The lamb Flashcards
What is the Lamb a metaphor of?
The Lamb of the poem is a metaphor for a child, someone
innocent and unmarked by life’s experiences. It may also refer to
Christ, the Lamb of God.
How, according to the speaker, are the Little Lamb and its
creator similar?
The speaker reminds the Little Lamb that its creator, God, is
often referred to as Lamb (Jesus Christ), and like the Little Lamb, he
once took the form of a child on Earth.
What type of rhyme scheme is the poem written in?
The first stanza of the poem is written in rhyming couplets. The
second stanza features a circular/symmetrical rhyme scheme of
a/a/b/c/d/d/c/b/a/a.
What is the main idea of the lamb?
“The Lamb” is a poem by William Blake, which was published in
1789 in Songs of Innocence. This poem centres on Christianity,
having the “Lamb” as the symbol of Jesus as “The Lamb of God.”
Innocence is the ultimate theme of this poem. So the main idea here
revolves around a child asking a lamb about who created them.
What type of poem is the lamb?
The Lamb’ is a lyrical poem consisting of two stanzas. The first
stanza of the poem is written in rhyming couplets with a simple rhyme
scheme as AA BB BB BB AA. The second stanza features a
circular/symmetrical rhyme scheme of AA BC DD CB AA. In fact, the
poem uses childlike tone and voice of singing that respond to the
simple rhyme scheme, and both work together to establish a special
effect.
What is the tone of the lamb?
The tone of “The Lamb” is both joyful and reverent. The word
choice in the poem creates a cheerful, intimate, and childish
atmosphere. The image of a fluffy lamb instantly warms the reader’s
heart. The lamb as the symbol of Jesus always brings a sense of
faith. The use of simple language subsequently creates an innocent
and childlike speaker. Blake paints a picture where the lamb sings
with its “tender” voice by the stream and eats delicious grass as its
softest “clothing of delight” shines in the sun. The picture combines
sound, smell and touch to create a balanced joyful tone. The lamb’s
sound instil peacefulness, the grass’s scent evokes a sense of
sweetness, and the shiny wool offers a warmth feel. The picturesque
view creates a wonderful atmosphere that makes “all the vales
rejoice.” The speaker then tells a story where Jesus is born as a
child. On Christmas, as people celebrate the birth of “meek” and
“mild” Jesus, the story reflects a cheerful tone once again.
What is the theme of the lamb?
The key theme in William Blake’s poem “The Lamb” is the
appreciation of specific qualities of Jesus and His gifts to mankind.
Blake asks the lamb in the first stanza if she knows who gave it life,
soft wool and a gentle voice. The image of a fuzzy lamb immediately
warms the reader’s heart. The lamb’s sound instils peacefulness
Other significant theme of the poem is innocence and simplicity. The
lamb is described in the question as “little” which shows the intimacy
between the speaker and the lamb. Instead of questioning how the
lamb is born, or how the lamb is created, Blake uses the word “made”
to demonstrate the speaker’s innocence and simplicity.
The use of simple vocabulary also establishes an innocent and
childlike speaker. Yet another and the most theme of the poem is
spirituality. It places spirituality in a natural setting through God. The
Lamb itself serves as a Christian symbol of innocence, which can
also reflect the same thing only in terms of nature.
What two things does the lamb symbolize?
Traditionally, lambs stand for innocence. Jesus Christ is
compared to a lamb in the Christian Gospels because he marches
meekly to be sacrificed on behalf of mankind. In fact, lambs as baby
sheep are related to the childhood theme that runs throughout the
Songs of Innocence.
What does the lamb symbolize in Christianity?
The lamb in Christianity represents Christ as both suffering and
victorious; it a sacrificial animal, and can also symbolize gentleness,
innocence, and purity. The lamb also symbolizes sweetness,
forgiveness, compassion and meekness.
