Consistent with this simplicity, when the divinely
The poem "The Lamb" by William Blake paints a beautiful
picture of pastoral simplicity through its portrayal of a lamb
and its interactions with a young child speaker. Several
elements contribute to creating a sense of innocent wonder.
One of the primary ways Blake conveys simplicity is
through the repetitive structure and rhythm of the poem.
Each stanza follows the same rhythmic pattern of four
lines with an AABB rhyme scheme. The repetitive
questioning of "Little Lamb who made thee" forms a
refrain that is answered at the end of each stanza. This
repetitive structure is soothing and calming, much like
the gentle rhythm of life in the countryside. It lacks
complex twists and turns, proceeding in an orderly,
predictable flow. The repetition creates a sense of
familiarity and comfort for the reader.
Additionally, the vocabulary Blake uses is very
straightforward and descriptive without being flowery or
excessive. Words like "mead," "clothing," "voice," and
"vales" paint a clear rural setting without embellishment.
From the beginning, the speaker establishes a rustic
scene by directly addressing a "Little Lamb" in a grassy
field "by the stream & o'er the mead." This pastoral
language situates the poem's contemplation within the
quiet, uncomplicated surroundings of a natural
landscape.
There is an innate simplicity to the lamb's existence as
portrayed. Its needs are basic - "life & bid thee feed" -
with food and sustenance coming directly from the land
itself. No complex supply chains or manufactured goods
are referenced. Just the "stream" and "mead" providing
natural sustenance in their simplicity.
The lamb's clothing is also of an innocent, uncomplicated
nature - "softest clothing wooly bright." Its wool coat is
grown and provided naturally on its own body, requiring
no human production. Describing it as both "soft" and
having a brightness evokes the purity and innocence of
its natural attire without embellishment.
Its means of communication is also pure and simple -
"such a tender voice" uplifting the "vales." No
sophisticated language or tools are implied, just its basic
cries resonating simply through the countryside. The
voice expresses what it needs without artifice.
This emphasizes the poem's sense of a pastoral life free
from complexity. The lamb exists minimally and directly
within nature's provisions alone. No signs of human
intervention, technology or excess characterize its
domain. Just the organic, uncomplicated rhythms of the
natural world sustaining its humble needs.
When the speaker promises to reveal the lamb's origins,
the language remains basic - "Little Lamb I'll tell thee"
repeated in repetition's simplicity. Complex theological
or scientific explanations are not presumed as the means
to satisfy the lamb's natural curiosity about its identity.
The most significant way Blake conveys simplicity,
however, is through the exchange between pastoral
figures at the heart of the poem - the innocent lamb
and the young child speaker. As a lamb, the figure
represents purity, gentleness, and trust. Lambs exist in
harmony with nature, following their shepherd and
feeding peacefully. Their lives unfold with a basic
simplicity, lacking complexity. By posing questions to
the lamb about its creation and care, the child places
himself in a position of gentle guidance and nurturing
reminiscent of a shepherd.
The Lamb
BY William Blake
Little Lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee
Gave thee life & bid thee feed.
By the stream & o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing wooly bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice!
Little Lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee
Little Lamb I'll tell thee,
Little Lamb I'll tell thee!
He is called by thy name,
For he calls himself a Lamb:
He is meek & he is mild,
He became a little child:
I a child & thou a lamb,
We are called by his name.
Little Lamb God bless thee.
Little Lamb God bless thee.
To conclude, Blake wishes the lamb "Little Lamb
God bless thee" showing care, protection and
benevolence towards even the lowliest creature.
This benediction reiterates the prevailing
message of God's goodness towards all. By
maintaining a repeated lyrical structure, pastoral
imagery and the perspective of an innocent lamb
throughout, Blake successfully evokes a
pervasive atmosphere of simplicity, comfort and
infant innocence without worldly intricacies or
extravagance. The direct yet indirect revelation
of the lamb's relationship to God as Jesus - our
shared savior - is expressed accessibly through
the lens of a lamb's perspective for maximal
impact. Through its simplistic yet profound
message, "The Lamb" artfully conveys Blake's
celebration of childhood innocence before God.
inspired answer is given, it is communicated within the
lamb's own limited frame of reference. Rather than
abstract concepts, God is identified concretely and
minimally as also being "called by thy name" - sharing
the lamb's basic designation.
Parallels are then drawn between Christ and the lamb
through the most elemental of attributes - being "meek
& mild" and becoming "a little child." No sophisticated
theological treatises are implied, just simple analogies
within the lamb's experiential range linking their
innocence and natural humility.
The speaker then places himself on the same level as
the lamb, as "a child" also joined to them through
sharing the same name as God, reducing profound ideas
of divine kinship to the most uncomplicated terms. No
superiority or extravagance is inferred - just humble
solidarity within nature's simplicity.
By personifying God as a lamb and using the lamb's
name to identify Him, Blake collapses distances
between creator and creation. God becomes
imaginable and accessible through an everyday figure,
removed from lofty theological abstractions. The lines
"I a child & thou a lamb / We are called by his name"
further strengthen this bond between God, the
speaker, and the lamb through shared identity. All are
linked as God's children, on equal symbolic footing as
lambs.
This approach allows Blake to introduce theological
concepts without complication or excess. The identity
of God and humanity's relationship to the divine are
presented through simple imagery, accessible to even
a lamb's understanding. No deeper explanations are
given, leaving space for childlike wonder rather than
adult questioning. Extravagant language or
sophistication might distract from the core revelation
or undermine its pastoral charm.
Throughout, the poem maintains consistency in its
carefree descriptive style. God, in the form of the
lamb, is depicted not through displays of power but
through tender provisions of basic physical needs -
"Gave thee life & bid thee feed / By the stream & o'er
the mead; / Gave thee clothing of delight...". Even
God's voice is framed not as a commanding tone but a
means of spreading joy - "Gave thee such a tender
voice, / Making all the vales rejoice!". This gentle
portrayal underscores innocence over grandeur in
representations of both nature and the divine.
The repetitive questioning at the poem's opening and
closing bookend the narrative, creating a sense of
peaceful reflection. The circling questioning conveys a
calm, comforting tone as in a lullaby or bedtime story
meant to soothe. This invites an attitude of innocent
wonder rather than analytical questioning in how the
reader receives Blake's message. Just as nature's
beauty often inspires awe through simplicity over
complexity, so too does Blake craft a poem of pastoral
charm with an unvarnished approach.
Throughout, descriptive language is kept deliberately
sparse, allowing imaginations to fill in vivid yet
undetailed images. Words like "mead", "clothing",
and "tender voice" evoke pastoral scenes and
connections without artificial flourish. The effect is an
unfettered impression of green pastures, blue skies,
and bucolic simplicity - the essence of what the lamb
experiences daily without concerns for material
extras. Even God is portrayed in basic terms focused
on providing life's humble necessities rather than
grandeur.