the tyger poem essay

By William Blake

‘The Tyger’ is a well-known poem by William Blake. It explores the dark and destructive side of God and his creation.

William Blake

Nationality: English

Initially unrecognized, William Blake posthumously emerged as a key Romantic poet.

Key Poem Information

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Central Message: The nature of God is unknowable

Themes: Beauty , Religion

Speaker: Unknown

Emotions Evoked: Bravery , Fear

Poetic Form: Quatrain

Time Period: 18th Century

This poem challenges the reader to ponder the mystery of creation and the paradoxical nature of the tiger, which is both beautiful and terrifying.

William Blake’s literary masterpiece, ‘ The Tyger, ’ has been scrutinized from literal and metaphorical points of view as he revisits his preferred dilemmas of innocence vs. experience. As for God, his creations are just beautiful and transcend the notions of good-evil. As with his earlier poems, ‘ The Tyger ’ gives no visible answers except to offer more questions.

“Songs of Innocence” and “Songs of Experience” juxtapose opposing sides of human nature, comparing and contrasting innocence with corruption. ‘The Tyger’ is an extension of the same theme, representing two diverse perspectives of the human world. William Blake ( Bio | Poems ) doesn’t take either side but paints an opposing worldview for his readers.

Explore The Tyger

• 3 Structure and Form
• 4 Literary Devices 
• 5 Detailed Analysis
• 7 Symbolism
• 8 Historical Context
• 10 Similar Poetry

‘ The Tyger ‘ by William Blake ( Bio | Poems )  yields many interpretations. However, its strong, resonating  rhyming  drives the key concept in the reader’s mind efficiently.

‘The Tyger’  by William Blake slowly and gradually leads to some troubling questions. It, in essence, is a poem where the poet asks the tiger about its creator and his traits. Each stanza poses specific questions with a vague subject in consideration. The poem primarily questions the existence of God and his metaphysical attributes, referring to the tiger’s multiple corporeal characteristics as purely a work of art. The poet wonders how the creator would have felt after completing his creation. Is he also the creator of the lamb?

The poem’s title showcases the central figure, a tiger, spelled as “Tyger.” Blake uses the term’s archaic spelling to present the world just after God created it. Through this reference, the poet clarifies that God, with his diplomatic hands, symmetrically framed his creation long before the advent of humankind. This creature portrays the destructive side of God, the creator, as Percy Bysshe Shelley ( Bio | Poems ) projects in his revolutionary poem ‘Ode to the West Wind .’

Structure and Form

‘The Tyger’ by William Blake ( Bio | Poems ) consists of six stanzas , with each stanza consisting of four lines. The poem flows with a rhythmic synchronization ( AABB ) with a regular meter ( trochaic tetrameter catalectic). The hammering is relevant to the blacksmith mentioned within the text.

The poem is written in a neat, regular structure with even proportions. The poem slowly points out the final question. The first and last stanzas are similar to the word ‘could’ and ‘dare’ interchanged. The poem, at times, is all about questions to the divine, with at least thirteen different questions asked in the poem’s entirety. The poet seems worried as to how the creator shaped such a magnificent creature, but more so, what/who is the creator himself?

Literary Devices  

Blake makes use of several literary devices in  ‘The Tyger.’  These include but are not limited to alliteration , enjambment , and allusion . The latter is one of the most important as Blake alludes to the major question at the heart of the poem, if God created the tiger, what kind of creator is he? By referring to the tiger’s fearsome nature throughout the piece, Blake is, in turn, referring to the darker sides of life itself.

Alliteration is a common type of repetition that’s concerned with the use and reuse of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of words. For example, “burning bright” in line one and “frame and “fearful” in line 4 of the first stanza. This kind of repetition, in addition to the broader refrain that’s used in  ‘The Tyger,’  helps create a memorable rhythm . Enjambment is a formal device that appears when the poet cuts off a line before its natural stopping point. For example, the transition between lines one and two of the second stanza as well as lines three and four of the fourth stanza.

Detailed Analysis

Tyger Tyger, burning bright, In the forests of the night; What immortal hand or eye, Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

The initial verse refers to ‘The Tyger,’ questioning its beauty and its creator. As the poem continues on gradually, the speaker clearly makes it a point to discuss God as an entity as opposed to the tiger. William Blake champions metaphors as the first one is ‘burning bright,’ which refers to the tiger’s bright yellow fur as it roams freely in the forest at night.

The central question, as the reader slowly realizes, pertains to the existence of God. Slowly, William Blake attacks the Christian God as he asks whether a divine entity is capable of creating such a mesmerizing creature with perfect definitions and extraordinary beauty. Whether he deems, God wrong for creating such a creature is left open-ended to the reader.

The “fearful symmetry” is a nuanced trait that has dual allusions , one for the tiger and the other referring to a divine deity. The sublime characteristic refers to an entity that is both big and powerful yet remains mysterious. As a result, the poet starts off with poetic allusions, entirely open-ended for the reader to perceive as he pleases. He slowly arrives at the question as to what kind of God God is if he created such a scary creature.

In what distant deeps or skies. Burnt the fire of thine eyes? On what wings dare he aspire? What the hand, dare seize the fire?

The poet’s fascination with the “Tyger” increases as he seems mesmerized by his fiery eyes. He feels that the fire in his eyes came from a distant heavenly body such as hell/ heaven. The poet adds to the fiery image of the tiger by using the metaphor of burning in the first verse. The third line throws the reader off track. William Blake is slowly coming to the point of his argument– God.

The poet presents the main point that the creature reflects its creator. The poet furthermore creates a more supernatural image using the words ‘hand,’ ‘wings,’ and fire, relating to the divine being. These words have been reiterated from above. The term ‘daring’ is introduced, which is repeated in the latter stanza.

Stanza Three

And what shoulder, & what art, Could twist the sinews of thy heart? And when thy heart began to beat, What dread hand? & what dread feet?

The poet, in this stanza, discusses the physical characteristics of the almighty creator, contemplating his various physical features. The lines are lost in translation as the poet wonders in-depth about God’s physical attributes, which could also be an allegory to the tiger’s characteristics.

Stanza Four

What the hammer? what the chain, In what furnace was thy brain? What the anvil? what dread grasp, Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

This stanza questions the steps involved in the creation of the all-mighty jungle creature, the tiger. An allegorical reference to a blacksmith is included in these lines. The hypothesis is that some intelligent creator was developing his creation as a blacksmith hammers and forms metal with considerable toil. The stanza is steeped in rhythmic poetry, adding flair and color. As is made apparent, the poet grows more impatient and begins questioning faith overall.

Stanza Five

When the stars threw down their spears And water’d heaven with their tears: Did he smile his work to see? Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

These are the ‘Christian’ verses of the poem. The first line indicates the demotion of God’s arch-angel ‘Satan’ as a sign of rebellion against God’s will. It’s also a veiled reference to the epic poem ‘ Paradise Lost ‘ by John Milton ( Bio | Poems ) .

He refers to the all-mighty creator looking with reverence at his finalized creation. The lamb can dually mean ‘the lamb of god’ or lamb from his poem ‘The Lamb .’ The former is an open reference to Jesus Christ (the Lamb of God), sent by God on earth to atone for the sins of humanity.

Tyger Tyger burning bright, In the forests of the night: What immortal hand or eye, Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

The last stanza is the repetition of the first as a chorus. The word ‘could’ has been replaced by ‘dare’ by the poet. In this section, the poet attempts to question the creator’s ability. The poet tries to challenge God’s abilities in the final lines.

