(November 28, 1757 - August 12, 1827)

William Blake

"I am under the direction of messengers from Heaven daily and nightly."

– William Blake

• William Blake was an English poet and artist born in London, England, in the Soho district in November of 1757. He experienced his first visions at an early age. His parents encouraged him not to spread these “lies” but agreed he was different from his peers. He was homeschooled by his mother for the vast majority of his childhood because of this. He went into apprenticeship, when he turned fourteen, under the watch of an engraver. By twenty-one, he was enrolled in the Royal Academy of Art's Schools of Design. From there he began exhibiting his own work. In 1800, poet William Hayley invited Blake to become his protégé. Blake began to write and illustrate his most ambitious work to date in 1804—Jerusalem.

• The Bible served as a major influence in his life and works.

• While William Blake was unappreciated during his lifetime, his death brought about fame and glory. Many of his works including “The Tyger” and “The Lamb” have influenced other artists and poets.

Companion Poems

“The Lamb”Little Lamb who made thee 

         Dost thou know who made thee Gave thee life & bid thee feed. By the stream & o'er the mead;Gave thee clothing of delight,Softest clothing wooly bright;

Gave thee such a tender voice,Making all the vales rejoice! 

         Little Lamb who made thee          Dost thou know who made thee 

         Little Lamb I'll tell thee,         Little Lamb I'll tell thee!

He is called by thy name,For he calls himself a Lamb: 

He is meek & he is mild, He became a little child: I a child & thou a lamb, 

We are called by his name.         Little Lamb God bless thee.          Little Lamb God bless thee.

“The Tyger”Tyger Tyger, burning bright, In the forests of the night; 

What immortal hand or eye, Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies. Burnt the fire of thine eyes?

On what wings dare he aspire?What the hand, dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art,Could twist the sinews of thy heart?And when thy heart began to beat,

What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain, In what furnace was thy brain?

What the anvil? what dread grasp, Dare its deadly terrors clasp! 

When the stars threw down their spears And water'd heaven with their tears: 

Did he smile his work to see?Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Tyger Tyger burning bright, In the forests of the night: 

What immortal hand or eye,Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

The Lamb

from Songs of Innocence ( 1789 )

In this poem, the speaker tells of a lamb and itscreator. He knows that God created the lamb sohe must be kind and much like people. It shows innocence in a dramatic way.

The Tyger from Songs of Experience

( 1793 )

In this poem, the speaker sees God in a different way. He speaks from experience and must ask: “Did he who made the Lamb make thee?” when talking about the creator of the Tyger.

“The Lamb” “The Tyger”

William Blake’s poems together characterize God with the gentleness of a lamb and the violence of a tiger.

We can see that God made both creatures and perceive that he shares qualities of both.

• http://www.princeton.edu/frist/iconography/cafephotos/cp047.jpg• http://www.rc.umd.edu/rchs/images/lambtn.jpg• http://www.rc.umd.edu/rchs/images/tygertn.jpg• http://

fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/013/3/4/The_tiger_and_The_Lamb_by_paras2e.jpg

• http://www.biography.com/people/william-blake-9214491?page=2• http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/116• http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/172943• http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/172926• http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/william-blake

Works Cited