William Blake’s two poems, “The Lamb” and “The Tyger”, are both
interesting and simple to read. While they are very similar to each other they
have their differences. First off, “The Lamb” has a very happy and light mood,
while “The Tyger” has an aggressive and heavy mood. Blake uses very similar
techniques in each poem that provide a clearer understanding of the poem. It is
amazing to see the ways that Blake uses to describe the creator between these
two poems.
With “The Lamb” Blake created a very positive, caring and loving view of
the creator. The diction level, use of repetition, questions and imagery help establish
this view. The words that Blake uses establish the creator as powerful and
caring. Blake writes, “Gave thee life & bid thee feed … Gave thee clothing
of delight,” (682). This shows that the
creator has the power to give life yet caring enough to take care of the life he
has created. It is also interesting when
he asks questions like, “Dost thou know who made thee? … Little Lamb who made
thee?”(682). Hinting that there is a certain amount of uncertainty in who the
creator is exactly. Blake’s use of imagery in describing the creator helps to answer
the questions earlier in the poem. “He is called by thy name,/ For he calls
himself a Lamb/…He became a little child” (683). These give a view that the
creator is gentle and calm in nature.
With “The Tyger” Blake created a
very strong and amazing view of the creator. The diction level, use of
repetition, questions and imagery help establish this view. The words that
Blake uses establish the creator as strong, and like “The Lamb”, powerful. “What
immortal hand or eye/ Could frame they fearful symmetry?” (796). This establishes
that the creator is an immortal being and provide a view of a creator that
is bigger, stronger, and more amazing
than what is seen in “The Lamb”. Also saying ‘fearful symmetry’ shows that there
is an equal amount of fear towards Tygers from the other forms of creation. One
of the most interesting questions Blake asks is, “Did he who made the Lamb make
thee?” (797). Showing a certain amount of amazement that the creator not only
made the lamb but made the Tyger as well. He is essentially asking, ‘How can the
creator who created this Tyger also create the Lamb?’. This strong and amazing
creator that created Tygers who are feared by most, also created a gentle and
soft lamb that is the furthest from being feared.
So while these poems have contrasting views of the creator, when read together
create a more complete view of the creator.
Hi Micheal
ReplyDeletegreat job with your post
you give the reader e very good understanding of both of these poems. i agree with you The Lamb” has a very happy and light mood, while “The Tyger” has an aggressive and heavy mood.
and that both poems relate to each other but they contain contradicting ideas because " the Lamb" is an expression of innocence while "the tyger" is a portrayal of experience
hey Michael,
ReplyDeleteyou did a good job, you pointed out how the moods are different, "the lamb" is lighter and happier while "the tiger" is more heavy and angry. both poems are about the creator and almost show different sides to it, the lamb which is the innocent loving side, and the tiger being the aggressive powerful side.
good job.