William Blake ( Bio | Poems ) engages with the theme that all living entities must reflect their creator in some manner in ‘The Tyger .’ The opening verses slowly lead to the poem’s primary objective: contemplating God in the heavens above. In essence, the tiger is a beautifully enigmatic creature that is at the same time lethal. This also reflects the nature of God.

Religion is another primary theme in this poem. This is seen through Blake’s constant questioning regarding what kind of all-knowing creator could be both violent and so magnificent at the same time?

As the poet contends, the tiger, as a powerfully destructive living entity can be a creation of a purely, artful God. The poet precludes the notion of the tiger’s creation in any way accidental or haphazard. He feels that this tiger is allotted immense physical strength and the ability to wield its command over weaker animals.

The final allusion to the lamb can connote his reference to the poem, ‘The Lamb,’ as he compares and contrasts the timid living animal to that of a tiger. God created the tiger as a dominant creature, while the lamb is simply a weakling compared to the tiger.

On the whole, ‘The Tyger’ consists of unanswered questions, the poet leaves his readers pondering the will of the creator, his limitless power, and feeling awe towards God’s creation. In conclusion, the poet ends his poem with perspectives of innocence and experience, both subjects of great interest to him.

This poem is full of symbols that are similar to the theme of his “Songs of Experience.” Firstly, the tiger is a symbol of God’s destructive side. It projects how God has balanced his creation by making a fierce creature like a tiger. It implicitly refers to another fact that he is both the perisher and the protector. Readers can find the symbols of experience in the following words, “night”, “fire”, “hammer”, “chain”, “furnace”, “anvil”, etc. The symbolic use of the words is consonant with the overall theme of Blake’s poem. It sets the tone and mood of the work.

Historical Context

After publishing “Songs of Innocence,” “Songs of Experience” was published in 1794. The poet aimed to demonstrate the contrarian nature of the soul and human thought. The poem ‘The Tyger’ was published in his collection of poems known as Songs of Experience. It became an instant literary classic amongst all-time classic poems of the modern era.

“Songs of Experience” was written in opposition to “Songs of Innocence,” key components in Blake’s thought process, being a radical thinker of his time. ‘The Tyger’ was the pinnacle of heresy for William Blake, pitching humans bearing the onus for their actions.

‘The Tyger’ is a sister poem to ‘The Lamb.’ The lamb and tiger are both God’s creations. Blake presents the former as the innocent side of God and the latter as God’s destructive side. Blake penned these poems to create a balanced picture of the world.

The ‘Tyger’ is an obsolete and archaic spelling of tiger. Blake chooses this word to add a layer of exotic and archaic flavor to his poem. By selecting this spelling, he tries to refer to the world in its earlier stage.

This poem is written from the third-person point of view . It seems that the omniscient narrator of this piece is an awe-struck human being who gives voice to Blake’s inexpressible feelings.

The central image of this piece is that of a tiger roaming steadily and silently in the dark forests of the night. It remains constant throughout the poem.

This poem was published in 1794, and it rose to notoriety in the Romantic era . It is both a poem of the romantic age and modern age.

It is a Romantic poem that has a highly structured rhyme scheme and meter . Blake uses rhyming couplets and groups them into quatrains .

Blake’s poem challenges the common assumptions of the contemporary period regarding God and Christianity. During that time, God was depicted as a kind and meek being who is benevolent to his creation. Blake challenged this conception and portrayed him as a being who has two sides. He is both the protector and the perisher.

This phrase refers to the symmetrical physical structure of a tiger. Its body is designed in a manner that presents it as a ferocious creature. From the eyes to the paws, it is a creature born to feed on other creatures. The speaker is afraid by looking at this symmetry in the tiger.

Similar Poetry

Readers who enjoyed  ‘The Tyger’  should also consider reading some of William Blake’s best-known poems . For example:

• ‘The Lamb’ – This poem is commonly considered the companion piece to  ‘The Tyger.’ It is a warm and loving poem in which the poet describes the kind nature of the lamb while alluding to Christ.
• ‘ A Poison Tree ‘ – In this poem, Blake considers anger and how one might confront it.
• ‘ The Sick Rose ‘ – This poem is a well-known piece that uses metaphors and allusions to speak about a woman’s virginity.
• ‘ Introduction to the Songs of Innocence ‘ – This poem is a testimony to Blake’s purpose in writing poetry and his belief in simple rural life.

You can also read about the best-known poems about God and these incredible poems on darkness .

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About Omer Asad

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I do see at the end of this article that Asad says that, in “The Lamb,” Blake “alludes” to Christ. That is an understatement. Christ the God-Man is unequivocally the Lamb the sin-bearer, in that poem, the perfect sacrifice who took upon himself the sin of the world before the foundation of the world.

Understatement seems like a dead art these days. We are bringing it back!

I think this analysis arises from an antichristian ideology. The poet does not doubt or disparage God. The poet poses a rhetorical question to the Tyger about his Maker as Blake does similarly in The Lamb. As for the smoke and fire imagery–gee the Bible has none of that to say about God: He appears as a burning bush, a pillar of fire by night. . .allusions to burning, too but you somehow don’t register that the God of Israel is terrible in his majesty. What was wrought by God’s fire and anvil? Look to the judgment day. Besides “trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored”. . .He will loose “the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword. More fire imagery associated with the God of the Bible: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the …  Read more »

Thank you for your feedback. You have obviously given it a lot of thought. Frankly, our writers call them how we see them! Blake had a complex relationship with religion which often permeated his work. I’m glad it inspires you so much.

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Asad, Omer. "The Tyger by William Blake". Poem Analysis , https://poemanalysis.com/william-blake/the-tyger/ . Accessed 4 July 2024.

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The Tyger Summary & Analysis by William Blake

• Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis
• Poetic Devices
• Vocabulary & References
• Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme
• Line-by-Line Explanations

"The Tyger" is a poem by visionary English poet William Blake, and is often said to be the most widely anthologized poem in the English language. It consists entirely of questions about the nature of God and creation, particularly whether the same God that created vulnerable beings like the lamb could also have made the fearsome tiger. The tiger becomes a symbol for one of religion's most difficult questions: why does God allow evil to exist? At the same time, however, the poem is an expression of marvel and wonder at the tiger and its fearsome power, and by extension the power of both nature and God.

• Read the full text of “The Tyger”

The Full Text of “The Tyger”

1 Tyger Tyger, burning bright,

2 In the forests of the night;

3 What immortal hand or eye,

4 Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

5 In what distant deeps or skies.

6 Burnt the fire of thine eyes?

7 On what wings dare he aspire?

8 What the hand, dare seize the fire?

9 And what shoulder, & what art,

10 Could twist the sinews of thy heart?

11 And when thy heart began to beat,

12 What dread hand? & what dread feet?

13 What the hammer? what the chain,

14 In what furnace was thy brain?

15 What the anvil? what dread grasp,

16 Dare its deadly terrors clasp!

17 When the stars threw down their spears

18 And water'd heaven with their tears:

19 Did he smile his work to see?

20 Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

21 Tyger Tyger burning bright,

22 In the forests of the night:

23 What immortal hand or eye,

24 Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

“The Tyger” Summary

“the tyger” themes.

The Existence of Evil

• See where this theme is active in the poem.

Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis of “The Tyger”

Tyger Tyger, burning bright, In the forests of the night; What immortal hand or eye, Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies. Burnt the fire of thine eyes? On what wings dare he aspire? What the hand, dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art, Could twist the sinews of thy heart? And when thy heart began to beat, What dread hand? & what dread feet?

