William Blake Poems Shepherd and Lamb

1. The Shepherd - William Blake

2. William Blake’s Poem Shephard
 In ‘The Shepherd,’ William Blake paints an idyllic portrait of a
shepherd’s life, celebrating simplicity, nature’s beauty, and
spiritual connections.
 The poem captures the shepherd’s harmonious existence,
attentiveness to the calls of lambs and ewes and the profound
trust between shepherd and flock.
 Blake’s lyrical verses resonate with themes of innocence,
watchfulness, and a deeper, metaphysical appreciation for
the pastoral landscape.
 The poem stands as a timeless ode to the beauty found in a
serene and interconnected natural world.

3. Detailed Analysis - Stanza One
How sweet is the shepherd’s sweet lot!
From the morn to the evening he strays;
He shall follow his sheep all the day,
And his tongue shall be filled with praise.
 Blake paints a picturesque scene of pastoral tranquility and contentment. The poet begins by
exclaiming the sweetness of the shepherd’s life, immediately setting a positive and idyllic tone.
 The repetitive use of the word “sweet” creates a melodic quality, evoking a sense of harmony
and pleasure associated with the shepherd’s existence.
 Shepherd as a central figure aligns with traditional pastoral themes. The shepherd symbolizes a
connection to nature and a simpler way of life.
 The shepherd’s daily routine and caring of his flock, reflect a rhythmic and cyclical routine that
mirrors the natural order.
 Last line introduces element of gratitude/appreciation for shepherd’s experiences inspire him
to vocalize his admiration for the world around him.
 It as a celebration of the beauty inherent in the shepherd’s pastoral life.
 opening stanza establishes a serene and joyful atmosphere, inviting readers to appreciate the
simplicity and sweetness of the shepherd’s life

4. Detailed Analysis - Stanza Two
For he hears the lambs’ innocent call,
And he hears the ewes’ tender reply;
He is watchful while they are in peace,
For they know when their shepherd is nigh.
 It emphasizes the interconnectedness between the shepherd and his flock.
 The personification of the lambs/ewes, endow them with innocence/tenderness, creates a vivid and
emotionally charged landscape.
 Fosters an intimate relationship between the shepherd and his surroundings. It as a celebration of the
beauty inherent in the shepherd’s pastoral life.
 This communion with the language of the animals reinforces the pastoral idyll, portraying the shepherd
both as guardian and participant in the shared experiences of the pastoral realm.
 Line3- shepherd’s protective role, element of vigilance/care/ dedication to ensure well-being/serenity
of his flock
 Line4 - a profound sense of trust and familiarity between the shepherd and the sheep.
 Innate understanding-transcends verbal communication, highlighting a deeper connection and mutual
recognition.
 Carries metaphorical weight…a sense of spiritual guidance, as if shepherd’s presence brings assurance
to the flock.
 The final stanza serves as a poignant conclusion, weaving together themes of symbiotic relationships,
watchful guardianship, and implicit spirituality.

5. William Blake
 This poem epitomizes William Blake's distinctive style,
blending pastoral imagery with metaphysical depth.
 It mirrors Blake's affinity for nature, spirituality, and
visionary themes.
 The poem's rhythmic lyricism and symbolic richness align
with his unique voice.
 While it captures Blake's recurrent motifs, its brevity hints
at deeper complexities, making it a succinct but
characteristic representation of his broader body of work.

6. Poetic Techniques and Figurative Language
to convey the pastoral beauty and deeper themes within the poem.
Imagery: One notable technique is Blake’s use of vivid imagery, which
creates a sensory experience for the reader. For instance, the line “How
sweet is the shepherd’s sweet lot!” utilizes the sense of taste to convey
the delightful and satisfying nature of the shepherd’s life, emphasizing
the sweetness and joy inherent in his pastoral existence.
Personification: Blake imbues non-human elements with human qualities.
In the lines “For he hears the lambs’ innocent call, / And he hears the
ewes’ tender reply,” the attribution of human-like qualities to the lambs
and ewes enhances the pastoral scene, creating a sense of innocence and
tenderness in the natural world. This personification serves to humanize
the animals and deepen the emotional connection between the reader
and the pastoral setting.

