Before Reading
Make a Chart
"The Lamb" and "The Tyger" are almost mirror images of each other in many ways, showing opposite views of human nature. Make a two-column chart to compare and contrast these poems as you read. Label the first column "The Lamb" and the second column "The Tyger."
During Reading
Fill in Your Chart
1. Listen as your teacher reads the first stanza of "The Lamb" aloud. What words are used to describe the lamb? What kinds of questions does the speaker ask of "The Lamb"? Take notes in your chart.
2. Read the rest of "The Lamb" on your own. Add other details about the lamb to your chart. Then read "The Tyger" on your own. Add details about the tiger to the other column in your chart.
Fix-Up Idea: Unlock Difficult Words
Before you read, preview the Words for Everyday Use and the footnotes. As you read, make a list of words you do not know. Try to use context clues to understand unfamiliar words. For example, in line 1 of "The Lamb," if you do not know the word thee, you might guess that it means "you" because that makes sense in context. If you cannot figure out a word's meaning from context, use a dictionary.
After Reading
Summarize What You Wrote
With a partner, compare the notes you took in your comparison chart. Summarize the ideas about the lamb and the ideas about the tiger. Why do you think Blake chose a lamb as a symbol of innocence and the tiger as a symbol of experience? What is he saying about these two states?
Before Reading
Make a Sensory Detail Chart
An image is a word or phrase that names something that can be seen, heard, touched, tasted, or smelled. In your notebook, make a sensory detail chart like the one on page 685. Use this chart to record details about London as you read.
During Reading
Fill in Details
1. Listen as your teacher reads the first stanza of "London." What senses are used in this stanza? What does the speaker notice? Record your ideas in the sensory detail chart.
2. Continue reading the selection on your own. As you read, keep adding images to your chart.
Fix-Up Idea: Visualize
Listen as your teacher or another student reads "London" aloud. As you listen, try to visualize the scene Blake is describing. You do not need to know the city of London to get a vivid image of this place. Use the images he provides to get an overall sense of the sights, sounds, smells and mood of this place.
After Reading
Summarize What You Wrote
With a partner, compare the notes you took while you were reading. Overall, are the images positive or negative? What words would you use to describe London? What is the mood of the poem?