Comparing and contrasting William Blake's "The Tyger" and "The Lamb".

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Compare and Contrast of Two Poems                                        Ariel Rose

                In comparing and contrasting William Blake’s “The Tyger” and “The Lamb,” there are many different aspects to consider. The format and identifying voice are similar. On the other hand, the theme and tone are almost exact opposites. Theme, imagery, and tone are used to compare each poem.

        In “The Lamb,” a man is asking the lamb if he knows who his creator is. In a deeper meaning, the lamb is the symbol for Christ. The speaker says, “He is called by thy name, for he calls himself a Lamb.” This is a reference to God and him creating the Lamb, or Christ. The speaker refers to the Lamb as being Christ when he says, “Gave thee such a tender voice, Making all the vales rejoice?” Christ and the Lamb share the same characteristics.

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        In “The Tyger,” the speaker talks about a tyger, and how evil it is. The speaker is asking questions to the tyger like in “The Lamb” but in a much harsher tone. Words like, “terrors” and “deadly” set a different tone than the first poem. One could even argue that the tyger is a reference to Satan because of all the evil things that are talked about, such as, “ What immortal hand or eye could frame thy fearful symmetry?” Satan is immortal, as the tyger is, and he is also very fearful.

        The imagery in each poem is ...

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