THE LAMB & THE TYGER

1. THE LAMB & THE TYGER By: Taylor Morris & Morgan Losquadro

2. William Blake • William Blake lived a fairly ordinary life, living in London for most of it and never traveling. He was sent to one of London’s best drawing schools as a child and made a living through a combination of engraving and giving art lessons. Blake both illustrated and printed most of his writings from scenery and events he created in his mind that portrayed to his poems, making them all the more extraordinary.

3. Biographical Information • 1.Where is the poet from? Born on November 28, 1757 in London England • 2.How long did he live? November 28, 1757- August 12, 1827 (70 years) • 3.How do the poet’s life experiences affect his poetry? It says that when William was young, he would has visions about seeing God and angels in the trees, along with being able to talk to his deceased brother Robert. This said to be internal world of imagination, would be a prime motivator to his poems and his love for writing. He also started showing in interest in art and drawing at an early each, which provided a large contribution to his career as a poet and writer. • 4.Describe the kinds of poems and any other literature he composed. He is said to write a type of poetry, known as prophetic poetry. This type of poetry is poetry that relates to prophecy, or predicting what will happen in the future. Also, during the time period of William Blake, Romanticism played a large role in contributing to poetry and writing. • 5.What is going on historically and politically in his culture during his lifetime? How does this affect or influence his writing? The life of William Blake was during the same time as the Romanticism era, and during the Industrial Revolution that was taking place in England. These events made it very hard for William to write his prophetic poems. Also, people such as Henry Fuseli, John Flaxman, and Tom Paine, were important cultural and social contacts of William Blake during his lifetime. • 6.What are the cultural beliefs and religions during this time period? Age of Enlightenment, the church was going through a period of reformation. • 7.Was the poet famous during his lifetime? During the lifetime of William Blake, he was not referred to as a famous poet. People referred to him a unique and strange. Whereas today his work his much more appreciated and famous. • 8.What kinds of “strange “or eccentric characteristics did this poet display? William Blake was inspired by angels and the imagination as he would walk through the streets of the city and proclaimed to see angels and to have discussions with spirits. He also believed that he had the power of prophecy, thus why he is considered a prophetic poet. William Blake also believed that God looked through the window at him causing him to scream. William Blake was considered very insane and strange as both a poet and person. • 9.Was the poet married? Did he have children? Yes, he was married to a lady by the name of Catherine Boucher. They did not have any children. • 10.What is your overall impression of this poet and what impact do you think he had in his lifetime versus now in your lifetime? William Blake had a very unique form of writing. During his lifetime he was labeled as insane and did not gain much success until long after his death. His poems heavily influenced the Romantic period and are greatly acknowledged by people today. I believe William Blake, although to be a good writer, that his prophetic poems are very strange and can have many different meanings.

5. Little Lamb, who made thee? Dost thou know who made thee? Gave thee life, and bid thee feed By the stream and o'er the mead; Gave thee clothing of delight, Softest clothing, woolly, bright; Gave thee such a tender voice, Making all the vales rejoice? Little Lamb, who made thee? Dost thou know who made thee? Little Lamb, I'll tell thee, Little Lamb, I'll tell thee: He is called by thy name, For he calls himself a Lamb. He is meek, and he is mild; He became a little child. I a child, and thou a lamb. We are called by his name. Little Lamb, God bless thee! Little Lamb, God bless thee!

6. Literal sense • The speaker, the child, asks the lamb where it came from (how it came into being, how it acquires its manner of feeding, its “clothing” of wool, and its “tender voice”) • The speaker answers his own questions by announcing the lamb was made by the one who “calls himself a lamb”, one whose gentleness both resembles the child and the lamb. The poem ends with the child bestowing a blessing on the lamb. Who made you, Little Lamb? Do you know who made you? Who gave you such beautiful wool and a sweet voice? Who made you, Little Lamb? Do you know who made you? I’ll tell you, Little Lamb The man who is called “the Lamb” made you He is good and sweet too He was once a child I am a child, and you are a lamb We have him in common God bless you, Little Lamb

7. Diction • The diction is colloquial and concrete in keeping with the speaker’s childlike character. All the words are vague and direct. • This poem created many vivid expressions by its descriptive word choice. • Innocence and ignorance are connotations of the word child, which was the tone William Blake was implying. Innocence and gentleness are connotations of a lamb as well as Christ (“Lamb of God”) • The Israelites celebrated Passover by marking their door with lamb’s blood, so no death would occur in their home. Before Jesus was crucified, he was celebrating the feast of Passover. Jesus was to become the Sacrificial Lamb and later be called “The Lamb of God.”

8. TONE AND MOOD • This poem creates a childlike atmosphere, conveying a gentle and innocent, yet ignorant or naive mood. • It is understood to be a happy and simple poem. • Innocence and simplicity are felt while you are reading.

9. Rhetorical situation • The speaker who addresses the lamb in the poem is a child, whereas the addressee is a lamb. • We are overhearing the lamb being questioned by the child of its creation.

10. Figurative language • Metaphor: The creator of the lamb, who is also the creator of the child, is both a child and a lamb. Christ Himself was born a human child and then later referred to as "the Lamb of God”. The lamb and the child both belong to the world of innocence. • Personification: “Making all the vales rejoice”-A vale (valley) can’t express emotion.

