Imagery and metaphors

Here, we will help you discuss the way in which the poem “The Lamb” by William Blake relies on imagery and metaphors, and we will also provide an outline of other stylistic devices employed by the author.

Imagery

The poem relies on pastoral imagery, which refers to images of the countryside and an idyllic presentation of the lives of shepherds. Lines 3-8, for instance, depict the lamb in the middle of nature, enjoying life near the streams or in the middle of meadows and valleys:

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! (ll. 3-8)

As you have seen, the natural landscape that the speaker presents is idyllic and harmonious, which reinforces the idea that it was created by God. You should note that during the Romantic era, the countryside was often depicted as idyllic and heavenly. This is because of rapid industrialisation in England in the 1700s, which led to many people moving to towns and cities that quickly became overcrowded and unsanitary. Nature, as opposed to cities, was seen as pu...