"The Lamb" and "The Tiger" by William Blake

“The Lamb” is a poem full of peace and calm and innocence whereas “The Tiger” is filled with intensity, darkness, mystery, and fear. Despite their vast difference in tone, both poems are centered around the maker of these two creatures. They both puzzle over God’s creation. The first poem is phrased like a children’s poem and sounds like a father speaking to his child and asking rhetorical questions which he expects to answer later. In addition to the connotation of a lamb as an innocent creature, the diction throughout the poem such as “stream… delight… softest… bright… tender… rejoice” all reflect innocence. The second stanza talks about how God sent his Son, the Lamb of God, to earth as a child. Even though the connections are largely Scriptural, the attitude with which they are presented here suggests the way in which a caring parent makes ideas as readily connectable as possible for children. The second poem is extremely different. While the first poem solves the question of “who made thee?” the second leaves it primarily a mystery, or at least leaves a questioning in the air. The imagery of a tiger “burning bright…in…the night” is the sort of picture that is actually Hell-like. Blake expresses awe that anyone would dare to construct the “fearful symmetry” of the tiger. The description in the fourth stanza of the tiger being made in a blacksmith’s foundry gives him all the more warlike and fierce aspect. Blake also refers to how the sinews of the tiger’s heart are twisted, implying its perversely wicked predatory nature. Interestingly, the symmetric, anatomical, and mathematical characterization of the tiger makes him seem more terrible. It is as if the structure to the evil makes it far more severe. The second poem emphasizes the terror found in God’s creation which reflects his power and moral perfection, while the first emphasizes his loving kindness. Since God is both just, powerful, and loving, I do not have to choose one of these poems to agree with in this case. Both showcase different attributes of God that are equally important to understand.