The Clod and the Pebble: Plot

The poem opens with a tiny clod of clay, who through its experiences has turned soft and pliable. This clod is personified, and it proclaims that love is selfless and joyous, no matter the hardship.
The clod’s understanding of love is contrasted by the view of a pebble in a brook. The pebble’s stance is that love is selfish and assertive, only seeking its own happiness and not caring about the joy of others.
This poem is not tale-like with events unfolding, but more of a comparison of two views of love.
The locations of the clod and pebble also suspend them in places that reflect their stances on love; the clod is in the dirt while the pebble is clean, reflecting the pebble’s self-centered worldview.
The concluding line is ambiguous and shifts the direction of the poem suddenly. It could be interpreted as siding with the pebble, as it states that the pebble’s perspective is of ‘Heaven’ and ‘Hell.’
Despite this, the comparisons presented lead the reader to consider distinctions between innocence and experience, selflessness and selfishness, soft and hard, and the relationship between heaven and hell.
It’s important to note that Blake does not explicitly tell which view of love he considers correct, leaving room for interpretation depending on one’s worldview and state of mind.
Essentially, the poem invites the reader to reflect on their own understanding of love and their own stance between the clod and the pebble’s opposing views.
Remember, this poem ultimately serves as a dialogue around the complexities of love and its different interpretations, which aligns with the themes present throughout the ‘Songs of Innocence and Experience’.