The lamb – The songs of Innocence – By William Blake

Little Lamb who made thee

 The speaker directly addresses a lamb, asking it if it
Dost thou know who made thee knows who created it, who gave it life and invited it to
Gave thee life & bid thee feed. eat.

By the stream & o'er the mead;  The lamb is then described in its natural environment,
Gave thee clothing of delight, frolicking beside streams and running through fields.

Softest clothing wooly bright;

 Whoever made the lamb also gave it its coat, which is
Gave thee such a tender voice, made out of soft white wool.
Making all the vales rejoice:
 The lamb's gentle noises, according to the speaker,
Little Lamb who made thee make the surrounding valleys happy.
Dost thou know who made thee
 The speaker then asks again: Who made the lamb?
Little Lamb I'll tell thee,
In the second stanza, the speaker excitedly offers to
Little Lamb I'll tell thee:
tell the lamb the answer.
He is called by thy name,
The creator has the same name as the lamb, and
For he calls himself a Lamb:
indeed calls himself "Lamb."
He is meek & he is mild,
This creator is gentle and kind, and he was once a
He became a little child:
small child.
I a child & thou a lamb,
The speaker, too, is a child, and both the speaker and
We are called by his name.
the lamb share the name of their creator.
Little Lamb God bless thee.
The speaker then asks God twice to bless the lamb.
Little Lamb God bless thee.
"The Lamb" is another poem by William Blake, published in his collection "Songs of Innocence" in 1789. It
explores themes of innocence, spirituality, and the relationship between God and His creation. The tone of the
poem is gentle, tender, and reverent, while its literary devices include imagery, symbolism, and repetition.

- Theme:

The central theme of "The Lamb" is the innocence and purity of God's creation. The poem celebrates the
gentle and meek nature of the lamb, portraying it as a symbol of divinity and the goodness of God. It explores
the idea of a benevolent creator who cares for His creations with love and tenderness.

- Tone:

The tone of the poem is gentle, tender, and reverential. Blake adopts a childlike voice, using simple language
and a sing-song rhythm to convey a sense of innocence and wonder. The tone is filled with awe and
admiration for the lamb and the creator who made it, expressing a deep sense of reverence for the divine.

- Literary Devices:
o Imagery: Blake uses vivid imagery to create a picturesque scene of innocence in "The Lamb." He
describes the lamb as "softest clothing woolly bright," and portrays it as a gentle and innocent
creature. The use of sensory details helps to evoke a sense of purity and beauty.

o Symbolism: The lamb in the poem serves as a symbol of innocence and divinity. It represents the
gentle and humble nature of Christ and the concept of spiritual purity. The poem suggests that
God created the lamb as a reflection of His own goodness and love.

o Repetition: Blake employs repetition to emphasize certain ideas and create a rhythmic structure
in the poem. The phrase "Little Lamb, I'll tell thee" is repeated at the beginning of each stanza,
drawing attention to the speaker's tender and nurturing tone. This repetition also adds to the
overall musical quality of the poem.

o Alliteration: Blake uses alliteration, the repetition of consonant sounds, to create a musical effect
and enhance the poem's rhythm. For example, in the line "Little Lamb, who made thee?" the
repetition of the "L" sound creates a lyrical quality in the verse.

o Rhyme: "The Lamb" follows a rhyming pattern of AABB, similar to "The Tyger." The use of end
rhymes contributes to the poem's musicality and structure, adding to its gentle and rhythmic
flow.
 The Tyger – The songs of experience– By William Blake
Tyger Tyger. burning bright,
 The speaker directly addresses a tiger, imagining its bright
In the forests of the night:
flashes of color in the dark night-time forest. The speaker asks
What immortal hand or eye,
which immortal being could possibly have created the tiger's
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
fearsome beauty.


In what distant deeps or skies.

Burnt the fire of thine eyes! The speaker wonders in which far-off depths or skies the tiger's

On what wings dare he aspire! fiery eyes were made. Did the tiger's creator have wings, and

What the hand, dare sieze the fire? whose hand would be daring enough to create the tiger?

The speaker imagines the kind of effort and skill that must have
And what shoulder, & what art,
gone into creating the tiger, wondering who would be strong
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
enough to build the tiger's muscular body. Whose hands and feet
And when thy heart began to beat, were the ones that made the tiger's heart start beating?
What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain, The speaker wonders about the tools the tiger's creator must

In what furnace was thy brain?

have used, imagining that the tiger's brain was created in a

forge. What terrifying being would be so daring as to create the

What the anvil? what dread grasp,
tiger?
Dare its deadly terrors clasp!

The speaker mentions a time when the stars gave up their

When the stars threw down their spears weapons and rained their tears on heaven. At this time, wonders

And water'd heaven with their tears: the speaker, did the creator look at the tiger and smile at his

Did he smile his work to see? accomplishment? And was the tiger made by the same creator

Did he who made the Lamb make thee? who made the lamb?

Tyger, Tyger burning bright,

The speaker addresses the tiger again, this time wondering not
In the forests of the night:
just who could create this fearsome beast—but who would dare.
What immortal hand or eye,

Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

"The Tyger" is a well-known poem written by William Blake in 1794. It explores themes of creation, nature, and
the existence of evil. The tone of the poem is mysterious, awe-struck, and contemplative, while its literary
devices include imagery, symbolism, and repetition.

- Theme:

The central theme of "The Tyger" is the existence of evil and the mystery of creation. The poem reflects on
the nature of God or a divine creator who could fashion both the gentle lamb and the fierce tiger. It raises
questions about the duality of the world and the presence of darkness and destruction alongside beauty and
innocence.

- Tone:

The tone of the poem is a combination of wonder, awe, and contemplation. Blake approaches the subject
matter with a sense of reverence and amazement, as if he is questioning the nature of creation and grappling
with its complexities. There is also a sense of fear and unease in the tone, as the poet ponders the presence
of evil and the power of the tiger.

- Literary Devices:
 Imagery: Blake makes use of vivid imagery to describe the tiger and its surroundings. He uses words
like "burning bright," "fearful symmetry," and "dread hand" to create a visual representation of the
fierce and awe-inspiring nature of the tiger.

 Symbolism: The tiger in the poem is a powerful symbol that represents both the beauty and the
terror of the natural world. It symbolizes the raw and primal forces of creation and destruction.
Additionally, the tiger can be seen as a metaphor for the darker aspects of human nature.

 Repetition: Blake uses repetition to emphasize certain ideas throughout the poem. The phrase "Tyger
Tyger, burning bright" is repeated in the first and last stanzas, creating a rhythmic pattern that draws
attention to the central image of the tiger. This repetition also adds to the sense of awe and wonder
in the poem.

 Alliteration: Blake employs alliteration, the repetition of consonant sounds, to create a musical
quality in the poem. For example, in the line "And what shoulder, & what art," the repetition of the
"w" sound adds to the rhythmic flow of the verse.

 Rhyme: "The Tyger" follows a rhyming pattern of AABB, which contributes to the poem's musicality
and structure. The use of end rhymes helps to create a sense of cohesion and balance in the poem.