The Lamb

poem by Blake

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 17, 2026

Quick Summary

"The Lamb" is a poem by William Blake that appears in his collection Songs of Innocence (1789). This poem is a key symbol of innocence within Blake's work. It presents a simple dialogue where a child questions a lamb about its creator, drawing a parallel between the lamb, the child, and their divine maker.12

In contrast, Blake's Songs of Experience (1794) features "The Tyger" as a rival symbol, representing energy, strength, and aggression. The poems in Songs of Experience often serve as ironic responses to those in Songs of Innocence, reflecting Blake's views on how experience can lead to conflict with societal norms and repression.13

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

William Blake
Blake as a poet
…the best-known lyrics, called “The Lamb,” a little boy gives to a lamb the same kind of catechism he himself had been given in church:
Read More
…the best-known lyrics, called “The Lamb,” a little boy gives to a lamb the same kind of catechism he himself had been given in church:
Read More