and perplexity. The repetitive structure emphasises the magnitude of the
enigma being contemplated, encouraging readers to join in the search for answers. The use of
specific tools and imagery related to craftsmanship, such as the hammer, chain, furnace, and anvil,
adds a sense of industrial creation, raising further questions about the nature of the creator and the
intentions behind the creation of such a powerful and potentially destructive creature. Ultimately, the
thought-provoking exploration of theodicy in "The Tyger" serves to characterise William Blake's
overarching concern regarding the intentions of the creator and the existence of evil in the world.

Paragraph 2: The Lamb – Who is the creator? Identity. Who could do this? Make something so
sweet with reference to Tyger

In "The Lamb," William Blake explores the identity of the creator by contemplating who could bring
into existence something as gentle and innocent as a lamb, drawing a stark contrast to the fierce and
menacing qualities of the tiger mentioned in "The Tyger." "The Lamb" delves into the theme of divine
innocence and the nature of the creator through the portrayal of a gentle and innocent lamb.
Contextually, the poem is part of William Blake's collection called "Songs of Innocence," which
explores the purity and wonder of the world through the lens of a childlike perspective. The theme of
innocence is central to Blake's work, as he believed it to be the true nature of the human soul and a
reflection of the divine. By juxtaposing the lamb's innocence with the mysterious and enigmatic
qualities of the tiger in "The Tyger," Blake invites readers to contemplate the contrasting aspects of
the creator's nature and the complexity of divine creation. "The Lamb" serves as a companion piece
to "The Tyger," providing a counterbalance that allows for a deeper exploration of the creator's identity
and the intertwining themes of innocence and experience in Blake's poetry. The quote "Little Lamb, I'll
tell thee, / Little Lamb, I'll tell thee: / He is called by thy name, / For He calls Himself a Lamb." explores
symbolism through religious allusions. Through vivid imagery, Blake presents the lamb as a
representation of Christ and the divine. By stating that the creator is "called by thy name" and "calls
Himself a Lamb," Blake establishes a direct connection between the gentle, innocent lamb and the
divine figure of Jesus, who is often referred to as the Lamb of God in Christian theology, contrasting
the theodicy explored in The Tyger. This imagery strengthens the theme of divine innocence and
reinforces the idea that the creator embodies qualities of purity, love, and compassion. Blake
continues by highlighting the nature of the Creator through the quote "Gave thee life, and bid thee
feed / By the stream and o'er the mead; / Gave thee clothing of delight, / Softest clothing, woolly,
bright." The use of alliteration, particularly in phrases "clothing of delight" and "woolly, bright," adds a
musical quality to the poem and draws attention to the generous and nurturing nature of the creator.
The repetition of the "s" sound, referred to as sibilance, creates a soothing and gentle effect, echoing
the peacefulness and tenderness associated with the lamb. This technique reinforces the theme of
divine care and protection and further highlights the benevolent qualities of the creator. Through the
contrasting imagery and questioning of the creator's identity in "The Lamb," William Blake prompts
readers to contemplate the enigmatic nature of divine creation and its stark juxtaposition with the
menacing qualities of the tiger in "The Tyger," deepening the exploration of the creator's intentions
and raising thought-provoking questions about the nature of good and evil.

Paragraph 3: Chimney Sweep – Injustice of the creator giving humanity the power of evil; the
return to heaven. The ironic contrast between Earth and the Heavens, where the person who
made such evil things lived in such a joyful location.

Finally, In "Chimney Sweep," William Blake explores the injustice of the creator granting humanity the
power of evil, highlighting the ironic contrast between the earthly existence of suffering chimney
sweeps and the heavenly abode of the creator, a joyful place seemingly disconnected from the
hardships faced by those created beings."Chimney Sweep" delves into the theme of social injustice
and the inherent cruelty in the power dynamics between the creator and the created beings.
Contextually, the poem is part of William Blake's collection called "Songs of Innocence," which
critiques the oppressive systems of 18th-century England, particularly child labor and the
mistreatment of chimney sweeps. The theme of social inequality and the exploitation of the vulnerable
is central to Blake's work, as he seeks to expose the harsh realities of societal injustices through
poignant and often ironic portrayals. Stanza one introduced a melachonic tone in the quote "When my
mother died I was very young, / And my father sold me while yet my tongue / Could scarcely cry
'weep! 'weep! 'weep! 'Weep!" The opening lines of the poem depict the tragic circumstances of the
chimney sweep, who is orphaned at a young age and sold into labor. This serves as evidence of the
social injustice and exploitation faced by the vulnerable members of society. The repetition of the word
"'weep!" reflects both the literal crying of the chimney sweep and the emotional distress caused by
their plight, evoking sympathy from the reader. Blake continues later in the poem by introducing the
character of Tom Dacre, whom holds symbolism for all chimney sweeps. He writes; "And so Tom
awoke; and we rose in the dark, / And got with our bags and our brushes to work”, depicting the
chimney sweeps carrying out their arduous and dangerous labor in the darkness, highlighting the
harsh realities they face. The imagery of waking up in the dark and going to work with their bags and
brushes emphasizes the monotony and dehumanizing nature of their occupation. This serves as a
powerful visual representation of the exploitation and the stark contrast between the toil on Earth and
the supposed bliss of the heavens. Through the portrayal of social injustice, religious manipulation,
and the stark contrast between the earthly suffering of the chimney sweeps and the heavenly
promises of the creator, "Chimney Sweep" by William Blake powerfully underscores the theme of the
injustice of the creator granting humanity the power of evil. The poem highlights the ironic disparity
between the hardships faced by the created beings and the seemingly joyful realm of the creator,
prompting readers to question the fairness and benevolence of the divine in the face of such profound
social inequalities.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the works of William Blake, including "The Tyger," "The Lamb," and "Chimney Sweep,"
collectively explore profound themes related to the creator's intentions and the existence of evil, the
identity of the creator, and the injustice of the power dynamics between the creator and the created
beings. Through powerful imagery, rhetorical techniques, and thought-provoking questions, Blake
invites readers to contemplate the complexities of divine creation and the moral implications of the
world we inhabit.