William Blake, born on November 28, 1757 in Westminster, was a romanticist poet who wrote poetry during the Industrial Revolution. He primarily lived in London and started his career as an engraver at fifteen years old. Interestingly, his poems were accompanied by engraved pictures in each original print. Later on, he built his own engraving business. At almost 25 years old, he married Catherine Bouchier, with their marriage lasting for 45 years. In 1784, Blake published his first collection of poems.
The poet’s collection of poems encompasses various stages in his life and emotional experiences, resulting in a diverse compilation. Notably, his renowned poetry collections “Songs of Innocence” and “Songs of Experience” exemplify this diversity. In 1789, he initially published the first edition of “Songs of Innocence,” which he later expanded upon in 1794. The publication for “Songs of Experience” did not occur as an independent entity; instead, a combined collection titled “Songs of Innocence and Experience Shewing Contrary States of the Human Soul” was published in 1794. This compilation notably featured two contrasting poems, namely “The Lamb” and “The Tyger.”
“The Lamb” is a poem by William Blake that belongs to the collection “Songs of Innocence”. It was composed during a cheerful phase of Blake’s life. On the other hand, “The Tyger,” included in “Songs of Experience,” is believed to have been written during a period of sadness for Blake and his family. “The Lamb” presents a tender tone as it appears to be told by a child engaging in conversation with a lamb. Conversely, the speaker in “The Tyger” is interpreted (in my opinion) as an elderly individual who has experienced much of life.
I am of the belief that The Lamb possesses a simplistic and innocent tone, comparable to a nursery rhyme for children. On the other hand, The Tyger appears to have acquired wisdom and knowledge from life experiences, evident in its extensive vocabulary that surpasses that of a child. The theme of The Tyger revolves around God and the act of creation, whilst also incorporating symbolism of Jesus Christ who is likened to a lamb and portrayed as a child in the Bible. Furthermore, the poem explores the concept of identifying the creator of the lamb and expressing admiration towards said creator.
The Tyger is also interpreted as a negative portrayal of God and creation, raising questions about why God would create a dreadful creature like a Tyger and instilling a fear of God. The language employed in The Lamb, with terms like wooly, tender, and delight, conveys a sense of tranquility and affection in the creature. On the other hand, The Tyger utilizes words like burning, bright, and night, evoking a darker intensity of passion and anger. Additionally, due to the poem’s forceful nature, one of its many potential themes is the formidable “power” possessed by the Tyger.
William Blake’s “Songs of Experience” is widely believed to have been influenced by the war between England and France, reflecting a more mature and pessimistic perspective on the world. On the other hand, “The Lamb”, written during a seemingly happy phase in Blake’s life, remains shrouded in mystery as the inspiration behind it is uncertain. It is unclear whether a specific event triggered the poem or if it merely serves as a manifestation of fond childhood memories, which contribute to its child-like essence. The language employed in “The Lamb” exudes joy and harmony, effectively evoking nostalgic emotions associated with blissful childhood moments. Conversely, “The Tyger” emanates a sense of anger and bitterness, reminiscent of mourning for a lost loved one. Both poems raise inquiries about the creator of their respective creatures, with “The Tyger” delving deeper into the question of purpose behind its existence. Additionally, “The Tyger” references and interrogates themes from both the Old and New Testaments.
The language in both The Tyger and The Lamb differs. The Tyger employs more modern and Industrial language, as well as violence. Conversely, The Lamb sounds more archaic and biblical. Both poems contain numerous instances of imagery. In The Tyger, the imagery showcases passion and hell-like elements, such as “Fire in thine eyes” and “The stars threw down their spears.” These instances personify creation and serve as metaphors. In my view, the most impactful imagery is “Burning Bright,” for it symbolizes a blazing passion.
The Tyger poem employs symbolism to represent the Tyger as an anvil, furnace, and hammer, which evoke fear and violence. In contrast, The Lamb utilizes natural imagery and symbolizes the Lamb as both Jesus Christ and a child. While both poems share the subject of the creator, they remain uncertain of the identity of this creator. Furthermore, the poems also focus on the creature they depict, with The Tyger centering solely on the Tyger itself. Structurally, The Tyger consists of six stanzas, each comprising four lines, with the first stanza repeated at the end.
The Tyger utilizes harsh sounds, such as “Tyger, Tyger” (in contrast to the soft words used in The Lamb), and employs regular line length and matching syllable counts. The structure of The Lamb consists of two stanzas, each containing ten lines (comprised of five rhyming couplets) and follows a trochaic tetrameter pattern (with the starting beat strong). Additionally, both poems employ repetition, but The Lamb repeats each line twice in certain places. Furthermore, The Tyger features an “AA/BB” rhyme scheme, wherein the first two lines of each stanza rhyme with each other, and the last two lines rhyme with each other.
The Tyger and The Lamb poems share similarities in their structure and subject matter. Both poems have a trochaic tetrameter and a lullaby-like effect. However, the mood of The Tyger is a mixture of curiosity, thoughtfulness, anger, and passion. The speaker asks questions throughout the poem to express his curiosity about the creation of the Tyger and his anger towards its existence. On the other hand, the mood of The Lamb is calmer and soothing, resembling a lullaby. Despite being complete opposites in terms of mood, both poems can be interpreted differently depending on individual opinions.