7. Poetic Techniques and Figurative Language
 Alliteration: Blake also uses this device to enhance the musicality and rhythm of
the poem. The repetition of the “h” sound in “How sweet is the shepherd’s sweet
lot!” not only creates a pleasing auditory effect but also emphasizes the sweetness
and harmony of the shepherd’s life. This linguistic technique contributes to the
overall lyrical quality of the poem.
 Metaphor: The use of metaphor is evident in the line “And his tongue shall be filled
with praise.” Here, the shepherd’s tongue being “filled with praise” serves as a
metaphor for his appreciation and gratitude for the beauty of nature.
The metaphorical language suggests that the shepherd’s words are an expression of
reverence and admiration, emphasizing the profound connection between the
shepherd and the pastoral environment.
 Symbolism: It is subtly woven into the poem, with the sheep representing
innocence and the pastoral landscape symbolizing a utopian and harmonious
existence. The shepherd, in turn, becomes a symbolic figure of care and guidance,
transcending his role as a mere shepherd to embody a deeper spiritual significance.

8. Structure and Form
 ‘The Shepherd’ by William Blake is a quatrain consisting of two stanzas, each comprising four
lines. This structure aligns with the traditional form of a quatrain, a four-line stanza, and reflects
a balanced and neatly organized composition.
 The rhyme scheme is consistent throughout the poem, following an ABCB pattern, where the
second and fourth lines of each stanza rhyme.
 The ABBC rhyme scheme in each stanza creates a sense of harmony, mirroring the pastoral theme
of the poem. The consistent rhyming also contributes to the overall fluidity of the verses,
enhancing the poem’s lyrical and melodic qualities.
 The brevity of each quatrain encourages a focused and contemplative reading.
 The simplicity of the form complements the pastoral subject matter, reinforcing the idea of a
straightforward and unpretentious life led by the shepherd.
 The poem’s structure mirrors the tranquil and orderly life of the shepherd, reinforcing the
thematic elements present in the verses.
 In terms of meter, ‘The Shepherd’ is primarily written in trochaic tetrameter, with each line
consisting of four stressed and four unstressed syllables. This metrical pattern contributes to the
poem’s rhythmic flow and adds a musical quality to the verses.

9. Themes
 Simplicity, Symbiotic relationships, Watchful guardianship, and Implicit spirituality.
 One prominent theme is the simplicity and contentment found in a rustic and natural existence.
 Closely tied to the theme of simplicity is the idea of the shepherd’s close connection with nature.
 The theme of watchfulness and guardianship also pervades the poem. The shepherd is portrayed as a
vigilant caretaker, ensuring the well-being of his flock. Lines like “He is watchful while they are in
peace”
 Additionally, the theme of trust and familiarity emerges in the lines “For they know when their
shepherd is nigh.” This line suggests a mutual understanding between the shepherd and his flock,
symbolizing trust and companionship.
 While the surface theme revolves around the pastoral life of a shepherd, there is an undercurrent of
spiritual and metaphysical elements in the poem.
 The shepherd’s watchfulness and the sheep’s awareness of his presence evoke a sense of divine care
and guidance.
 This can be interpreted as a metaphor for a higher power watching over and guiding individuals,
drawing attention to spiritual themes within the pastoral setting.

10. Summary of Shepherd
 ‘The Shepherd’ by William Blake is a pastoral poem that celebrates the idyllic and
harmonious life of a shepherd.
 The speaker expresses admiration for the shepherd’s simple and fulfilling existence.
The shepherd’s life is portrayed as sweet, as he spends his day from morning to
evening wandering with his flock of sheep.
 The poem highlights the shepherd’s close connection with nature and his role as a
caretaker for his sheep.
 The shepherd’s devotion to his flock is emphasized as he follows them throughout
the day, and the speaker suggests that the shepherd’s tongue is filled with praise.
 This could signify the shepherd’s appreciation for the beauty of nature and the
simplicity of his life.
 The poem conveys a sense of contentment and joy in the shepherd’s duties.

11. Summary of Shepherd
 The interaction between the lambs and ewes is described as innocent
and tender, creating an atmosphere of tranquility.
 The shepherd is depicted as watchful, ensuring the peace and well-
being of his flock.
 The last line, “For they know when their shepherd is nigh,” implies a
sense of trust and familiarity between the shepherd and his sheep.
 The poem celebrates the symbiotic relationship between the
shepherd and his flock, portraying the shepherd as a figure of care,
protection, and companionship in the pastoral landscape.
 Overall, “The Shepherd” exudes a sense of pastoral idealism and
emphasizes the beauty found in a simple, natural way of life.

