Diction- Michelle Synott

The Lamb- William Blake

Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Gave thee life, and bid thee feed
By the stream and 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, and he is mild;
He became a little child.
I a child, and thou a lamb,
We are called by His name.
Little Lamb, God bless thee!
Little Lamb, God bless thee!


In the poem The Lamb, by William Blake, the speaker, a young child, expresses his feelings of assurance in God, and compares himself to a lamb and to God.

By using words such as “little”, “lamb”, “stream”, “soft”, “tender”, “meek” and “mild”, William Blake proves the innocence of the lamb. Since the lamb is later compared to both the young child who is speaking, and to God, the pure diction demonstrates that children, animals, and God are all harmless and have good intentions. Since the child speaking believes the lamb and God to be innocent, it shows that the child believes in God and is wiling to turn to him. Also, William Blake uses words such as “rejoice”, “lamb”, “God” and “bless” to give the poem a religious feeling. The exploit of spiritual expressions confirm that the child speaking is religious and believes in God.