William Blake The Lamb analysis

 

William Blake The Lamb analysis

1. Blake The Lamb analysis

2. Songs of Innocence themes

3. Lamb symbolism Blake

4. Romantic poetry study guide

5. Blake literary devices

Welcome students,

This edition of The Insight Newsletter provides an exhaustive guide to one of William Blake's most beloved poems from Songs of Innocence: "The Lamb." Our goal is to move beyond a simple summary and explore the poem's profound theological, philosophical, and artistic depths. We will analyse its structure, its potent symbolism, and its place within Blake's larger system of "contrary states." Consider this your definitive resource for understanding this deceptively simple poem, equipping you with the insights needed for top-tier essays and examinations.

The Poem: "The Lamb" from Songs of Innocence

Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Gave thee life, & bid thee feed
By the stream & o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing, wooly, bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice?
Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?

Little Lamb, I'll tell thee,
Little Lamb, I'll tell thee,
He is called by thy name,
For he calls himself a Lamb.
He is meek, & he is mild;
He became a little child.
I a child, & thou a lamb,
We are called by his name.
Little Lamb, God bless thee!
Little Lamb, God bless thee!

Introduction

"The Lamb" serves as a perfect embodiment of the state of Innocence as Blake conceived it. It is not merely a charming poem about an animal; it is a theological catechism—a question-and-answer format used to teach religious principles—posed through the voice of a child. The poem explores fundamental questions of origin, identity, and divine nature. It presents a universe that is benevolent, ordered, and explicitly Christian, where the creator is intimately connected to his creation. The speaker's unwavering confidence in the answers he provides illustrates the key characteristic of Innocence: an absolute, untested faith that sees the world as an extension of a loving God.

A Stanza-by-Stanza Explanation

Stanza 1: The Question of Origin

• "Little Lamb, who made thee? / Dost thou know who made thee?"
  The poem opens with a direct, repeated question. The repetition mimics a child's speech pattern, emphasising both curiosity and a sincere desire for understanding. The question is the most fundamental one possible: who is your creator? This immediately establishes the poem's central theme—divine creation. The speaker projects his own consciousness onto the lamb, assuming it contemplates its own existence.

• "Gave thee life, & bid thee feed / By the stream & o'er the mead;"
  The speaker begins to answer his own question by describing the creator's benevolent actions. The provision of "life" is followed by the provision of sustenance. The setting is idyllic and pastoral: "the stream" and "the mead" (a meadow) represent a peaceful, natural world where all needs are met. This is the landscape of Innocence, free from threat or want.

• "Gave thee clothing of delight, / Softest clothing, wooly, bright;"
  Blake uses a metaphor of clothing to describe the lamb's fleece. This is not just functional; it is "clothing of delight," described as "soft," "wooly," and "bright." This emphasises the creator's kindness and artistic touch. The creation is not only functional but also beautiful, designed to evoke joy and pleasure. The word "bright" suggests a purity and almost divine radiance.

• "Gave thee such a tender voice, / Making all the vales rejoice?"
  The creator's gifts extend to the lamb's voice, which is "tender." This gentleness is so harmonious that it causes the surrounding valleys to "rejoice." This personification portrays a universe that is alive and in celebratory communion with its creator. The lamb's innocent voice contributes to the world's joy, reinforcing the interconnectedness of this blessed state.

• "Little Lamb, who made thee? / Dost thou know who made thee?"
  The stanza concludes with a repetition of the opening couplet. This framing device gives the stanza a song-like, hymnal quality. The question hangs in the air, not as a mark of doubt, but as a rhythmic and rhetorical setup for the definitive answer that follows in the second stanza.

Stanza 2: The Revelation of Identity

• "Little Lamb, I'll tell thee, / Little Lamb, I'll tell thee,"
  The repetition here conveys excitement and confidence. The child-speaker possesses the answer and is eager to share it. The tone is one of assured revelation, replacing the questioning curiosity of the first stanza with declarative certainty.

