William Blake’s “The Lamb”
Carl Batson
Liberty University

Abstract
While reading the “ The Lamb” by William Blake the reader is instantly connected to the lamb. This poem was designed to take the reader on a journey of not only the life of this lamb, but the life of the reader as well. The poem starts out with a question which simply ask who made thee? The person asking the question seems to be very interested and curious about this lamb. The poem seems to identify with a child wanting to learn more about this creation. “The Lamb” starts the first stanza off with the questioning of the lamb, while the second stanza simply deals with the curious questioner becoming the teacher. This poem also has a spiritual perspective because it simply refers to Christ as also being a lamb. While simply reading this poem one can only take away from it that the individual asking the questions is a child. By the end of the poem it is safe to admit that not only was this child asking the questions, but they also have a spiritual upbringing to compare this lamb to Christ.

Who made thee?
This poem begins with questions that suggest the person asking is clueless. This is a question that humans still have a hard time explaining. That was not the case for this inquiring mind asking these questions. When you think about who would be willing to talk to an animal so freely with no regard to who may over hear it is safe to assume that it is innocent as a child. The poem takes a spiritual turn when it states “Making all the vales rejoice”. Realizing that in this earthly life we often rejoice at the name of the slain lamb for the sins of the world Jesus Christ. The comparison of the tender voice can also be a sign that this was about one who was made to bring peace on earth. The author really did a great job at showing the innocence of the person asking these questions. From the very beginning of the poem we know that this lamb was little. A child will mostly interact with something they feel is on their level of understanding. The end of the first stanza starts out the same way it began. This was another way to set up the spiritual tone of the poem. For in the second stanza of this poem the narrator turns to knowledge of not only the lamb in front of them, but one they have been taught about.

I will tell thee
When this child begins to explain all of the answers to the lamb it takes on spiritual tone. The child is saying that this lamb is also just like Jesus Christ. We often attribute certain words such as meek or mild to describe Christ. By calling himself a child and then referring to the animal as a lamb, it shows the connection that both shared with Christ. Jesus was born of a virgin mother and was a child. He at the same time was a lamb that was sent from heaven to bare the sins of this world for all who believe in him. The poem insists that the child didn’t want the lamb to feel out of place. The line which states “We are called by his name” lets us know that the child and the lamb have a connection with the creator. If Christ was a child and lamb then it shows that good qualities were in both. What an honor for this animal that the savior of the world is known as a lamb. The child finished with a prayer for the lamb which once again shows the spiritual background of this child.

Conclusion
“The Lamb” by William Blake provides the reader an insight to his own spiritual beliefs. Although you can’t take away any exact doctrine from this due to the inability to show any part of suffering on the part of the lamb or Christ. The poem reflected strictly on the positive side of Christianity by comparing it between a child and lamb. The question and answer theme of this poem made for easy reading. It also encourages the reader to look at themselves and what they believe to be true. By asking simple questions it offers the reader the opportunity to think on a theological perspective about the existence of the world. This poem shows that all have a purpose on this earth and it’s up to us to remember the reason for our being.

Works Cited
http://myweb.dal.ca/waue/Trans/Blake-Lamb.html