Lines 13-16

What the hammer? what the chain, In what furnace was thy brain? What the anvil? what dread grasp, Dare its deadly terrors clasp!

Lines 17-20

When the stars threw down their spears And water'd heaven with their tears: Did he smile his work to see? Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Lines 21-24

Tyger Tyger burning bright, In the forests of the night: What immortal hand or eye, Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

“The Tyger” Symbols

• See where this symbol appears in the poem.

Industrial Tools

“the tyger” poetic devices & figurative language, alliteration.

• See where this poetic device appears in the poem.

End-Stopped Line

Rhetorical question, personification, “the tyger” vocabulary.

Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.

• See where this vocabulary word appears in the poem.

Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “The Tyger”

Rhyme scheme, “the tyger” speaker, “the tyger” setting, literary and historical context of “the tyger”, more “the tyger” resources, external resources.

Blake's Visions — An excerpt from a documentary in which writer Iain Sinclair discusses Blake's religious visions.

A Reading by Ian Richardson — A chillingly beautiful rendition of the poem by actor Ian Richardson.

Illustrations and Other Poems — A resource from the Tate organization, which holds a large collection of Blake originals.

Full Text of Songs of Innocence and Experience — Various formats for the full text in which "The Tyger" is collected.

Illustration and Discussion — A resource from the British Library that shows Blake's illustrations for the poem and discusses it in depth.

Blake's Radicalism — An excerpt from a documentary in which writer Iain Sinclair discusses Blake's radicalism.

LitCharts on Other Poems by William Blake

Ah! Sun-flower

A Poison Tree

Earth's Answer

Holy Thursday (Songs of Experience)

Holy Thursday (Songs of Innocence)

Infant Sorrow

Introduction (Songs of Innocence)

Nurse's Song (Songs of Experience)

Nurse's Song (Songs of Innocence)

The Chimney Sweeper (Songs of Experience)

The Chimney Sweeper (Songs of Innocence)

The Clod and the Pebble

The Divine Image

The Ecchoing Green

The Garden of Love

The Human Abstract

The Little Black Boy

The Little Vagabond

The School Boy

The Sick Rose

To the Evening Star

Ask LitCharts AI: The answer to your questions

'The Tyger' ( Edexcel IGCSE English Literature )

Revision note.

English Content Creator

‘The Tyger’

Below you will find a guide to William Blake’s poem titled ‘The Tyger’ from the Edexcel International GCSE English Anthology (part 3: unit 1, section B). This guide includes:

Overview : a line-by-line breakdown of the poem, including its possible meanings and interpretations

Form, Structure and Language : an exploration of the techniques and poetic choices that William Blake has used

Themes : an exploration of the themes and ideas in the poem

Comparing Poems : suggestions on which poems to compare it to

Find out more about the poem to confidently answer an essay question in your exam by reading: 

A summary of the poem 

A “translation” of the poem, section-by-section

A commentary of each of these sections, outlining Blake’s intention and message

A summary of the poem ‘The Tyger’

‘The Tyger’ was written by the famous English poet William Blake and was published in 1794. The poem is formed of questions that the speaker asks about the nature of God and His creation and, in particular, the tiger. The poem questions whether the same God that created innocent and vulnerable creatures such as a lamb could create such a fierce and fearsome animal such as the tiger. The premise of the poem is the question of why God has allowed evil to exist, and it explores the power of God and nature.

‘The Tyger’ analysis

“Tyger, Tyger, burning bright,

In the forest of the night:

What immortal hand or eye,

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?”

Translation

The speaker asks the tiger who created him

Blake’s intention

The opening stanza sets up the main theme by asking the question of who created the tiger

The stanza begins with an epizeuxis with the repetition of the word “tyger” and the poem uses apostrophe as it addresses a creature that cannot respond

The use of alliteration and metaphor in “burning bright” describes the tiger as a creature that is on fire or alight:

It also encapsulates the dangerous and captivating nature of the creature

The “forest of the night” contrasts the “bright” image of the tiger, implying that even in the darkness, the tiger is alight and dangerous

The word “immortal” acknowledges that such a fearful and powerful creature must have been created by an entity more powerful than God:

The word “fearful” reinforces this idea and questions why an “immortal” being would create something so dangerous

While the poem focuses on the tiger, the speaker is questioning God’s reasons for creating anything evil

“In what distant deeps or skies

Burnt the fire of thine eyes?

On what wings dare he aspire?

What the hand, dare seize the fire?”

The speaker is asking where the tiger was created

This stanza also consists of numerous questions about the creation of the tiger, which suggests the speaker never discovers the answer

The phrase “distant deeps or skies” suggests the speaker believes God may have searched the the skies and the earth to create the tiger:

It could be referring to heaven or hell and the speaker is uncertain from where the tiger has originated 

The metaphor of flying could suggest God’s ambition when creating the tiger

The word “dare” suggests a bravery and power necessary to create the animal:

The word “seize” suggests a decisive action

While this stanza still ponders the ferociousness of the tiger, it focuses heavily on the power of God

“And what shoulder, & what art,

Could twist the sinews of thy heart?

And when thy heart began to beat,

What dread hand? & what dread feet?”

The speaker is thinking about the strength needed to create the tiger

The conjunction “And” indicates the speaker’s thoughts and sense of wonder as this stanza is a continuation of the last

It reflects on the physical effort and strength necessary to create the tiger

By referencing the “heart”, the speaker could be referring to the tiger’s perception of the world: 

It could suggest the creator placed a love for killing into the tiger’s heart

The third line refers to the tiger’s heart beating for the first time:

The line is written in iambic tetrameter, which could mimic the rhythm of the tiger’s heart but, more importantly, reflects the speaker’s growing curiosity

The final line could be referring to both the tiger and the creator as “dread feet”:

The speaker links the tiger and its creator, suggesting that whatever created such a ferocious being must also be ferocious 

Lines 13–16

“What the hammer? What the chain,

In what furnace was thy brain?

What the anvil? what dread grasp,

Dare its deadly terrors clasp!”

This stanza focuses on the craftsmanship behind the creation of the tiger

In this stanza, the speaker tries to imagine the tools and equipment needed to create the tiger:

The metaphor of a blacksmith describes God and the image created is that of an industrial factory

This could tie in to the historical context of the poem as Blake lived in London during the time of the Industrial Revolution:

The rhythm of this stanza could also reflect the banging of the hammer

The words “hammer”, “chain”, “furnace” and “anvil” all link to a factory image but also create an image of the tiger as something made from material that only fire could modify

The image of God in this stanza is unusual as it likens him to a blacksmith with a strength and a ferociousness to create something dangerous:

 The exclamation mark emphasises the speaker’s shock and awe 

Lines 17–20

“When the stars threw down their spears

And water’d heaven with their tears:

Did he smile his work to see?

Did he who made the Lamb make thee?”

This stanza focuses on what happened after the creation of the tiger was complete

This stanza begins by personifying the stars and describing their reaction upon the creation of the tiger:

It could signify that the heavens do not approve of what has been created

The second line suggests the stars are unhappy with the creation of the tiger as they weep

The second question asks whether the same God who made the lamb also made the tiger:

The speaker has taken two contrasting animals, one who is hunted and one who is the hunter to ask how God could have created such contrasting creatures

Historically and theologically a lamb represents gentleness, innocence and purity but also, in Christianity, it represents Christ and his sacrifice:

Therefore, the speaker is asking how God could have created good but also evil

Lines 21–24

In the forests of the night:

Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?”

