Transcript Document

THE LAMB & THE TYGER
By:
Taylor Morris
& Morgan
Losquadro
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.
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.
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!
LITERAL SENSE
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
 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.
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
connotati ons of the word child, which
was the tone William Blake was
implying. Innocence and gentleness are
connotati ons 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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
SOUND
 Alliteration:
 Repetition:
“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
STRUCTURE
This poem is
separated into 2
simple stanzas. One
10 line stanza of
questions, and an
equally long stanza
of answers.
Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immor tal hand or eye
Could frame thy fear ful symmetr y?
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 ar t. Could
twist the sinews of thy hear t? And
when thy hear t 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 star s threw down their
spear s, And watered heaven with their
tear s, 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 immor tal
hand or eye Dare frame thy fear ful
symmetr y?
LITERAL SENSE
Oh Tyger, whose eyes are shining in the
dark forest, which god could have
made you so per fectly?
Was it in heaven or hell where your
fier y eyes fir st emerged?
Who dared to make such a creature in
the fire?
Which hands could form your horrible
hear t 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 your self?
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 per fectly?
 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
fear ful image.
 The Tyger is fur ther 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.
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.
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 Tyger are felt while
you are reading.
RHETORICAL SITUATION
 The speaker, whom we don’t know, is questioning the Tyger of
its creation.
 We are overhearing the speaker question the Tyger.
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 star s threw down their spears,
And watered heaven with their tear s”- Stars
can’t cr y or throw spear s; resembles rain
 Allegor y:
“When the star s threw down their spear s,
And watered heaven with their tear s ”Indirect representation of how the Tyger was
created.
 Allusion:
“Distant deeps or skies” - hell or heaven
IMAGERY AND SYMBOLISM
 “Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night”
Tyger resembles a brightly burning fire.
 “And when thy hear t began to beat, What
dread hand? & what dread feet ?”
The Tyger’s hands and feet are described as
being ver y frightening.
 “When the star s threw down their spear s,
And watered heaven with their tear s”
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.
SOUND
 Alliteration:
“Tyger! Tyger! burning bright”
“Could frame thy fear ful
symmetr y?”
“In what distant deeps or skies”
“On what wings dare he aspire ?”
“And when thy hear t 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 fear ful
symmetr y?”
 Rhyme:
Ever y 2 lines rhyme (couplet)
 Repetition:
STRUCTURE
This poem consists
of 6 quatrains, fourline stanzas, in
rhymed couplets.
Every line has seven
syllables and are
mostly written in a
rhetorical question
form.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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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