Final answer:
Repetition is the most prominent literary device found in both "The Lamb" and "The Tyger" by William Blake, emphasizing themes and contrasting innocence with ferocity. Rhetorical questions and figurative language such as metaphors and similes are also significant, deepening the reader's contemplation of philosophical and existential questions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Literary Devices in "The Lamb" and "The Tyger"
The most prominent literary device found in both William Blake's "The Lamb" and "The Tyger" is repetition. These poems, part of his collection "Songs of Innocence and of Experience," utilize repetition to emphasize certain themes and ideas. In "The Tyger," repetition is used to create a sense of awe and to question the nature of the creature's creation. Phrases like "What immortal hand or eye" and the titular question "Did he who made the Lamb make thee?" are repeated to underscore the contrast between the innocence of the lamb and the ferocity of the tiger.
Figurative language and questioning are also central to these poems. Both poems rely heavily on the use of rhetorical questions to engage the reader and to leave them pondering about creation, innocence, and experience. Additionally, metaphors and similes are used to draw comparisons between abstract concepts and tangible items, enriching the imagery of the poems.
Overall, these literary devices contribute significantly to the depth and resonance of Blake's poetry, allowing readers to explore complex philosophical and existential questions through simple yet profound verse.