The final stanza goes back to the first and asks the tiger who created him

The final stanza returns to the same question as the first stanza, which is the creation of the tiger

The return to the first stanza could suggest that no real answer has been found by the speaker for his questions:

He is still unsure as to why God would create such a creature

The replacement of the word “could” in the final line with “dare” suggests the speaker feels that it is less about skill but more about bravery and daring

Form, Structure and Language

When you consider how William Blake uses form, structure and language, try to link your analysis of these elements to focus on how he presents his ideas and why he has made these choices in ‘The Tyger’. You will gain more marks if you focus on Blake’s themes rather than on individual poetic techniques. 

Here are some suggestions for key aspects of the poem you might want to consider: 

The poem consists of 24 lines, which have been split into six quatrains. 

Each of the six quatrains in the poem consists of two rhyming couplets. 

The writer uses a range of language techniques to emphasise the power of God and the sinister nature of the tiger.

While knowing the poem is important, you also need to be able to show the examiner that you can write an informed, personal response. Therefore, you need to develop a solid understanding of the theme, main ideas and events depicted.

It is still important to have an awareness of background information that is relevant to the themes in the poem, even though you are not explicitly assessed on context. This can help you develop a sustained, critical understanding of the text. 

To help you do this, the section below has been divided into two main themes that Blake explores in 'The Tyger':

The Power of God and Creation

The Existence of Good and Evil

Blake first published a collection, Songs of Innocence, and a subsequent collection in 1794, Songs of Experience, which offered a contrary view to his earlier work:

Both collections explores the nature of soul, religion and humanity

‘The Tyger’, from Songs of Experience, was written to contrast his earlier poem called ‘The Lamb’, which appears in Blake’s Songs of Innocence collection

Blake did not get the recognition he deserved during his lifetime and many considered him to be a madman

The speaker in ‘The Tyger’ explores the more ominous, powerful and mysterious aspect of Divinity and creation

Through the poem, Blake challenges the common beliefs of the 18th century regarding God and religion as God was depicted as a shepherd:

However, Blake presents a multi-layered God who has the ability to be kind but also fierce 

The tiger is repeatedly linked with fire which could signify its power but also the intense process required for its creation

The word “dare” suggests that God has the ability to create the tiger but also the strength to create such a formidable creature

Ultimately, the questions that the poem asks are left unanswered:

It suggests that humans lack the ability or insight to comprehend God’s intentions, leaving the question of why the tiger exists unanswered

The poem is an expression of awe at God’s ability to create and also at his creation of a tiger

However, the central animal in this poem symbolises fear, danger and violence:

The speaker reflects on the existence of good and evil and questions whether God, who created “the Lamb”, also created the sinister tiger

The speaker marvels at God’s ability to create a creature that is “bright” and full of “symmetry”

However, the speaker uses words such as “burning”, “fearful” and “dread” to highlight how evil and dangerous the tiger is

The speaker’s personification of the stars highlights how good and evil collide:

Stars normally symbolise goodness and heaven and the speaker claims that they “threw down their spears” in reaction to the tiger being created

It could also suggest the stars attempt to kill the tiger before it causes any damage:

This image could reflect good versus evil

The poem’s questions leave the reader thinking about why good and evil exist but in the knowledge that they both do

Comparing Poems

In your exam, you will be required to compare two poems from the anthology so you must have a good knowledge of poetic form, content and meaning to compare the poems effectively. 

You must be able to explore links and connections between texts, which includes looking at both poets’ use of language, form and structure. 

In ‘The Tyger’, Blake’s main ideas are centred around defiance and grief; therefore, the following comparisons would be a good starting point:

‘The Tyger’ and ‘Prayer Before Birth’

‘The Tyger’ and ‘War Photographer’

For each pair of poems, you will find:

Comparison summary

Similarities and differences between the ideas presented in each poem

Evidence and analysis of these similarities and differences

You need to make sure that your answers are not too vague, so do not make generalised comments as this will not get you any marks. For example, writing “the lack of punctuation makes the reader want to read on” is too vague and tells the examiner that you have not done your research. 

Instead, you need to write something like “the use of enjambment allows the reader to follow the speaker’s thought processes and pulls the reader from one line to the next. By creating a sense of urgency, the reader gains an insight into the speaker’s panicked state of mind”

Comparison summary:

Both poems touch on the concept of evil. In ‘The Tyger’, the speaker is marvelling at God’s ability to create an animal as sinister as the tiger and is an exploration of evil creation. However, in ‘Prayer Before Birth’, the speaker is asking to be saved from the cruelties in the world.

Similarities:

Differences:

Both poems include a speaker who notices and wonders on the evil that exists in the world. In ‘The Tyger’, the speaker uses the image of the tiger as a symbol of evil and ferocity that exists in the world. In ‘War Photographer’, the speaker of the poem focuses on a photographer who has taken pictures of people in deprived and poverty stricken parts of the world to highlight the evil and depravity that exists.

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Author: Nadia Ambreen

Nadia is a graduate of The University of Warwick and Birmingham City University. She holds a PGCE in secondary English and Drama and has been a teacher for over 10 years. She has taught English Literature, Language and Drama across key stages 3 to 5. She has also been an examiner for a leading exam board and has experience designing and delivering schemes of work for AQA, Edexcel and Eduqas.

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An introduction to the poetic revolution that brought common people to literature’s highest peaks.

By William Blake (read by Michael Stuhlbarg)

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Poet, painter, engraver, and visionary William Blake worked to bring about a change both in the social order and in the minds of men. Though in his lifetime his work was largely neglected or dismissed, he is now considered one of the leading lights of...

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A Summary and Analysis of William Blake’s ‘The Tyger’

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

‘The Tyger’ is arguably the most famous poem written by William Blake (1757-1827); it’s difficult to say which is more well-known, ‘The Tyger’ or the poem commonly known as ‘Jerusalem’. The poem’s opening line, ‘Tyger Tyger, burning bright’ is among the most famous opening lines in English poetry (it’s sometimes modernised as ‘Tiger, Tiger, burning bright’).

Below is a summary of this iconic poem, along with a close analysis of the poem’s language, imagery, and meaning.

‘The Tyger’ was first published in William Blake’s 1794 volume Songs of Experience , which contains many of his most celebrated poems. The Songs of Experience was designed to complement Blake’s earlier collection, Songs of Innocence (1789), and ‘The Tyger’ should be seen as the later volume’s answer to ‘The Lamb’, the ‘innocent’ poem that had appeared in the earlier volume .

Framed as a series of questions, ‘Tyger Tyger, burning bright’ (as the poem is also often known), in summary, sees Blake’s speaker wondering about the creator responsible for such a fearsome creature as the tiger.

The fiery imagery used throughout the poem conjures the tiger’s aura of danger: fire equates to fear. Don’t get too close to the tiger, Blake’s poem seems to say, otherwise you’ll get burnt.

Tyger Tyger, burning bright, In the forests of the night; What immortal hand or eye, Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

The first stanza and sixth stanza, alike in every respect except for the shift from ‘Could frame’ to ‘ Dare frame’, frame the poem, asking about the immortal creator responsible for the beast.

In what distant deeps or skies. Burnt the fire of thine eyes? On what wings dare he aspire? What the hand, dare seize the fire?

The second stanza continues the fire imagery established by the image of the tiger ‘burning bright’, with talk of ‘the fire’ of the creature’s eyes, and the notion of the creator fashioning the tiger out of pure fire, as if he (or He) had reached his hand into the fire and moulded the creature from it. (The image succeeds, of course, because of the flame-like appearance of a tiger’s stripes.)