• "He is called by thy name, / For he calls himself a Lamb."
  This is the climax of the poem and the core of its Christian message. The creator is identified by the same name as the creation. The reference is to Jesus Christ, who in the New Testament is referred to as the "Lamb of God" (John 1:29). This establishes a profound connection between the divine and the mundane. God is not a distant, abstract force; he is immanent, having taken on the symbolic form of a vulnerable creature.

• "He is meek, & he is mild; / He became a little child."
  The speaker describes the nature of this divine Lamb. The qualities "meek" and "mild" are directly associated with both the animal lamb and the character of Jesus. The theological leap is completed with "He became a little child," a direct reference to the Incarnation—the Christian belief that God became flesh in the form of Jesus. This draws a parallel between the vulnerability of the lamb, the vulnerability of the child (the speaker), and the vulnerability of the infant Jesus.

• "I a child, & thou a lamb, / We are called by his name."
  This is perhaps the most powerful couplet in the poem. The speaker forges a holy triad: the child, the lamb, and Christ. They are all united through innocence, vulnerability, and shared identity. The child recognises his own place in this divine scheme. He, too, is a creation of God and shares in the nature of Christ. This expresses a state of grace and unity where the divisions between human, animal, and divine are dissolved in a bond of innocent love.

• "Little Lamb, God bless thee! / Little Lamb, God bless thee!"
  The poem concludes with a blessing. The speaker, having understood and explained his connection to the lamb and to God, now takes on a quasi-priestly role, bestowing a blessing upon the animal. This final repetition acts as a benediction, sealing the poem's message of love, peace, and divine protection. The circle is complete: from question to answer to blessing.

Major Themes 

• Divine Creation and Immanence:
  The poem is a celebration of creation. It presents a world where God is actively involved and lovingly attentive. He is not a detached "clockmaker" god of the Deists but a personal, caring creator who provides life, food, clothing, and a voice. The theme of immanence—God being present within the world—is central. By identifying God as the Lamb, Blake suggests that the divine is accessible and can be found in the simplest, meekest parts of creation.

• Innocence as a State of Unified Being:
  "The Lamb" perfectly encapsulates the state of Innocence. This state is characterized by:

• Absolute Faith: The child does not doubt the existence or goodness of the creator.

• Harmonious Coexistence: The lamb, child, stream, and meadow all exist in peaceful unity.

• Recognised Kinship: The child sees no separation between himself, the animal, and the divine. The line "We are called by his name" is the ultimate expression of this unified state, where the individual self is joyfully absorbed into a larger, divine identity.

• The Symbolism of the Lamb:
  The lamb is a multi-layered symbol, rich with cultural and religious meaning:

• Innocence and Purity: Its white fleece and gentle nature make it a universal symbol of purity.

• Vulnerability and Sacrifice: As a defenseless animal, it represents vulnerability. In a Christian context, it also symbolizes Jesus's role as the sacrificial lamb who was killed to atone for humanity's sins. Blake subtly acknowledges this darker side of the symbol, even within the state of innocence.

• Jesus Christ: The "Lamb of God" is a title for Christ, representing his meekness, his role as a sacrifice, and his resurrection.

• The Voice of the Child:
  The use of a child speaker is crucial. The child's perspective is not naive or simple-minded; for Blake, it is a vehicle for profound spiritual truth. The child's voice allows for a direct, unmediated understanding of God that bypasses the complex theology and potential hypocrisy of the established Church. The child is the true prophet of innocence.

Literary Techniques

• Repetition and Anaphora:
  Blake uses repetition to create a song-like, incantatory quality, reminiscent of a nursery rhyme or a hymn. The repeated questions ("who made thee?"), assurances ("I'll tell thee"), and blessings ("God bless thee") create a rhythmic, soothing effect. This reinforces the poem's theme of certainty and secure faith. The world of Innocence is a repetitive, cyclical, and secure one.

• Simple Diction and Rhyming Couplets:
  The word choice is deliberately simple and accessible, mirroring a child's vocabulary. Words like "bright," "mild," "child," and "rejoice" are straightforward and positive. The poem is written in rhyming couplets (AABB), one of the simplest and most memorable poetic forms. This technical simplicity reflects the thematic simplicity and purity of the innocent worldview.

