The Lamb: Key Quotes

Key Quotes from “The Lamb”

“Who made thee?”: This quote frames the poem as a catechism, a series of questions and answers that teach religious doctrine.
“Dost thou know who made thee?”: This question emphasizes the speaker’s curiosity about the lamb’s understanding of its creation and existence.
“Little Lamb I’ll tell thee”: This quote signifies the speaker, possibly portraying Blake himself or a figure of innocence, taking the role of a teacher or guide, providing answers about the religious doctrines of creation.

“Gave thee clothing of delight”: The lamb’s wool is described as ‘clothing of delight’, indicating its purity and innocence. Note that giving clothes can be seen as a nurturing and protective act.
“Gave thee such a tender voice”: This quote underscores the lamb’s innocence again; it is gentle and non-threatening, just as a young child or a babe might have a soft and tender voice.
“By the stream and o’er the mead”: This quote emphasizes the lamb’s natural and idyllic surroundings. It reinforces a sense of innocence and tranquility.

“He is called by thy name”: Lamb is a conventional symbol in Christianity, referring to Jesus as the Lamb of God. This connection brings a level of spiritual and religious depth to the poem.
“For he calls himself a Lamb”: This quote emphasizes the association between the lamb and Jesus Christ, reinforcing the poem’s religious implications. It suggests that Christ, like the lamb, is gentle and innocent.
“He became a little child”: This quote refers to the incarnation of Jesus Christ, a fundamental tenet of Christian theology. Like the lamb, Christ was once innocent and helpless.

Though ‘The Lamb’ is a part of the ‘Songs of Innocence’, it is important to contrast it with its counterpart in ‘Songs of Experience’, namely ‘The Tyger’. Look for similar thematic expressions and rhetorical questions in ‘The Tyger’ to enhance your understanding of Blake’s exploration of innocence and experience.