Comparing of two poetry

The Lamb and The Tyger

As a poetic movement , Romanticism represented a much need digression from the earlier literary contributions of the Enlightenment . One of the more prominent poets of the Romantic Era , William Blake , wrote during a time when much of Europe was at war . Blake 's poetry espouses his exploration of the human imagination and the human condition . In his poetic portfolio , Black divided some of his poems into two volumes which he called the Songs of Experience and Songs of Innocence Representative from these volumes are Blake 's The

Lamb ' from the Songs of Innocence and The Tyger ' from the Songs of Experience These poems represent two halves of what Blake saw as a dichotomy in both the world and in individual human existence

In comparing these two poems , a reader must understand some basics about Blake 's poetry . For example , Blake makes use of symbols and ironic contrasts between them in illuminating his theme . According to Jackson symbols recur throughout many of Blake 's poetry , and when they do , they generally mean the same thing . In addition , the symbolism is often archetypal , meaning that its meaning transcends place and time to be in the whole of human consciousness (396

However , Jackson is quick to warn that the Songs of Innocence , as a title , can be misleading . The Songs of Innocence is about exploring the human condition of innocence , but not necessarily about innocence itself . In some cases , a poem can use the vantage point of experience to explain a former state of innocence (Jackson 398 . For example , one might recall a former , happier time in childhood from the perspective of an adult

In The Lamb ' the title animal is used as a symbol of divinity , as a symbol of Christ , the lamb of God (McElderry 300 Mary Baine 566 . As a matter of fact , nearly all of Blake 's poems that feature lambs do so with the same symbolism (Mary Baine 566 . The white color of the lamb is an archetypal color representing innocence and purity as well , making the small , gentle , meek lamb and excellent symbol for childlike innocence . The poem itself is addressed as a child and asked if he knows his maker : Little lamb , who made thee

Dost thou know who made thee ( The Lamb ' lines 1-2

The gentle questioning is soft and nurturing as one might gingerly treat a very small child

Clearly the lamb , and the innocent child it represents , would understand and respond that God made him and provide all of his necessities for him in this blissful pastoral setting . In fact , the speaker responds that The Lamb , meaning God , made the lamb , the child . The theme is that God is a meek and gentle God that provides for all of his lambs , or children of God . This parallels the inner workings of man himself . Man has an innocent and pure side , one that matches his morality and spirituality Much like a children 's Sunday School song , the poem ends...