• Rhetorical Questions:
  The poem opens with a series of rhetorical questions. While they are answered, their primary function is to engage the reader (and the lamb) in the speaker's line of thought. They draw us into the child's process of inquiry and revelation, making us participants in the discovery of divine truth.

• Metaphor and Symbolism:
  As discussed, the entire poem is built on the extended metaphor of the lamb as Christ. The "clothing of delight" is a metaphor for the lamb's fleece. These devices elevate the poem from a simple description of an animal to a rich theological statement.

Critical Perspectives

• Quantitative Analysis (Whissell, 2001): Using the Dictionary of Affect, "The Lamb" would score very highly on the pleasantness scale due to words like "delight," "softest," "bright," "rejoice," "meek," "mild," and "bless." Its imagery score would also be high, as it is filled with concrete, picture-producing words like "stream," "mead," "wool," and "vales." This scientific approach objectively confirms the poem's overwhelmingly positive and vivid tone.

• Theological Interpretation: The poem can be seen as a straightforward expression of Christian faith through the lens of innocence. However, a more nuanced reading might note the subtle hint of the lamb's sacrificial fate, suggesting that even within the state of Innocence, the potential for suffering and loss is present, albeit unrecognised by the child speaker.

Important Exam Questions and Model Answer 

Question 1: How does Blake use poetic form and structure to convey the state of innocence in "The Lamb"?

Model Answer Plan:

• Introduction: State that Blake meticulously crafts the poem's form and structure to mirror and reinforce the thematic content of innocence.

• Paragraph 1: Simplicity of Diction and Form.

• Analyse the use of simple, child-like vocabulary and the AABB rhyming couplet structure.

• Argue that this technical simplicity reflects the uncomplicated, untroubled faith of the innocent state. It makes the profound theological message accessible and immediate.

• Paragraph 2: The Effect of Repetition.

• Discuss the repetitive phrasing ("Little Lamb...", "Dost thou know...", "I'll tell thee...").

• Explain how this creates a rhythmic, lullaby-like quality, evoking a sense of security, certainty, and ritualistic comfort—hallmarks of the innocent world.

• Paragraph 3: The Q&A Structure as a Catechism.

• Examine the poem's two-part structure: the questioning first stanza and the answering second stanza.

• Argue that this mirrors a religious catechism, showing how innocence is taught and reinforced through simple, confident answers. It presents a world where all questions have satisfying, divinely-ordained answers.

• Conclusion: Conclude that Blake's form is not arbitrary but is intrinsically tied to his meaning. The gentle, repetitive, and simple structure of "The Lamb" is the formal embodiment of the state of innocence itself.

Question 2: "The Lamb" presents a comforting but incomplete view of the world." Discuss this statement with reference to "The Tyger."

How to approach this answer:

• Define the "comforting view": Discuss how "The Lamb" presents a benevolent creator, a harmonious natural world, and a clear, unified identity for the self, God, and creation.

• Argue for its "incompleteness": Explain that the poem deliberately ignores the existence of fear, suffering, evil, and power. The speaker is unaware of the lamb's symbolic connection to sacrifice.

• Introduce "The Tyger" as the necessary contrary: Analyse how "The Tyger" introduces the elements missing from "The Lamb"—awe, terror, destructive energy, and a mysterious, powerful creator.

• Synthesise: Argue that while "The Lamb's" view is comforting and true to the experience of innocence, it is rendered incomplete by the brutal facts of experience presented in "The Tyger." True wisdom, from a Blakean perspective, requires acknowledging both states.

Summary 

• "The Lamb" is a theological catechism spoken through the voice of a child.

• It explores themes of divine creation, immanence, and the unity of innocence.

• The lamb is a potent symbol of innocence, vulnerability, and Jesus Christ.

• The poem's simple diction, rhyming couplets, and repetition formally embody the state of innocence.

• It forms a crucial contrary pair with "The Tyger," and its meaning is deepened when read in this dialectical context.

• The poem presents a world of absolute faith and benevolent order, which represents one essential "state of the human soul."

By mastering "The Lamb," you gain a foundational understanding of Blake's state of Innocence. It is a vision of pristine faith and unity, a vision that is beautiful, necessary, and, as its contrary will show, only one half of the full human experience.

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