Symbolism
Symbolism is the poetic/artistic movement or style in which
symbols are used to represent the ideas or qualities. Symbolic meanings are
given to the words and these meanings are different from their literal sense.
It gives a writer freedom to add double levels of meanings to
his work: a literal one that is self-evident and the symbolic one whose meaning
is far more profound than the literal one. The symbolism, therefore, gives
universality to the characters and the themes of a piece of literature.
Symbolism in literature evokes interest in readers as they find an opportunity
to get an insight of the writer’s mind on how he views the world and how he
thinks of common objects and actions, having broader implications.
There are some general symbols that are used commonly like
1. Dove is the symbol of peace
2. Black color represents the evil or
death
3. Broken Mirror may symbolize separation.
Here, in this assignment, we are concerned with the poetic
symbolism. In poetry writer uses different tools like similes, metaphors,
allegory etc for this purpose. For this purpose William Blake’s two poems “The
Tyger” and “The Lamb” has been selected.
Symbols in “The Lamb”
1. The Lamb
The lamb is the symbol of innocence and purity. It signifies
here to the Christ and human innocence. In the last few lines of the poem Blake
tells the reader that Creator is in both of them, in lamb and in child too.
When a human is child, he is innocent like a lamb or Christ.
2. Clothing of Delight …. Softest clothing wooly bright;
These lines points to the softness of the lamb. Lamb is
awarded by the clothing that is delightful, soft, wool and bright. All these
words have something in common which we can say is virtue.
3. Tender voice…. Making all the vales rejoice:
“Tender Voice” is the symbol of sympathy and love. The lamb
is awarded with sympathy and love that is letting the all humanity rejoice. It
means Christ is the sympathetic to humanity and loves the all humans
4. He is meek & he is mild:
Blake is signifying to the creator that he is meek and mild.
His meekness and mildness is also present in lamb and the child.
Symbols in “The Tyger”
1. The Tyger
“The Tyger” is the most confusing symbol in Blake’s poetry.
Many critics have been evaluating it as devil but it is not the case. “The
Tyger” is not devil but another state of human nature. It is experienced
version of “The Lamb”. When the innocence is being affected or attacked by the
evil, then a man should be “The Tyger” to restore it.
2. Forests of the night
It symbolizes the world of experience where many errors
conceal the path and dim the light.
3. Immortal hand or aye
Immortal hand or aye is the symbol used for the creator.
4. When the stars through their tears
Stars symbolize angles. This may denotes to the fallen
angels. They threw their spares and wept on creation of the tyger and their
defeat.
5. Tools of Blacksmith
Hammer, chain etc are the tools of blacksmith. Blake, in his
all poetry, use this symbol for the creator.
6. The fire
Fire has widely been used as a symbol of wrath.
Spenser wrote “Wrath is a fire”. Milton, inspiration of
Blake, spoke of flames as the “Sign of wrath awaked”. So Blake also used this
symbol for wrath and he found some good in wrath. He wrote “The wrath of the
lion is the wisdom of God” and also “the tigers of wrath are wiser than the
horses of instruction”.
He intends to suggest that the great purpose of wrath is to
consume error, to annihilate those stubborn beliefs which cannot be removed by
the tame “Horses of Instruction”.
Conclusion
Most of the critics consider “The Lamb” as virtue and “The
Tyger” as daemon but this is not the right consideration. “The Lamb” and “The
Tyger” are symbols for two different states of the human soul. When the lamb is
destroyed by experience, the tyger is needed to restore the world.
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