William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience are both some of the most well-known poetry collections, which rightfully became an integral part of the author’s literary merit. The very essence of each book can be captured in a single poem from them. This paper aims to compare “The Lamb” from Songs of Innocence and “The Tyger” from Songs of Experience in an effort to make definitive conclusions about the shift in Blake’s stylistic and thematic choices between 1789 and 1794. It is important to note that while both poems explore religious matters, each one offers a unique take on the Bible’s dogma, partially through the expert use of imagery and excellent word choice.
While reading “The Lamb,” the audience might feel patronized although it has no choice but to devour Blake’s musings on innocence. The poem’s narrator is a child, which makes seeing the world through their eyes all the more exciting. The author emphasizes the warm tone of the piece by using phrases such as “softest clothing,” “a tender voice,” or “clothing of delight.” Moreover, it is crucial to acknowledge the simplicity of “The Lamb,” which has the structure of a familiar nursery rhyme.
While “The Lamb” is soaked in child-like innocence, “The Tyger” is a piece drenched in evil and raw physicality through the portrayal of the most dangerous creatures such as a tiger. Blake’s diction is in perfect accord with the aesthetics of a powerful animal. It could be argued that the poet uses devilish imagery in his description of the tiger referring to the creature’s burning eyes and a promise of “deadly terrors” (Blake, “The Tyger,” line 16). Thus, it is apparent that a more dynamic structure and a deliberate word choice for this lie differ greatly from the choices implemented in “The Lamb.”
The aspect, which connects the two poems together, is the religious theme, focusing on God’s role as the sole creator in particular. For instance, Blake tries to show how holy the lamb is by repeating the lines “Little Lamb God bless thee” at the very end of the piece (“The Lamb,” lines 19-20). The choice of describing the animal in such a light is deliberate as Jesus himself is often called “The Lamb of God”. As for “The Tyger,” it asks the foundational question every believer is doomed to face someday. The narrator cannot seem to comprehend how God could give birth to such evil as a tiger. In a certain way, “The Tyger” manages to destroy the remnants of innocence portrayed in “The Lamb.” Blake uses the animals as the primary symbols, around which he builds the narrative. A lamb stands for innocence, while a tiger is associated with power and threat. Although both have the same creator, the creatures could have been more different from one another. This urges Blake to consider the Lord in a different light, not as all-loving and benevolent but merciless and cruel.
In conclusion, both poems have a message of their own and masterfully deliver it to the readers. However, despite the differences in imagery, structure, and diction, “The Lamb” and “The Tyger” examine the same religious issue. On the one hand, believers are fascinated with the holiness and beauty of the world. On the other hand, they cannot deny the reality’s evil, which is also God’s creation. Blake succeeds at demonstrating the stark contrast between the two mindsets in “The Lamb” and “The Tyger.”
Works Cited
Blake, William. “The Lamb.” Poetry Foundation, Web.
“The Tyger.” Poetry Foundation, Web.