It must have been a god who played with fire who made the tiger.

And what shoulder, & what art, Could twist the sinews of thy heart? And when thy heart began to beat, What dread hand? & what dread feet?

In the third and fourth stanzas, Blake introduces another central metaphor, explicitly drawing a comparison between God and a blacksmith.

What the hammer? what the chain, In what furnace was thy brain? What the anvil? what dread grasp, Dare its deadly terrors clasp!

It is as if the Creator made the blacksmith in his forge, hammering the base materials into the living and breathing ferocious creature which now walks the earth.

When the stars threw down their spears And water’d heaven with their tears: Did he smile his work to see? Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

The fifth stanza is more puzzling, but ‘stars’ have long been associated with human destiny (as the root of ‘astrology’ highlights). For Kathleen Raine, this stanza can be linked with another of William Blake’s works, The Four Zoas , where the phrase which we also find in ‘The Tyger’, ‘the stars threw down their spears’, also appears.

There it is the godlike creator of the universe (Urizen in Blake’s mythology) who utters it; Urizen’s fall, and the fall of the stars and planets, are what brought about the creation of life on Earth in Blake’s Creation story. When the Creator fashioned the Tyger, Blake asks, did he look with pride upon the animal he had created?

Tyger Tyger burning bright, In the forests of the night: What immortal hand or eye, Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

The poem ends where it began, with a repetition of the first stanza, though the word  Could  has been altered to  Dare  in the final line.

How might we analyse ‘The Tyger’? What does it mean? The broader point is one that many Christian believers have had to grapple with: if God is all-loving, why did he make such a fearsome and dangerous animal? We can’t easily fit the tiger into the ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’ view of Christian creation.

As Blake himself asks, ‘Did he who made the Lamb make thee?’ In other words, did God make the gentle and meek animals, but also the destructive and ferocious ones?

What immortal hand or eye, Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

Presumably the question is rhetorical; the real question-behind-the-question is why. (This might help to explain Blake’s reference to ‘fearful symmetry’: he is describing not only the remarkable patterns on the tiger’s skin and fur which humans have learned to go in fear of, but the ‘symmetry’ between the innocent lamb on the one hand and the fearsome tiger on the other. (‘Fearful’ means ‘fearsome’ here, confusingly.)

Did he smile his work to see? Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Indeed, we might take such an analysis further and see the duality between the lamb and the tiger as being specifically about the two versions of God in Christianity: the vengeful and punitive Old Testament God, Yahweh, and the meek and forgiving God presented in the New Testament.

The Tyger and the Lamb

What bolsters such an interpretation is the long-established associations between the lamb and Jesus Christ. The tiger, whilst not a biblical animal, embodies the violent retribution and awesome might of Yahweh in the Old Testament.

Or, as the Blake scholar D. G. Gillham, in his informative and fascinating study of Blake’s poetry, Blake’s Contrary States: The ‘Songs of Innocence and Experience’ as Dramatic Poems , puts it: ‘A universe that contains beasts of prey must be a ruthless one, and his questions are so framed that any possible answer must first explain that.’

Certainly, when we contrast ‘The Lamb’ with ‘The Tyger’, we realise that although the speakers of both poems ask questions, the crucial difference is that the questions are left unanswered in the latter poem. Not so in ‘The Lamb’:

Little Lamb who made thee Dost thou know who made thee Gave thee life & bid thee feed. By the stream & o’er the mead […] Dost thou know who made thee?

D. G. Gillham observes that whereas the child-speaker of ‘The Lamb’ is confident in, and proud of, his knowledge of the lamb (‘Little Lamb, I’ll tell thee …’), the speaker of ‘The Tyger’ is marked by uncertainty:

Little Lamb I’ll tell thee, Little Lamb I’ll tell thee! He is called by thy name, For he calls himself a Lamb:

Question after question comes at us, and an answer to any of them seems impossible: ‘the speaker can do no more than wonder’, as Gillham notes. This is because the Creator who made the tiger is not meant to be understood by us: he works in mysterious ways.

Fire and the Tyger

But is the Christian belief-system the only way of approaching Blake’s Tyger? Returning to the significance of fire in the poem, it’s worth noting that this fiery imagery also summons the idea of Greek myth – specifically, the myth of Prometheus, the deity who stole fire from the gods and gave it to mankind.

From that daring act of transgression, man’s development followed. Once man had fire, he was free, and had the divine spark (literally, in being able to create fire). Blake’s question ‘What the hand, dare seize the fire?’ alludes to the figure of Prometheus, seizing fire from the gods and giving it to man. The Tyger seems to embody, in part, this transgressive yet divine spirit.

But none of these readings quite settles down into incontrovertible fact. ‘The Tyger’ remains, like the creature itself, an enigma, a fearsome and elusive beast.

Continue to explore the world of Blake’s poetry with our analysis of Blake’s poem about the poison tree , our overview of his poem known as ‘Jerusalem’  and his scathing indictment of poverty and misery in London .

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8 thoughts on “A Summary and Analysis of William Blake’s ‘The Tyger’”

Reblogged this on newauthoronline .

Reblogged this on O LADO ESCURO DA LUA .

This is an excellent post. Thank you for unpacking the meaning of this wonderful poem so well.

Blake was a rapper before there was rap. Seriously–this poem goes well with a phat beat.

Thanks for a great post. I had forgotten how exciting it was to analyse a poem. You are actually making me believe I am educated.

Reblogged this on Manolis .

• Pingback: The Saturday Night Special: “A Short Analysis of William Blake’s ‘The Tyger’” from Interesting Literature | Phil Slattery's Blog

Since studying it at high school, ‘The Tyger’ has been my favourite poem. Great post.

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‘The Tyger’ by William Blake: Poem and Analysis

Tyger Tyger, burning bright, In the forests of the night; What immortal hand or eye, Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies. Burnt the fire of thine eyes? On what wings dare he aspire? What the hand, dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art, Could twist the sinews of thy heart? And when thy heart began to beat, What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain, In what furnace was thy brain? What the anvil? what dread grasp, Dare its deadly terrors clasp!

When the stars threw down their spears And water’d heaven with their tears: Did he smile his work to see? Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Tyger Tyger burning bright, In the forests of the night: What immortal hand or eye, Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

Analysis of the Poem

This poem contemplates a question arising from the idea of creation by an intelligent creator. The question is this: If there is a loving, compassionate God or gods who created human beings and whose great powers exceed the comprehension of human beings, as many major religions hold, then why would such a powerful being allow evil into the world?

Evil here is represented by a tiger that might, should you be strolling in the Indian or African wild in the 1700s, have leapt out and killed you. What would have created such a dangerous and evil creature? How could it possibly be the same divine blacksmith who created a cute, harmless, fluffy lamb or who created Jesus, also known as the “Lamb of God” (which the devoutly Christian Blake was probably also referring to here).

To put it another way, why would such a divine blacksmith create beautiful, innocent children and then also allow such children to be slaughtered. The battery of questions brings this mystery to life with lavish intensity. Does Blake offer an answer to this question of evil from a good God? It would seem not on the surface. But this wouldn’t be a great poem if it were really that open-ended. The answer comes in the way that Blake explains the question.

Blake’s language peels away the mundane world and offers a look at the super-reality that poets are privy to. We fly about in “forests of the night” through “distant deeps or skies,” looking for where the fire in the tiger’s eye was taken from by the Creator. This is the reality of expanded time, space, and perception that Blake so clearly elucidates elsewhere with the lines “To see a world in a grain of sand / And a heaven in a wild flower, / Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, / And eternity in an hour” (“Auguries of Innocence”). This indirectly tells us that the reality we ordinarily know and perceive is really insufficient, shallow, and deceptive.

