The Romantic period in literature during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, was a departure from the formal and rigid attitudes of the previous Classical movement. Romanticism was characterised by freedom of thought and an unrestrained expression of the emotions and imagination of an individual. Contemplations of the natural world inspired deeper thinking about God and creation. This style of thinking impacted on artistic and intellectual texts, such as the poetry of William Blake, in which he conveyed his awe of God’s majesty and power. These poems contrast two vital attributes of the Creator and illustrate a more elaborate and intricate view of God’s fierce, yet gentle nature.
Blake’s poetry encapsulates the imaginative expression and heightened emotion that was a key feature of Romantic thinking. Both The Lamb and The Tyger are found in Blake’s iconic anthology Songs of Innocence and Experience, in which he examines opposing perspectives of the world. The purity and unlimited potential of childhood is highlighted through the simple pastoral imagery of the Lamb. The Lamb’s child-like qualities are expressed in the repetition in the quotation: ‘Gave thee clothing of delight,/ Softest clothing, woolly, bright’, which is further reinforced in the simplicity of the rhyming couplet. Moreover, the tactile and visual descriptions reflect a child’s simple exploration of the world around them through tangible imagery. Through this technique, Blake expresses the Romantic attitude to wonder about the natural world. This is contrast with the scenes of the Tyger’s might and fierceness that represents the limitation and corruption that are introduced with the loss of childhood innocence. Blake’s use of visual imagery that refers to parts of the Tyger’s anatomy expresses his awe at the animal’s power and the intricacy of God’s handiwork. This is portrayed in