Running head: EXPLICATION OF THE LAMB 1

Explication of The Lamb

William Taylor Pittman
ENG130-2 Introduction to Literature
Colorado State University Global Campus
Professor Elizabeth Skwiot
October 10, 2014










EXPLICATION OF THE LAMB 2


Explication of The Lamb
In The Lamb, written by William Blake the narrator or speaker is a child. The child is
speaking rhetorically to a lamb present or perhaps in his mind. The poem is formed of two
stanzas with the first appearing to be the childs efforts to understand the lamb. In the second
stanza the child responds to his own questions and comes to a resolution. Blakes use of
apostrophe and rhythm in the poem enhances the song-like qualities and nursery rhyme feel.
Apostrophe
The Poem begins with the first couplet establishing an apostrophe, either talking
rhetorically to a lamb or addressing one in the speakers mind. Apostrophe remains a fundamental
part of the poems message and structure throughout the poem. Through the use of apostrophe, a
nursery rhyme type felling is achieved; both easily orated and easily understood by children.
Apostrophe continues throughout the first stanza with the child addressing the lamb as he
describes what a lamb is. The stanza ends with the child then asking twice if the lamb knew
who made thee.(971)
In the second stanza the child begins to answer his own question for his desire to
understand the lambs origins and being. The stanza begins with an exclamation of Little Lamb
Ill tell thee and the boy then speaks directly to the lamb, answering his own questions and
possible trying to impart knowledge on the lamb. Finally, as the second stanza concludes with
Little lamb God bless thee addressing the lamb once more and solidifying the continuity of
apostrophe within the poem.

EXPLICATION OF THE LAMB 3


Rhythm
For my enjoyment of The Lamb, the rhythm and resulting structure are paramount in
importance. The rhythm structures the poem almost like a song, consisting of three bridges and
two verses with the bridges surrounding the verses. The first bridge: Little Lamb, who made
thee? Dost thou know who made thee? shows rhythm between the two lines by repeating who
made thee at the end of each. This bridge is also repeated in its entirety at the end of the first
verse creating a balancing effect.
The second verse begins with the second half of the second bridge with the child stating
Little Lamb Ill tell the, Little Lamb Ill tell the! This use of rhythm signifies a new verse or
stanza is beginning. Little Lamb is repeated at the end of the second stanza or can be seen as
the last bridge. This repetition of little lamb at the beginning and end, in my opinion, helps
balance out the stanza. Little Lamb is repeated along with God bless thee to conclude the
poem with a strong rhythm stopping conclusion.
The apostrophe and rhythm present in The Lamb both help create an easy to orate poem.






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References