“The Lamb” by William Blake is a poem that celebrates the purity, gentleness, and innocence of a lamb. The poem begins with a rhetorical question asking who created the lamb, and it emphasizes the idea of the lamb as a creation of God. The poem suggests that the natural world is a reflection of the divine, and God is present in all aspects of creation. Here we provided The Lamb by William Blake summary and analysis line by line :
Table of Contents
The lamb is described as a gentle and innocent creature, and its relationship with God is explored through a series of rhetorical questions. The poem celebrates the beauty and purity of the natural world and suggests that God is present in all aspects of creation. The lamb symbolizes the innocence and purity of the natural world and is celebrated as a manifestation of God’s love and mercy.
Lines Explain:
“Little Lamb, who made thee?”
The poem opens with a rhetorical question, emphasizing the idea of the lamb as a creation of God. The speaker is addressing the lamb, questioning who created it.
“Dost thou know who made thee?”
This is a follow-up question to the first line, suggesting that the lamb may not have knowledge of its own creator.
“Gave thee life, and bid thee feed
By the stream and o’er the mead;”
These lines describe how the creator gave the lamb life and instructed it to feed by the stream and meadow. This emphasizes the idea of the lamb as a creature of nature.
“Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing, woolly, bright;”
These lines describe the wool on the lamb’s body as “clothing of delight”, which is soft and bright. The description emphasizes the beauty and purity of the lamb.
“Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice;”
These lines describe the lamb’s voice as “tender” and suggest that it brings joy to the valleys. The description emphasizes the lamb’s gentleness and innocence.
“Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?”
These lines are a repetition of the opening lines, emphasizing the question of who created the lamb.
“Little Lamb, I’ll tell thee,
Little Lamb, I’ll tell thee:
He is called by thy name,
For he calls himself a Lamb.”
These lines suggest that the creator is referred to as a “Lamb” and emphasizes the idea of the lamb as a reflection of the divine
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Forms:
“The Lamb” by William Blake is a lyric poem written in two stanzas. Each stanza contains five couplets, which are two lines of poetry that rhyme with each other. The rhyme scheme of the poem is AA BB CC, DD EE FF.
Literary Devices:
William Blake employs several literary devices in “The Lamb” to enhance its meaning and convey the poem’s central themes. Here are some examples:
Repetition: The poem uses repetition of questions and phrases, such as “Little Lamb, who made thee?” and “He is called by thy name”, which emphasizes the central theme of the poem and creates a sense of unity and harmony.
Imagery: Blake uses vivid and sensory imagery to describe the lamb, such as “clothing of delight” and “tender voice”, which creates a strong impression of the lamb’s purity and innocence.
Symbolism: The lamb is a symbol of innocence, purity, and gentleness, and it represents the natural world as a manifestation of God’s love and mercy.
Personification: The poem personifies the lamb by suggesting that it has knowledge and understanding of its creator, which emphasizes its spiritual significance.
Allusion: The poem makes an allusion to Jesus Christ as the “Lamb of God” and emphasizes the idea of the lamb as a reflection of the divine.
Rhyme: The poem uses a regular rhyme scheme of AA BB CC, DD EE FF, which creates a sing-song quality to the poem and emphasizes its lyrical and musical qualities.
“The Lamb” is a short and simple poem that celebrates the purity and gentleness of the lamb as a reflection of the divine. The repetition of questions and descriptions of the lamb’s beauty and innocence emphasize the idea of the lamb as a creation of God. The poem suggests that the natural world is a reflection of the divine, and God is present in all aspects of creation.
