The Lamb, By william blake

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October 30 , 2007

Analysis of The Lamb ' by William Blake

A reading of William Blake 's The Lamb ' brings forth a very spiritual and obviously pastoral message in a traditional (for the era ) Christian theme . Blake effectively uses several techniques of harmony and economy which set forth and amplify the sense of spirituality and innocence . His use of repetition , metaphor , and succinct gentle illusions provide the reader with a compelling devotional and contemplative work that sounds as much prayer as poem

Often the repetitions

of poetic lines will in the least add emphasis and at most provide a jarring counterpoint to the desired fluidity of movement . In the case of The Lamb ' the repetition gives almost a sing-song childish cadence which quickly sets the tone by opening the first stanza

Little Lamb who made thee

Dist thou know who made thee (Lines 1 , 2

Then he reinforces the opening by closing the stanza

Little Lamb who made thee

Dost thou know who made thee (Lines 10 , 11

Combined with the careful rhyming during the stanza , feed-mead delight-bright ' and voice-rejoice ' it produces more a soft melody reminiscent of a lullaby , with the repetition setting forth pause and relaxation . The method continues in the second stanza , with a cumulative effect , as the opening question is soon to be answered

Little lamb I 'll tell thee

Little lamb I 'll tell thee (Lines 13 , 14

Again , with perhaps less careful rhyming during the second stanza name , Lamb , mild , child ' and reversed lamb , name ' the scheme is still effective because of the pattern , placing name-lamb-mild-child-lamb-name , followed by the non-rhyme we are called by his name ' which sets up the closing answer

Little Lamb God bless thee

Little Lamb God bless thee (Lines 21 , 22

Metaphorically the little Lamb ' is of course reference to Jesus Christ , For he calls himself a Lamb (Line 16 , the Lamb of God . Like the little lamb Jesus Christ is meek and he is mild (Line 17 . Jesus Christ , born unto The Virgin Mary became a little child (Line 18 ) as well , and both the lamb and the narrator are children of and made in the image of Jesus Christ

I a child thou a lamb

We are called by his name (Lines 19 , 20

Additional metaphors exist who is it , the narrator asks the Lamb who gave you life , food and water ? According to Christian belief and Catholic ritual life ' itself comes from the body and blood of Christ . The theme carries further with the concept of Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd eternally vigilant in protecting his innocent flock of sheep and lambs

Blake creates an overall splendor through language , absent any thorns wolves or threatening storms . There is no fire and brimstone , lambs about to be placed on the sacrificial alter , or cowering from invading predators . Instead there is clothing of delight ' which is the softest clothing wooly bright ' and of course the gentle voice of the lamb which makes all within hearing...