13. Brief Introduction of the Lamb
 "The Lamb" is a poem by English visionary William Blake, published in his
1789 collection Songs of Innocence.
 The poem sees in the figure of the lamb an expression of God's will and
the beauty of God's creation.
 The poem is told from the perspective of a child, who shows an intuitive
understanding of the nature of joy and, indeed, the joy of nature.
 In "The Lamb," there is little of the suspicion of urban environments
found elsewhere in Blake's poetry.
 "The Lamb," then, is a kind of hymn to God, praising God's creation
while also implying that humankind has lost the ability to appreciate it
fully.

15. The Lamb
 In the form of a dialogue between the child and the lamb, ‘The Lamb’ is
an amalgam of the Christian script and pastoral tradition.
 The lamb is a universal symbol of selfless innocence, Jesus the Lamb is
the gentle imagination, the Divine Humanity. The Lamb identifies with
Christ to form a Trinity of child, Lamb, and Redeemer.
 The poem presents the ideal of charity substantiating Christian
compassion and Caritas or caring, the ideals of the Lamb of God.
However, the Christian connotations also contain the implications of
sacrifice, death, and tragedy; Christ the human sacrifice who look upon
himself the sings of the world.”

16. The Lamb - Summary
 The speaker directly addresses a lamb, asking it if it knows who created it, who
gave it life and invited it to eat.
 The lamb is then described in its natural environment, frolicking beside streams and
running through fields. Whoever made the lamb also gave it its coat, which is made
out of soft white wool.
 The lamb's gentle noises, according to the speaker, make the surrounding valleys
happy. The speaker then asks again: Who made the lamb?
 In the second stanza, the speaker excitedly offers to tell the lamb the answer. The
creator has the same name as the lamb, and indeed calls himself "Lamb."
 This creator is gentle and kind, and he was once a small child. The speaker, too, is a
child, and both the speaker and the lamb share the name of their creator.
 The speaker then asks God twice to bless the lamb.

17. Analysis of The Lamb - Stanza One
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
 The Lamb is a didactic poem which is a tribute to Lord Christ who was innocent and
pure like a child and meek and mild like a lamb.

18. Analysis of The Lamb - Stanza One
 The little child asks the lamb: who has created it, who has blessed its
life, its capacity to feed by the stream and over the meadow.
 The child asks: Who has given the lamb the bright and soft wool as its
clothing, who has given a tender/delicate bleating voice that fills the
valley with joy.
 The stanza is marked by the child’s innocence which is the first stage in
Blake’s journey to the truth.
 “The Child of Innocence lives by intuition enjoys a spontaneous
communion with nature and sees the divine in all things.”

19. Analysis of The Lamb - Stanza Two
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.
 In 2nd stanza, identification of the lamb, Christ, and the child.
 Christ has another name…Lamb, because Christ is meek and mild like lamb.
 Christ was also a child when he first appeared on this earth as the Son of God.

20. Analysis of The Lamb - Stanza Two
 The child speaks to the lamb as if the lamb were another child and
could respond to what is being said.
 The child enjoys the company of lamb who is just like him, meek, and
mild.
 The poem conveys the spirit of childhood – the purity, the innocence,
the tenderness of childhood, and the affection that a child feels for
little creatures.
 A religious note is introduced because of the image of Christ as a child.
 Child proceeds answering the questions he posed the Lamb
 The child says that the person, who has created the Lamb and has given
many gifts described in the first stanza, is himself by the name of the
Lamb.

21. Analysis of The Lamb - Stanza Two
 It is Jesus Christ who calls himself a Lamb. Jesus the Lamb is meek (submissive) and
mild (soft-natured), and he became a child for the sake of mankind.
 The narrator (I) is a child, he is Lamb and they both are called by Jesus’s name. The
Lamb identifies with Christ to form a Trinity of Child, Lamb, and Redeemer (Jesus).
 The Lamb by William Blake has been written in the form of question and answer.
 Where its first stanza is descriptive and rural, the second concentrates on abstract
spiritual matters and consists of analogy and explanation.

22. Literary Devices
 Alliteration: Repetition of sounds
Take for example the words “Little Lamb” in line one of the first stanza and
“meek” and “mild” in line five of the second stanza.
 Enjambment: Enjambment occurs when a line is cut off before its natural
stopping point. It is a transition/continuation between lines. For example, the
transitions between lines one and two of the first stanza. Also, It is defined as
a thought or clause that does not come to an end at a line break and moves
over the next line. For example,
“Dost thou know who made thee
Gave thee life & bid thee feed.”
 Assonance: It is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line such as the
sound of /e/ in “By the stream & o’er the mead”.

