How do “The Lamb” and “The Tyger” serve as contrasting symbols in William Blake’s poetry?

In William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and of Experience, "The Lamb" and "The Tyger" serve as fundamental, contrasting symbols representing the "two contrary states of the human soul".12

• The Lamb: As the key symbol of Innocence, the lamb represents vulnerability, purity, and a state of being protected and fostered by divine power. In the poem, a child identifies with the lamb, reflecting a simple, harmonious belief that both creator and creation share the same gentle qualities.13
• The Tyger: Serving as the rival image in Experience, the tiger embodies primal power, energy, strength, and aggression. It represents a state where the individual faces conflict, moralism, and the complexities of a world that is both beautiful and terrifying.14

The contrast is most poignantly captured in the famous question posed in "The Tyger": "Did he who made the Lamb make thee?". This inquiry highlights the tension between the gentle, innocent world and the savage, powerful forces of experience, challenging the reader to reconcile these opposing aspects of existence within a single creation.432