Where we perceive the injustice of the wild tiger, something else entirely may be transpiring. What we ordinarily take for truth may really be far from it: a thought that is scary, yet also sublime or beautiful—like the beautiful and fearsome tiger. Thus, this poem is great because it concisely and compellingly presents a question that still plagues humanity today, as well as a key clue to the answer.

William Blake was an English poet of the early Romantic period. He was also a skilled engraver and artist. Although against organized religion, he was passionately Christian and frequently had visions, which, combined with the spiritual nature of his poetry and art, led to his often being thought of as a lunatic.

Analysis by Society of Classical Poets Editor Evan Mantyk. An earlier version of this analysis appeared here .

NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets.

The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary.

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4 Responses

That was back when SCP was just getting started. My, but it has come a long way. This entry was from almost six years ago. Keep up the good work.

Hello, I am wondering who had written this analysis, as I am citing this for a paper I am writing.

Please, and thanks.

My first comment was in reply to Caleb, but this is now independent. Thanks.

The analysis author is now above. It is by Society of Classical Poets Editor Evan Mantyk

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“The Tyger” by William Blake: Analysis

“The Tyger” by William Blake, published in his 1794 collection Songs of Experience, is a profound and awe-inspiring exploration of creation and the duality of existence.

• Tyger Tyger, burning bright, 
• In the forests of the night; 
• What immortal hand or eye, 
• Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
• In what distant deeps or skies. 
• Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
• On what wings dare he aspire?
• What the hand, dare seize the fire?
• And what shoulder, & what art,
• Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
• And when thy heart began to beat.
• What dread hand? & what dread feet?
• What the hammer? what the chain,
• In what furnace was thy brain?
• What the anvil? what dread grasp.
• Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
• When the stars threw down their spears 
• And water’d heaven with their tears:
• Did he smile his work to see?
• Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
• Tyger Tyger burning bright,
• In the forests of the night:
• What immortal hand or eye,
• Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

Introduction: “The Tyger” by William Blake

Table of Contents

“The Tyger” by William Blake, published in his 1794 collection Songs of Experience, is a profound and awe-inspiring exploration of creation and the duality of existence. The poem centers on the image of a tiger, its “fearful symmetry” crafted by an enigmatic, almost paradoxical creator. Blake’s vivid imagery and rhythmic questions delve into themes of beauty and terror, the nature of the divine, and the complex forces governing the universe. Through the tiger, Blake forces the reader to ponder the origins of both good and evil, ultimately challenging conventional notions of God and the world He shaped.

Annotations of “The Tyger” by William Blake

Literary Devices in “The Tyger” by William Blake

Sound and Poetic Devices in “The Tyger” by William Blake

Functions of Literary Devices in “The Tyger” by William Blake

• Allusion: In “The Tyger,” William Blake uses allusions to create a sense of cosmic significance and mystery around the Tyger’s creation. For instance, the use of the phrase “immortal hand or eye” in line 3 refers to a divine creator who possesses extraordinary power and skill. Similarly, in line 17, the stars throwing down their spears and watering heaven with their tears create a sense of cosmic drama and tension. These allusions add layers of meaning to the poem and suggest that the Tyger’s creation is not just a mere physical act but rather an event of immense significance.
• Repetition: The repetition of the phrase “Tyger Tyger, burning bright” at the beginning and end of the poem creates a sense of symmetry and rhythm. The repetition emphasizes the power and significance of the Tyger while also creating a sense of awe and admiration. Additionally, the repetition of questions throughout the poem, such as “What immortal hand or eye/Could frame thy fearful symmetry?” (lines 3-4) and “Did he who made the Lamb make thee?” (line 20), creates a sense of curiosity and wonder, as the speaker tries to understand the Tyger’s creation.
• Imagery: William Blake’s use of vivid imagery in “The Tyger” helps to create a sense of the Tyger’s power and majesty. For example, the fire burning in the Tyger’s eyes in line 6 suggests an intensity of passion and ferocity, while the “dread grasp” in line 15 implies a terrifying and deadly strength. Furthermore, the “forests of the night” in line 2 and the “distant deeps or skies” in line 5 create a sense of mystery and wonder. Overall, the vivid imagery helps to convey the speaker’s awe and admiration for the Tyger.
• Rhetorical questions: Blake’s use of rhetorical questions in “The Tyger” creates a sense of mystery and uncertainty about the Tyger’s creation. These questions, such as “And when thy heart began to beat./What dread hand? & what dread feet?” (lines 11-12) and “In what furnace was thy brain?” (line 14), emphasize the complexity and enigma of the Tyger’s creation. They also convey the speaker’s sense of wonder and awe as they try to comprehend the power behind the Tyger’s existence.

Themes in “The Tyger” by William Blake

• The complexity of creation: The theme of the complexity of creation is evident in the poem as the speaker attempts to understand the nature of the Tyger’s creation. The repeated rhetorical questions throughout the poem emphasize the difficulty of comprehending such a powerful and fearsome creature. The line “What immortal hand or eye/Could frame thy fearful symmetry?” (lines 3-4) highlights the mystery and complexity of the Tyger’s creation.
• The power of nature: The power of nature is another theme in the poem, particularly in the descriptions of the Tyger and its environment. The line “In the forests of the night” (line 2) emphasizes the Tyger’s connection to the natural world, while the description of the Tyger’s fiery eyes and the stars throwing down their spears highlights the raw power of nature.
• The duality of creation: The theme of duality is present in the contrast between the Tyger and the Lamb, which are both creations of the same divine force. The line “Did he who made the Lamb make thee?” (line 20) underscores the contrast between these two creatures and raises questions about the nature of creation.
• The role of the artist/creator: The theme of the role of the artist or creator is also evident in the poem. The repeated questions about the identity and methods of the creator suggest a curiosity about the creative process. The line “What the hammer? What the chain,/In what furnace was thy brain?” (lines 13-14) emphasizes the role of the creator in shaping the Tyger’s form and nature.

References:

• “What immortal hand or eye/Could frame thy fearful symmetry?” (lines 3-4)
• “In the forests of the night” (line 2)
• “And when thy heart began to beat./What dread hand? & what dread feet?” (lines 11-12)
• “Did he who made the Lamb make thee?” (line 20)
• “What the hammer? What the chain,/In what furnace was thy brain?” (lines 13-14)

