The Lamb Summary and Analysis

Summary

William Blake published the well-known poem "The Lamb" in his "Songs of Innocence" collection in 1789. It examines issues related to creation, innocence, and the divine influence on the natural world.

The poem is made up of several questions with blunt language that are addressed to a lamb. The speaker starts by asking the Lamb about its maker, wondering who created it and gave it its kind, compassionate disposition. By emphasizing the characteristics of the Lamb, such as its soft wool and cheerful, innocent bleating, the poem highlights the image of a kind creator.

The speaker considers the Lamb's position about creation as the poem continues. They relate the Lamb to other aspects of nature, including the stream & the sun, highlighting the coherence and elegance of God's creation.

At the poem's end, the speaker informs that Jesus Christ created the Lamb, also called the "Lamb of God." The Lamb is used as a metaphor to depict Christ's kindness, purity, and self-sacrifice. The speaker makes the analogy that the creator of all things may also be viewed as a kid, signifying the purity and simplicity of the divine presence.

The poem "The Lamb" exemplifies Blake's faith in the kindness and divinity that exist inherently in all things. It stresses the connection between all living things and their creator and honors the beauty of innocence. The poem is frequently read with "The Tyger," a companion poem that examines the conflicting aspects of life and the complexity of creation.

Analysis

Stanza 1

"The Lamb" is a poem with a message. In this poem, the poet honors our Lord Jesus Christ, who was gentle and mild like a lamb and pure and innocent like a kid. The young boy asks the Lamb whether he knows who gave it life, gave it the ability to feed by a river and across the meadow, and blessed it with life. The kid asks him whether the Lamb knows who gave it the bright and silky wool that serves as its clothes and who gave it the beautiful voice that filled the valley with delight.

In the 1st stanza of William Blake's poem The Lamb, the youngster who intends to speak to the Lamb briefly describes the small animal as he sees it. The Lamb has been given the gift of life, the ability to forage by the stream and across the meadow, brilliant, silky wool that serves as its clothes, and a sweet voice that cheers the valley. Does the Lamb know who made him? Throughout the poem's opening lines, the same question is posed. The Little Lamb is asked who made him by the little child, who also wants to know if he knows. The little boy is curious about the person who gave the Lamb his life and provided for him when he was residing on the other side of the meadow, near the river. H also asks the Lamb who gave him a comfortable body cover (clothes) that is the softest, wooliest, and shiny where he got it from.

Here, readers are given a realistic portrayal of a lamb. The innocent child continually asks the Lamb in the poem, "Who made you?" The Lamb is also questioned by the child who gifted him such a lovely bleating voice, filled with a pleasant tone throughout the neighboring valleys. The child's innocence, the initial step in Blake's search for the truth, makes the stanza stand out.

"The Child of Innocence lives intuitively, enjoys spontaneous communion with nature, and sees the divine in everything."

Stanza 2

In the 2nd stanza of the poem, there is the identification of the Lamb, Christ, and the child. Because Christ is gentle and humble like a lamb, he also goes by Lamb. Christ was also a kid when he first arrived in this world as the Son of God. In this poetry, the child addresses the Lamb as though it were another child who could understand what was being said. The Lamb is gentle and mild, much like the child, bringing the child great delight. The poem captures the essence of childhood, including its innocence, purity, and gentleness, as well as the love a kid has for small things.

The poem takes on a religious undertone because of the depiction of Christ as a kid. It is pastoral poetry. Another representation of pleasure and purity in Blake is the pastoral poetry note. The child answers the questions he asked the Lamb in the first stanza of William Blake's poem The Lamb in the next ten lines of the 2nd stanza. According to the little child, the person who created the Lamb and showered the numerous gifts mentioned in the first verse is also known as the Lamb.

Jesus Christ refers to himself as a lamb. Jesus the Lamb is mild (soft-natured) and meek (submissive), and he took on human form as a child for the glory of humanity. They are both called by the name of Jesus, and the storyteller (I) is a little child. In order to create the Trinity of Child, Lamb, & Redeemer (Jesus), the Lamb recognizes Christ.

Conclusion

In conclusion, William Blake's poem "The Lamb" honors the sanctity, innocence, & divine presence that exists in the natural world. The speaker wonders who the Lamb's maker is as he poses a series of questions to it while praising its gentleness and meekness. The poem highlights the connection between God, humanity, and all other living things while also showcasing Blake's great respect for nature's beauty. The poem connects Jesus Christ to the Lamb by explaining that the Lamb was created by the Lamb of God, emphasizing the divine attributes of tenderness, purity, and self-giving love. The poem is charming and inspires awe and respect for creation because Blake uses vivid images with rhythmic language. The emotional reminder of the underlying goodness and divinity in the universe provided by "The Lamb" encourages readers to reflect on life's deeper significance and mysteries.