The Lamb

Poetry | William Blake
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How Are the Lamb, the Child, and Christ Connected in the Poem "The Lamb."?

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How are the lamb, the child, and Christ connected in the poem "The Lamb."?

In William Blake's (1757-1827) "Songs of Innocence," published in 1789, the lamb, the child, and Christ are interconnected symbols that convey themes of innocence, purity, and divine love. One of the key poems in this collection that explores these connections is "The Lamb."

Symbol of Innocence, Purity, and Divine Love: "The Lamb" presents a pastoral scene where a child, in a state of innocence, speaks with a lamb. The lamb symbolizes Christ, drawing on the Christian tradition where Jesus is often called the Lamb of God. The child, who represents innocence and purity, asks the lamb about its creation.

Little Lamb who made thee 

Dost thou know who made thee 

Gave thee life & bid thee feed.

 

The lamb responds by identifying its creator

as Christ, who became a child and called himself a lamb.

Natural World and Divinity: This interplay of symbols establishes a connection between the child, the lamb, and Christ. Through this connection, Blake explores the idea that innocence and purity are reflected in both the natural world (as symbolized by the lamb) and the divine (as symbolized by Christ). The child's innocent curiosity and the lamb's gentle nature further emphasize the themes of innocence and simplicity.

In "Songs of Innocence," Blake uses these interconnected symbols to explore the harmonious relationship between the divine, the natural world, and the child's innocence.

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William Blake
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