Literary Theories and Interpretations of “The Tyger” by William Blake

• Reader-Response Theory: Reader-response theory suggests that the meaning of a literary work is constructed by the reader’s personal response to the text. In the case of “The Tyger,” the reader’s interpretation of the poem may be influenced by their own experiences and beliefs about the nature of good and evil. For example, a reader who believes in a benevolent God may see the Tyger as a symbol of evil, while a reader who believes in a more ambiguous or dualistic view of the universe may see the Tyger as a powerful and necessary force. The ambiguity of the poem allows for multiple interpretations, making it a rich text for reader-response analysis.
• New Criticism: New Criticism focuses on the text itself, rather than its historical or biographical context. In “The Tyger,” New Criticism would emphasize the imagery and symbolism used by Blake to create a powerful and ambiguous portrait of the Tyger. For example, the Tyger’s “fearful symmetry” may be interpreted as a symbol of the paradoxical nature of the universe, where good and evil are often intertwined. The repetition of the phrase “Tyger Tyger, burning bright” and the use of rhetorical questions may also be analyzed for their impact on the poem’s meaning.
• Marxist Criticism: Marxist criticism focuses on the political and economic context of a literary work. In the case of “The Tyger,” a Marxist reading might analyze the poem as a critique of industrial capitalism and its effects on the natural world. The Tyger’s fiery eyes and fierce demeanor could be seen as a symbol of the destructive power of industrialization, which has the potential to destroy both the natural world and the human spirit. The poem’s emphasis on the creator’s power and the question of whether the same creator made the Lamb and the Tyger could also be analyzed from a Marxist perspective, as a commentary on the unequal distribution of power in society.
• Psychoanalytic Criticism: Psychoanalytic criticism analyzes literary works through the lens of psychology and the unconscious mind. In “The Tyger,” a psychoanalytic interpretation might focus on the speaker’s sense of fear and awe in the face of the Tyger’s power, and the unconscious desires and fears that this power represents. The Tyger could be seen as a symbol of the repressed or dangerous aspects of the speaker’s psyche, while the Lamb represents innocence and purity. The repetition of the questions throughout the poem could also be analyzed from a psychoanalytic perspective, as a manifestation of the speaker’s unconscious desire for understanding and meaning.

Essay Topics, Questions and Thesis Statements about “The Tyger” by William Blake

• Topic: The Significance of Religious Imagery in “The Tyger” by William Blake

Question on Topic : How does the use of religious imagery in “The Tyger” contribute to the poem’s themes and meaning?

Thesis Statement: In “The Tyger,” William Blake uses religious imagery to convey the idea that the natural world is both beautiful and terrifying, and that its creator is both benevolent and fearsome, ultimately suggesting that the mysteries of creation are beyond human understanding.

• Topic: The Symbolism of the Tyger in “The Tyger” by William Blake

Question on Topic: What does the Tyger symbolize in “The Tyger” and how does this contribute to the poem’s meaning?

Thesis Statement: Through the powerful symbolism of the Tyger in “The Tyger,” William Blake explores the dual nature of creation, using the Tyger as a symbol of the natural world’s beauty, power, and terror, ultimately suggesting that the mysteries of creation are both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

• Topic: The Role of Literary Devices in “The Tyger” by William Blake

Question on Topic: How do the literary devices used in “The Tyger” contribute to the poem’s meaning and effect?

Thesis Statement: Through the use of vivid imagery, rhetorical questions, and repetition, William Blake creates a sense of wonder and awe in “The Tyger,” ultimately suggesting that the mysteries of creation are beyond human understanding and that the natural world is both beautiful and terrifying.

• Topic: The Relationship between “The Tyger” and “The Lamb” in William Blake’s Poetry

Question on Topic: How does “The Tyger” relate to “The Lamb” in William Blake’s poetry and what does this suggest about his worldview?

Thesis Statement: Through the contrast between “The Tyger” and “The Lamb” in his poetry, William Blake explores the dual nature of creation and suggests that the mysteries of existence are both beautiful and terrifying, ultimately offering a vision of the divine that is both benevolent and fearsome.

Short Questions-Answers about “The Tyger” by William Blake

• How does the poem illustrate the Romantic literary movement?

Answer: “The Tyger” embodies many of the Romantic literary ideals, including the celebration of nature, the expression of emotion, and the rejection of rationalism. The poem’s focus on the awe-inspiring power of the Tyger and the use of vivid imagery to convey this power illustrate the Romantic emphasis on emotion and imagination. Additionally, the poem’s allusions to religious and mythological figures suggest a connection to the natural world and the divine, which is a common theme in Romantic literature.

• How does the poem explore the theme of creation?

Answer: “The Tyger” is primarily concerned with the question of how the Tyger came to be, and the poem explores this theme through the use of vivid imagery and rhetorical questions. The repeated refrain of “Tyger Tyger, burning bright” emphasizes the power and significance of the Tyger’s creation, while the speaker’s questions about the Tyger’s origins and the process of its creation suggest a sense of wonder and mystery. The poem ultimately suggests that the Tyger’s creation is a complex and awe-inspiring process that is beyond human understanding.

• How does the poem use literary devices to convey its message?

Answer: “The Tyger” makes use of several literary devices, including repetition, allusion, imagery, and rhetorical questions, to convey its message about the power and complexity of creation. The repetition of the phrase “Tyger Tyger, burning bright” emphasizes the significance of the Tyger and creates a sense of symmetry throughout the poem. The allusions to religious and mythological figures suggest a cosmic significance to the Tyger’s creation. The vivid imagery of the fire burning in the Tyger’s eyes and the stars throwing down their spears conveys the power and majesty of the Tyger. Finally, the rhetorical questions throughout the poem create a sense of wonder and uncertainty about the Tyger’s creation.

• How does “The Tyger” reflect the cultural and historical context of its time?

Answer: “The Tyger” was written during the Romantic period, a time of significant social and cultural change in Europe. The poem reflects the Romantic emphasis on emotion and imagination, as well as the rejection of rationalism and the celebration of nature. Additionally, the poem’s exploration of the theme of creation reflects the cultural and intellectual context of the time, which saw a growing interest in scientific inquiry and the natural world. Finally, the poem’s use of religious and mythological allusions reflects the ongoing influence of religion on culture and thought during this period.

Literary Works Similar to “The Tyger” by William Blake

• “The Lamb” by William Blake: The companion poem to “The Tyger” from Blake’s Songs of Innocence , offering a contrasting view of creation. It explores innocence, gentleness, and a benevolent creator.
• “Auguries of Innocence” by William Blake: This lengthy poem presents a series of paradoxes, examining the interconnectedness of good and evil, beauty and suffering, mirroring the complexities of “The Tyger”.
• Paradise Lost by John Milton: Milton’s epic poem grapples with the fall of Satan and the origins of evil, a core theme Blake also questions in “The Tyger”.
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: Shelley’s novel explores dangerous creation, the consequences of playing God, and the line between creator and creation, similar to the dynamic explored in “The Tyger”.
• “Ode on a Grecian Urn” by John Keats: Keats’ poem delves into themes of beauty, mortality, and the enduring nature of art, resonating with Blake’s immortalization of the tyger.
• “The Second Coming” by W.B. Yeats: This apocalyptic poem shares a sense of awe and dread with “The Tyger”, exploring a chaotic, powerful force reshaping the world.

Suggested Readings: “The Tyger” by William Blake

• Bloom, Harold. Blake’s Apocalypse: A Study in Poetic Argument . Anchor Books, 1965.
• Damon, S. Foster. A Blake Dictionary: The Ideas and Symbols of William Blake . University Press of New England, 1988.
• Frye, Northrop. Fearful Symmetry: A Study of William Blake . Princeton University Press, 1947.
• Hirsch, E.D. “Blake’s ‘Tyger’ and the Critics.” The Bulletin of the Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association , vol. 21, no. 1, 1967, pp. 5-12. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1346138.
• Mellor, Anne K. “Physiognomy, Form and Function in Blake’s ‘The Tyger’.” Philological Quarterly , vol. 61, no. 4, 1982, pp. 495–510. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40066176.
• Pfau, Thomas. “The Tyger as Artefact.” Studies in Romanticism , vol. 20, no. 2, 1981, pp. 147-166. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/25600268.
• The William Blake Archive: https://www.blakearchive.org/ (A comprehensive digital collection of Blake’s works and related scholarship)
• The Romanticism Blog, University of Maryland: [invalid URL removed] (Features articles and analysis on various Romantic works, including those of Blake)

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• “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” by Thomas Gray
• “Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe
• Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost
• “The Darkling Thrush” by Thomas Hardy: Analysis

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Analysis of William Blake’s The Tyger

By NASRULLAH MAMBROL on February 17, 2021 • ( 0 )

The Tyger is the terrifying pendant to The Lamb  in William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and of Experience as its climactic rhetorical question makes clear: “Did he who made the lamb make thee?” Like “The Lamb,” it takes the form of an address to the animal that is the poem’s subject, and as in the other poem, it asks the question, “Who made thee? Dost thou know who made thee?” The speaker of “The Tyger” is not a child, though, but a man overwhelmed by the fierceness that the tiger embodies. Where the lamb is an embodiment of gentleness, innocence, and trust, the tiger represents everything dreadful about life—about the forests of the night where we spend the half of our lives in which we are the prey of experience.

