Poetry Outline: Chapter 9

The Lamb and The Tiger by William Blake

Thesis:

William Blake draws a distinction between the two animals in his poems The Lamb and The Tiger, questioning the possibility of a mutual creator.

I. Symbolism

            A. The Lamb: “Softest clothing wooly bright;/ Gave thee such tender voice,/ Making all the vales rejoice!” (Blake 6-8).

            B. The Tiger: “Tiger! Tiger! burning bright/ In the forests of the night,/ What immortal hand or eye/ Could frame they fearful symmetry?” (Blake 1-4).

            Lambs are sweet and innocent animals. They are used in this poem to represent all of the pleasant creatures on this earth. Their wool is soft and fluffy and their voices are tender and welcoming. On the other hand, tigers are ferocious and determined. They are used in this poem to represent all of the fierce and vicious creatures on this earth. Lambs historically have a positive connotation, while tigers most often appear with a negative connotation. Throughout both of the poems the speaker questions, “Who made thee?” How could it be that the same individual created such opposing creatures?

II. Repetition

            A. The Lamb: “Little Lamb, who made thee?/ Dost thou know who made thee?” (Blake 1-2 and 9-10).

            B. The Tiger: “Tiger! Tiger! burning bright/ In the forests of the night,/ What immortal hand or eye/ Could frame they fearful symmetry?” (Blake 1-4 and 21-24).

            Rhetorical questions are repeated throughout both poems, with the main question asking who the creators of these animals are and if in fact they are the same individual. Although the speaker directly addresses each animal in the poems, the repetition of rhetorical questions demonstrates the speaker’s deeper desire. Is the speaker really asking God these questions? The speaker cannot grasp the fact that there are many different types of creatures on this earth, some good and some bad, and that the same creator who produces such lovable, caring creatures, is also capable of producing violent and intense creatures.

III. Imagery

           A. The Lamb: “He is meek and he is mild,/ He became a little child” (Blake 15-16).

           B. The Tiger: “What the anvil? what dread grasp/ Dare its deeply terrors clasp?” (Blake 15-16).

           The imagery in the two poems contrasts greatly. However, this is expected because the two animals contrast so greatly. In The Lamb, God is described as meek and mild. Because he calls himself a Lamb, this descriptions fits. In The Tiger, God’s description is surrounded with more violent words like “anvil,” “dread,” and “terrors.” Although each description of God matches its animal, such differing perspectives of the same individual can pose the question, “Did he who made the Lamb make [the Tiger]?” (Blake 20). The contrast in imagery and description of God further attests to the speaker’s inquiry on whether the same individual created such opposing creatures.