Poetry · Chapter
A Make-Believe explained
The narrator imagines himself as a rabbit, describing the joy and freedom of rabbit life under the night sky, the pleasures of foraging, the safety of the burrow during a storm, and the sudden terror of a trap.
What happens
The narrator imagines himself as a rabbit, describing the joy and freedom of rabbit life under the night sky, the pleasures of foraging, the safety of the burrow during a storm, and the sudden terror of a trap. The chapter ends with a prayer to God, who watches over all creatures.
Themes in this chapter
Childhood and Innocence
The playful imagination of being a rabbit and the simple joys of rabbit life reflect a childlike perspective.
Nature as Divine Revelation
The night, moon, rain, and creatures are described as part of God's creation, culminating in a prayer to the God of all living things.
Suffering and Purification
The sudden trap and the rabbit's cry of distress introduce suffering, leading to a turn toward prayer.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“I will think as thinks the rabbit:— Oh, delight In the night When the moon Sets the tune To the woods!”
I will imagine myself as a rabbit, finding joy in the night when the moon orchestrates the forest.
The narrator adopts a rabbit's perspective to experience delight in nature.
“It must be so, though it be bewild'ring— To save his dear beasts from his cruel children!”
It must be true, even if confusing, that God protects his beloved animals from the cruelty of humans.
The prayer expresses faith in God's care despite the apparent contradiction of suffering.