Final answer:
Blake chose the lamb for its innocence and as a contrast to the tiger, reflecting on the duality of creation. His probing questions on the creator's nature seek to evoke thought rather than provide definitive answers.
Step-by-step explanation:
William Blake chose the lamb as the subject of his poem due to its symbolic representation of innocence and purity, commonly associated with Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. The lamb also contrasts dramatically with the tiger as a creation of the same 'he' or Creator, presenting a dichotomy of gentleness against ferocity.
Blake employs unanswered questions throughout the poem to ponder the nature of creation and the intentions or characteristics of the Creator. When he asks whether the lamb knows who made it, Blake is not necessarily seeking a literal answer but rather provoking thought about the deeper connection between the Creator and the created, suggesting a divine and innate understanding.
The revisions Blake made from early drafts to the final version, such as the decision to use the word clasp over grasp, display a deliberate choice in conveying a less aggressive, more protective action.
This reflects the nurturing aspect of the Creator while still acknowledging the 'dread grasp' or the potential danger inherent in the power to create. The poem invites the reader to contemplate the complexity and duality of creation where beauty and terror can stem from the same source.