Lamb by William Blake Subtleness Essay

Total Length: 1213 words ( 4 double-spaced pages)

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The poet does not use slang as a means to alter the general messages of the poem, as the grammatical style is formal for the period during which the poem was written. The vocabulary he uses is standard and although contemporary readers might consider the vernacular to be outdated, it is actually in accordance with the period when "The Lamb" was written. Blake wrote the poem in closed verse and the form changes somewhat from time to time. Considering that each stanza consists out of five couplets that end in a rhyme, the overall structure of the poem can be associated with a song. The vowel sounds and the flowing contribute to this concept and actually help readers as they imagine a song sang by a child or by a lamb. In spite of the fact that the verses or the general context of the poem might initially seem childish, its message is actually strong and spiritual. One can practically consider that the poem is a paradox, as it is both naive and philosophical.

The lamb's vulnerability is reflected in Christian stories regarding Jesus, as He too was very vulnerable when he was young. The fact that the poet relates to a child while speaking about the lamb can influence readers in feeling less hesitant about believing that someone might actually talk with an animal. One can take into account the idea that the narrator is a child, that this is the reason for which he refers to the animal, and that the questions are not actually rhetorical.

The message

One of the most curious matters regarding the poem is that it does not put across concepts related to suffering and evil in the world.
It is apparently intended to emphasis concepts that are peaceful and beautiful, influencing readers in putting their distress behind in order to embrace a more optimistic take on life. Although Blake wants readers to employ a Christian approach at interpreting the poem, one can also look at it from a philosophical point-of-view. The question "who made thee" has several answers and has been under discussion for thousands of years, as most people agree that complex things have to have a creator. The fact that Blake also relates to the lamb's source of food points toward the belief that he considers the same individual to be responsible for creating the lamb and for providing it with grass. Similar to how he is referring to the lamb, the poet is referring to all of his leaders and wants to underline that God is responsible for providing them with life, food, and clothing. When considering the series of associations that Blake makes, one might reach the conclusion that the lamb exists because of God and people exist because of the lamb.

Conclusion

As longer as one analyzes this poem as more he or she will feel that it is thoughtful and that it is meant to discuss some of the most important matters concerning life. The person asking the questions is not a naive child, as he or she is a philosopher wanting to know more about life and about creation. The poem does not only associate the character of Jesus with the child and the lamb, as it is meant to show a connection between the natural and the supernatural. Every person comes across these dilemmas at a certain moment in his or her life.

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