The Zoo of William Blake

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Throughout the career and life of William Blake, he was known for many things, such as printmaking, painting, and poetry. While his artwork brought him quite a bit of notoriety, he was quite possibly best known for his poetry. Two of these poems, The Lamb and the Tyger, which have a heavy backing of religion, especially that of Christianity are from a published series of poems he called Songs of Innocence, and of Experience, which falls in exceptionally with the themes of both of these poems. While the Lamb falls more into the category of innocence, almost that of a child, the Tyger falls more into a darker category, like a more knowledgeable adult questioning about God. While these poems have a plethora to offer, the most standout parts of this story would have to be religion, the voice speaking, and the theme of the poems. The easiest place to begin with these poems would most certainly have to be the religion aspect, as both these poems make direct references to Christianity, or at least to a higher power. The name of the poem the Lamb itself is a reference to Christianity, as Jesus was referred to as a lamb in the Bible. And after the narrator seems to ask whomever he is speaking to, which is somewhat implied to be Jesus, he continues on to say that the lamb is meek and mild, and became a little child, (Blake, The Lamb) which is a reference to the birth of Jesus in the Bible, as the Lamb, or God, was born and became a little child. The Tyger references religion, or at least a reference to a higher power in a somewhat more serious manner, asking what immortal hand or eye could frame thy fearful symmetry, (Blake, The Tyger) in other words referencing what God could create such a fearsome creature, and almost seems to... ... middle of paper ... ...rds, and completely avoids any song like quality, making mentions of hammers, chains, anvils and furnaces, giving the image of a blacksmith, working away in a hot room, lighted by a furnace, pounding of metal, almost giving the feeling of a dark pit, like that of Hell. Taking these poems for all they’re worth, they could be taken as Blake’s evolution as a Christian, starting out like that of a young innocent child, and slowly evolving into that of a more learned Christian, almost evolving to a state of questioning some of Gods intentions, or maybe even reaching an Agnostic like state of belief. In any case, these poems certainly contain views of religion at very different angles, and different perceptions of what God really is. Both poems seem to be an attempt at trying to personify God and bring him down to a level that would be easier understood by Man.

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