11. Imagery and symbolism • “By the stream and o’er the mead” The lamb is feeding by a stream over a meadow. • “Gave thee clothing of delight, Softest clothing, woolly, bright” The lamb’s wool is described as being very bright and beautiful. • “Gave thee such a tender voice, Making all the vales rejoice?” The lamb is described as being a sweet and gentle creature. • The lamb is a symbol of both innocence and Christ.

12. sound • Alliteration: “Little Lamb” “He is meek, and He is mild” • Assonance: “Dost thou know who made thee?” • Repetition: Every 2 lines rhyme (couplet), except lines 13 & 14 and 17 & 18 • Repetition:

13. Structure • This poem is separated into 2 simple stanzas. One 10 line stanza of questions, and an equally long stanza of answers.

14. THE TYGER

15. Tyger! Tyger! burning bright In the forests of the night, What immortal hand or eye Could frame thy fearful symmetry? In what distant deeps or skies 
Burnt the fire of thine eyes? 
On what wings dare he aspire? 
What the hand dare seize the fire? And what shoulder, & what art. 
Could twist the sinews of thy heart? 
And when thy heart began to beat, 
What dread hand? & what dread feet? What the hammer? what the chain? 
In what furnace was thy brain? 
What the anvil? what dread grasp 
Dare its deadly terrors clasp? When the stars threw down their spears, 
And watered heaven with their tears, 
Did he smile his work to see? 
Did he who made the Lamb make thee? Tyger! Tyger! burning bright 
In the forests of the night, 
What immortal hand or eye 
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

16. Literal sense • The poem is addressed to the Tyger, where he is asked what could possibly produce a sublime form like his. • The Tyger is asked where he is created and who would dare to create such a creature like himself. • The Tyger is questioned of who/what his creator is and his hands and feet are addressed, increasing a more fearful image. • The Tyger is further questioned about the tools used to create him and his image is continuing to grow more frightening. • The speaker asks the Tyger if he believes his creator was proud of what he made and if his creator was the same as the lamb’s. • Tyger is once more asked what god could possibly form such a creature. Oh Tyger, whose eyes are shining in the dark forest, which god could have made you so perfectly? Was it in heaven or hell where your fiery eyes first emerged? Who dared to make such a creature in the fire? Which hands could form your horrible heart and have the courage to continue the job? Why are your hands and feet so frightening? What tools were used to create you and what being would dare to hold a creature like yourself? And when the rain came, did your creator smile on his work? Were you made by the same god who made the lamb? Oh Tyger, whose eyes are shining in the dark forest, which god could have made you so perfectly?

17. diction • The diction is colloquial and concrete due to its use of vague words. • This poem creates vivid expressions with its expressive word choice. • Frightening and dangerous are connotations of a tiger, which was the tone William Blake was implying.

18. Tone and mood • This poem creates a frightening atmosphere because of the bold and aggressive language. • It is understood to be a fearful and simple poem. • The irony that is conveyed in this poem is the engraving of the Tyger itself. He looks wide-eyed and timid, even though he is described to come across as a scary creature. • Awe and wonder about the creation of the Tygerare felt while you are reading.

19. Rhetorical situation • The speaker, whom we don’t know, is questioning the Tyger of its creation. • We are overhearing the speaker question the Tyger.

20. Figurative language • Metaphor: “Tyger! Tyger! burning bright In the forests of the night”- Resemblance of the Tyger with fire. “Burnt the fire of thine eyes?”- Comparison of the Tyger and his eyes to fire. • Personification: “Tyger! Tyger! burning bright In the forests of the night”- Tiger’s don’t illuminate light. “When the stars threw down their spears, 
And watered heaven with their tears”- Stars can’t cry or throw spears; resembles rain • Allegory: “When the stars threw down their spears, 
And watered heaven with their tears”- Indirect representation of how the Tyger was created. • Allusion: “Distant deeps or skies”- hell or heaven

21. Imagery and symbolism • “Tyger! Tyger! burning bright In the forests of the night” Tyger resembles a brightly burning fire. • “And when thy heart began to beat, 
What dread hand? & what dread feet?” The Tyger’s hands and feet are described as being very frightening. • “When the stars threw down their spears, 
And watered heaven with their tears” Rain began to fall down from the skies. • The Tyger is a symbol of both evil and Satan. • Distant deeps represents hell. • Skies represent heaven.

22. sound • Alliteration: “Tyger!Tyger! burning bright” “Could frame thy fearful symmetry?” “In what distant deeps or skies” “On what wings dare he aspire?” “And when thy heart began to beat” • Assonance: “Burnt the fire of thine eyes?” “Dare its deadly terrors clasp?” “Did he smile his work to see?” “Did he who made the Lamb make thee?” “Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?” • Rhyme: Every 2 lines rhyme (couplet) • Repetition:

23. structure • This poem consists of 6 quatrains, four-line stanzas, in rhymed couplets. • Every line has seven syllables and are mostly written in a rhetorical question form.

24. Bibliography • http://www.online-literature.com/blake/ • http://www.poemhunter.com/william-blake/ • http://kirjasto.sci.fi/wblake.htm • http://www.enotes.com/authors/william-blake