23. Literary Devices
 Allusion: Allusion is a belief and an indirect reference to a person, place,
thing or idea of a historical, cultural, political or literary significance. “The
lamb” in the second stanza directly alludes to Jesus.
 Symbolism: Symbolism means the use of symbols to signify ideas and
qualities by giving them symbolic meanings different from their literal
meanings. “Lamb” and “child” both are the symbols of chastity, innocence,
and
 Imagery: Imagery is used to make the readers perceive things with their five
senses. The poet has used images such as, “Softest clothing wooly bright”,
“He became a little child:” and “By the stream & o’er the mead.”
 Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same
line such as the sound of /l/ in “Little Lamb I’ll tell thee”; /h/ and /m/
sounds in “He is meek & he is mild”.


24. Structure
 ‘The Lamb’ by William Blake consists of two stanzas, each with five
rhymed couplets.
 Repetition in the first and last couplet of each stanza turns these lines
into a refrain and helps in providing the poem with its song-like quality.
 The flowing l’s and soft vowel sounds also make a contribution to this
effect, and also bring forth the bleating of a lamb or the lisping
character of a child’s chant.

25. Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “The Lamb”
 "The Lamb" has a deceptively simple form, consisting of two ten-line stanzas. This
structure frames the poem as a question in the first stanza and an answer in the
second.
 The first stanza poses the question to the lamb and to the poem's reader: Who made
the lamb? In other words, who created the world and all the beauty it contains?
 The second stanza gives the emphatic answer: God created the lamb and the world.
 This stanza presents an idea of oneness, suggesting that the lamb, the child speaker,
Jesus, God, and indeed the entire world are all part of God's creation.
 The form of the poem is also symmetrical. Lines 1,2, 9, 10, 19 and 20 are all similar
addresses directly to the lamb, functioning as the start and end of each stanza.
 The six lines in the middle of each stanza give evidence of God's existence and
divine will. The symmetrical structure of the poem is intended to represent the
beauty and purposefulness of God's creation.

26. Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “The Lamb”
 The meter of "The Lamb" is extremely regular which helps the poem feel simple and
purposeful.
 Blake intends the poem to be sung by others as per the title in Songs of Innocence.
The meter thus has a lyric quality like many of the church hymns of Blake's day.
 In essence, the meter can be described as trochaic, but most lines have
a catalectic final foot (catalexis just means one of the syllables has been taken
away).
 This meter is steady throughout, with the lines that make up the refrain—the direct
addresses to the lamb—being purely trochaic trimeter. For example, lines 1 and
2 read:
 Little | Lamb who | made thee
Dost thou | know who | made thee

27. Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “The Lamb”
 Lines 3 to 8 and 13 to 18—the middle sections of each stanza—have an extra stressed syllable at the
end of each line (without the corresponding weak syllable, which is why they are catalectic).
 This pattern very much lends itself well to being sung, and to rhyming as well. Take line 7 and 8, for
example, which could be classified as catalectic trochaic tetrameter:
Gave thee | such a | tender | voice,
Making | all the | vales re- | -joice!
 Overall, the steady (and symmetrical) meter lends the poem its emphatic quality, which is important
for getting across the speaker's enthusiasm for the lamb and, more generally, God's creation.
Rhyme Scheme
 The rhyme scheme is very simple in "The Lamb," with the lines falling into
rhyming couplets throughout. Each stanza follows its own series of rhymes in the form:
 AABBCCDDEE
 The couplets also sound like they could be song lyrics, which helps to make the poem feel even more
joyful

28. Speaker & Setting of “The Lamb”
 The speaker in "The Lamb" is someone in awe of God's creation. In the small and
vulnerable figure of the lamb, the speaker sees evidence of God's majesty.
 In line 17, the reader learns a bit more about who the speaker actually is. Here, the
speaker claims to be a child. It reveals that the insightful speaker is actually a child
and make childhood is not a state of ignorance—instead, it is a time of wisdom.
 In another sense, this reference that the speaker makes to being a child can also be
read as stating that, as a human being, the speaker is a child of God. Either way, the
speaker believes that all living creatures are part of God, and so the speaker is, in a
way, God as well.
“The Lamb” Setting: The first stanza conjures an idyllic pastoral scene, describing the
lamb in its ideal natural habitat.
 The second stanza is more abstract in its setting, dealing philosophically with the
relationship between the lamb, the speaker, the world, and God.
 In the poem's view, everything in the world is connected by God's design.