“The Lamb” and “The Tyger”

    The artist poet, William Blake, always wrote his poems in two different categories: “Songs of Innocence” and “Songs of Experience”. I have read two of his poems, “The Lamb” and “The Tyger”. Judging by what I read, “The Lamb” belongs in the “Songs of Innocence” pile and “The Tyger” belongs in the “Songs of Experience”. Here is why:

    “The Lamb” is a song of innocence because a lamb is a small harmless creature. The poem sounds as if Blake was talking to a child. Lambs and children are the same: sweet, gentle, harmless, and dependent on others. Blake even says Jesus takes care of the lamb and asks it if it knows who its maker is.

    “The Tyger” is a song of experience because it makes no reference to innocence at all. The tyger is a cruel and ruthless animal in this poem. Blake basically asks it why it is so heartless and aggressive. The tyger’s power is compared to God’s power. Plus, tigers are thought of as cruel and powerful animals.

    I really like Blake’s poems. They seem like something I’d write.