The Lamb Diction

“The Lamb” is often regarded as an excellent example of his writing in Songs of Innocence, it epitomizes Blake’s perception of salvation. Throughout this poem, Blake captures the essence of childlike faith and wonder. Through his diction, revelation of his subjects to the reader, and religious allusion, Blake creates a poem which artfully ponders the nature of God and his grace. Blake’s nuanced word choice adds subtle tones of childhood innocence to his work. Blake associates the Lamb with timidity, describing it as “meek” and “mild”. These key words connect the Lamb to its childish qualities. This creates an atmosphere of youthful simplicity. Also, the lamb is characterized by “a tender voice”. This furthers the analogy by comparing the bleat of a lamb with the lilting voice of a youth. By using juxtaposition, Blake relates the Lamb to a child. Blake’s choice of diction such as, “gave thee clothing of delight, Softest clothing wooly bright” creates the comfort and purity of childhood. This description of God’s gift to the Lamb causes readers
to consider the softness of its wool. This simple language also further enhances the childlike quality of this work. Because of its diction, Blake engenders his work with the mentality of a young child. Blake explicitly identifies of both subjects in “The Lamb”.
The narrator exclaims that they will “tell thee!” to the “Little Lamb”. This demonstrates that the speaker has an immediate audience, the Little Lamb. As the poem takes on a conversational tone, it also attests that the narrator is conversing directly with the listener. Blake’s speaker also directly states that they are “a child” speaking to “a lamb”. These lines reveal that the narrator is a child. It also sheds light on the childish tone of this work, as the speaker is relating the story from the perspective of a young child. This choice also reveals the relationship between these two subjects as “called by his name”. This bond conveys the message that salvation is given to all. This line also subtly asserts that it is a product of a relationship with the Lamb. Because of Blake’s revelation of their identities, this work can be clearly
interpreted. Through religious allusion, Blake develops his purpose. Blake references scripture when he asks the Lamb “Dost thou know who made thee Gave thee life & bid thee feed”. This quote is an echo of a passage in the bible where God assures his servant that he will care for him and give him life. This reflection on the ultimate power of God over life and death furthers Blake’s religious message. Blake also directly cites the biblical metaphor of Jesus Christ calling “himself a Lamb”. The most blatant reference to scripture is his equation of the lamb with God’s son. He also upholds the doctrine of the trinity by combining the one who calls himself Lamb with the little Lamb’s creator. Also, the speaker asks that “God bless” the “Little Lamb”. Blake clearly demonstrates the religious connotations of this poem. The speaker demonstrates piety in their direct prayer to God that the Little Lamb would be hallowed. This religious message is artfully conveyed through heavy biblical themes. Blake writes from the perspective of a child, reveals his narrator and audience, and alludes heavily to elements from the bible to wholly portray his perception of faith and the nature of God. Throughout this work, Blake continually returns to subjects common throughout many of his poems. Because of this, he is able to create the pinnacle of religiously inspired poetry.