ENGLISH LITERATURE WILLIAM BLAKE - THE LAMB

little Lamb who made thee ?
dost thou know who made thee ?
gave thee life and bid  thee feed
by the stream and over the mead
gave thee clothing of delight
softeste 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

this poem consist of two stanzas

the identity of the Creator of the Lamb is the theme of the poem In the first stanza the poet presents various actions involved in the creation

try to Group the word describing  such actions  according to the main connotarions they suggest to you
e.g. generosity  is suggested gave life  gave clothing  gave voice  bid thee feed

what quality have all the connotations in common ?

which attributes of the Creators are suggested in the first stanza ?

now read the second stanza and  underline the noun and adjecitves that define the Creator and check if the connotation of the Creator is consistent with the connotarions of the creation


vocabulary
thee    = old use for you
dost    = old user for do
thou    = old use for do
bid = order tell
feed = eat
mead = field
thy  = old use for  your

in the second stanza  the poet establishes two orders of identification

he = the Creator  = Lamb = child
I = the poet = child = Lamb

find the lines where  the two order of indentification are expressed

explain the first sequence  with reference to the bible 

what connotation have the Lamb and the child ?

consider tre answer  to the previous question what is the meaning of the second identification

is the Lamb a real animal or does it stand as a symbol  of something else

which Language devices are used maninly  to convey and reinforce the meaning of the poem?

ENGLISH LITERATURE - FROM 1776 -1832

CRONOLOGICAL TABLE 1776 -1832

1776    DECLARATION OF AMERICAN INDIPENDENCE

1783    THE BRITISH ACKNOWLEDGE AMERICAN INDIPENDENCE

1789     FRENCH REVOLUTION BEGINS

1792     FRENCH REPUBLIC PROCLAIMED

1796     RISE OF NAPOLEON

1798  NELSON DEFEATS FRENCH FLEET

1799   PITT'S COMBINATION ACTS MADE  TRADE UNIONS ILLEGAL

1802    TREATY  OF PEACE BETWEEN FRANCE AND BRITAIN

1804    NAPOLEON MADE EMPEROR

1805 BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR (NELSON'S VICTORY)

1815  BATTLE OF WATERLOO
           CORN LAW PASSED TO  PROTECT AGRICULTURE

1819   PETERLOO MASSACRE

1824 PITT'S COMBINATION ACTS REPEALED TRADE UNIONS AGITATION ALLOWED
          GEORGE STEPHENSON BUILDS FIRST LOCOMOTIVE STEAM ENGINE

1828  TEST AND CORPORATION ACTS REPEALED  PROTESTANT DISSENTERS NO LONGER EXCLUDED  FROM GOVERNMENTAL POSITIONS

1832 REFORM ACT FRACHISE EXTENDED TO MIDDLE-CLASSES