Reading Analysis Week 6: The Lamb by William Blake

The Lamb by William Blake was a very interesting poem. I had to read the poem through a couple times to really understand what it was about.

The poem is told from a young child who is questioning a “Lamb”. The poem is divided into two separate parts. The first part of the poem, the child speaking questions the lamb’s origins. “Little Lamb, who made thee?” The child is also questioning the lambs purpose in life and how it came to be the one who is eaten and who has to give up their wool for clothes. “Gave thee life, and bid thee feed” and “gave thee clothing of delight, softest clothing, woolly, bright;” (335)

The second part of the story reveals who the Lamb is. The Lamb is really a symbol for Jesus, it is a religious reference. This is revealed in the 3rd line from the second paragraph, “He is called by thy name, for He falls Himself a Lamb”. He is referencing Jesus in this poem, so “He falls Himself a Lamb” translates to “Jesus calls himself a Lamb”. The poem ends with “God Bless thee”, another religious reference.

The main theme of this poem is religion. The Lamb is being used as a symbol for Jesus, thus this poem is about Jesus and how he came to be. In the beginning of the poem when the child is questioning the lambs origin, it isn’t clear. It is revealed however in the second paragraph what the Lamb represents.

William Blake was a known Christian so this poem comes at no surprise. His religious faith influenced his poetry and this is just one example of his poetry that involves religion.

-Patrick


Blake,William. “William Blake.” The Norton Anthology World Literature, edited by Martin Puchner, Third Edition., E, W.W. Norton & Co, Pp. 330-341