What Contrasting Ideas Can You Find In 'The Lamb' And 'The Tiger'?

Essay by PaperNerd ContributorHigh School, 10th grade November 2001

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Even in the titles of the two poems it becomes apparent that the two subjects of the poem are enormously different. By looking at associated adjectives which come to mind when thinking of a tiger and a lamb these differences are confirmed. For example, when people think of a lamb, they usually think of a little, fluffy, happy, innocent, cute newborn lamb skipping about happily in a field. The lamb is a symbol of innocence and represents all that is good in the world. However, when people think of tigers, their thoughts could not be more different. They think of a ruthless killing machine, an untamed and powerful predator that would no doubt rip the lamb to shreds given half a chance. The tiger is a symbol of everything that the lamb does not represent "" evil, wrongdoing, and everything that is bad in the world.

In "˜The Lamb', the main idea seems to be one of optimism for the future.

The use of the phrase "˜Little Lamb' makes the lamb seem innocent and fragile "" a bit like a newborn baby, and this makes us think that the lamb is too young to be able to care for itself and needs to be cared for. However, the lamb is lucky enough to be well provided for, having endless fields to feed and play in, with many streams to drink from. This implies that whoever created the lamb cares about it enough to make sure it has everything that it needs to live a happy and healthy life, and also that the lamb has an easy life "" it is happy to frolic in the fields and it rejoices in this. The lamb's creator has also been kind enough to bestow upon the lamb a soft, fluffy coat, which delights...