“The Lamb” alerts us to one important element of “The Tyger,” which is the way the creature represents his creator. The creator of the lamb calls himself a lamb and is childlike. The creator of the tiger is dreadful. The poem gives us as much a bodily sense of the creator as of the creation: It is God’s shoulder that provides the force to twist the sinews of the tiger’s heart, so that we can see in those sinews the straining sinews that formed them. God’s dread hand formed the tiger’s dread feet, the dreadfulness of one making palpable the dreadfulness of the other.

The tiger’s fierceness is so overwhelming that the stars themselves throw down their spears and water heaven with their tears. Within the context of the poem, this means that the celestial phenomena of starlight and rain reach us as a kind of cosmic response to the creation of the tiger. The animal then becomes pure representation: He represents God’s power rather than being an actual element in the speaker’s world.

This is evident in the famous change from the first to the last stanza, where the final question is altered from: “What immortal hand or eye, / Could frame thy fearful symmetry?” to “What immortal hand or eye, / Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?” The first question is addressed to the tiger, just as the child has addressed the lamb. But even though the rest of the poem continues to apostrophize the tiger, he feels less and less present as a separate being, becoming more and more an object of the speaker’s own fierce contemplation. His final question is the culmination of his questions about God. It addresses the tiger only in form, but it is purely rhetorical.

The interesting thing about that rhetorical question is that its answer is not obvious. That is to say, the question may be rephrased as this: “Who but Jehovah himself could dare such a thing?” Or it may instead be rephrased this way: “ How could any immortal, even Jehovah himself, dare frame such a creature?” The first question implies an answer in which the tiger represents the awe-inspring power of the creator. The second implies a different answer: the creator’s willingness to create a world of inhuman ferocity.

Notice that unlike the lamb, the tiger is not blessed at the end of the poem, nor is he cursed. This is because he does not belong to the world he represents. He has become instead the sign, or avatar, of the world’s ferocity, and perhaps a sign that that ferocity is intended by God and not just the random workings of nature.

In any case, it is worth considering the status of the lamb after reading “The Tyger.” The rhetorical questions that end the penultimate stanza ask:

Did he smile his work to see? Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

That last question is climactic and is put in a suggestive parallel with the question before it. The work at issue is the tiger, and so the smile lines up with the lamb, perhaps the most terrifying idea in the poem. But it need not be, since whatever doubt it casts on the gentleness or genuiness of God’s smile, the lamb is immune to that doubt. “Did he smile his work to see?” might mean that God’s smile is not one to trust. But the lamb does not represent the untrustworthiness of “The Tyger”’s God. It represents the still undeterred alternative to the tiger. That the creator of the lamb could also create the tiger is terrifying, but that means the lamb is still one of the irreducible terms in the representation of this terror, and that means that he resists and overcomes it, so that the lamb’s power of salvation—or of innocence, truth, or hope—are just as much represented by the purely representational tiger as are their opposites. And remember that the lamb is real, in its poem, whereas the tiger is an imaginary vision.

Bibliography Bloom, Harold. Blake’s Apocalypse: A Study in Poetic Argument. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1970. ———. Poetry and Repression: Revisionism from Blake to Stevens. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1976. Damrosch, Leopold. Symbol and Truth in Blake’s Myth. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1980. Erdmann, David V. Blake, Prophet against Empire: A Poet’s Interpretation of the History of His Own Times. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1977. Fry, Northrop. Fearful Symmetry: A Study of William Blake. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1974. Gilchrist, Alexander. Life of William Blake, with Selections from His Poems and Other Writings. Totowa, N.J.: Rowman and Littlefield, 1973. Hollander, John. “Blake and the Metrical Contract,” In From Sensibility to Romanticism, edited by Frederick Hilles and Harold Bloom, 293–310. New York: Oxford, 1965. Reprinted in John Hollander, Vision and Resonance: Two Senses of Poetic Form, 187–211. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1985. Ostriker, Alicia. “Desire Gratified and Ungratified: William Blake and Sexuality.” Blake: An Illustrated Quarterly 16 (1982–83): 156–165. Raine, Kathleen. Blake and Antiquity. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1977. Thompson, E. P., Witness against the Beast: William Blake and the Moral Law. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1993.

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43687/the-tyger

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The Tyger by William Blake – Summary and Questions

Table of Contents

The Tyger by William Blake

Introduction “The Tyger” is a poem by William Blake that was first published in 1794 as part of the Songs of Experience collection. Alfred Kazin, a literary critic, describes it as “the most famous of his poems,” and The Cambridge Companion to William Blake describes it as “the most anthologized poem in English.” It is one of the most frequently reinterpreted and arranged works by Blake. “The Tiger,” formerly titled “The Tyger,” is a lyric poem about God and his creations. Modern anthologies frequently include “The Tiger” alongside an earlier Blake poem, “The Lamb,” which was published in 1789 in Songs of Innocence.

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Short Summary

The Tyger by William Blake is taken from The Songs of Experience. The poem was published in 1794. It is about the essence of creation, much like Blake’s earlier poem, “The Lamb,” from the Songs of Innocence. However, this poem reflects on the darker aspect of life as its benefits are less apparent than simple joys. Blake’s simple vocabulary and formal structure undermine the depth of his ideas. This poem is meant to be viewed in relation and contrast to “The Lamb,” demonstrating the “two opposing states of the human soul” with respect to surrounding creation.

It has been often said that Blake claimed that in order to attain a higher level of consciousness, a human must move through an innocent state of being, like that of the lamb, and also imbibe the contrasting conditions of experience, such as those of the tiger. In any case, Blake’s idea of creative power in the world that makes a harmony between innocence and experience is at the core of this poem

Line – Wise Summary

Lines 1­ – 2: William Blake’s tiger is a wild, passionate Character Character: the vehicle (person, animal, creation) that moves the story forward. A character may be main or minor, depending on his or her role in the work of literature. While some characters are two-dimensional, with one or two dominant traits, a fully developed character has a unique complex of traits.A) dynamic characters often change as the plot unfolds.B) static characters remain the same. " data-gt-translate-attributes='[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]' tabindex=0 role=link>character . It is a monster, a beast, that lives in the shadows and dark hours of life. Some also found this tiger to reflect the dark shadow of the human soul just as Carl Jung would characterize it more than a century later. It is the beastly aspect of ourselves that we would prefer to keep in our night-time fantasies even if it were to be somewhere. In Blake’s poetry night always seems to indicate <table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><strong style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;">to indicate / an indication</strong><strong>‘Indicate’ is a more formal, but also a weaker word than ‘show’. It’s used when the conclusion from the research isn’t so clear. This is very common, so the word ‘indicate’ is also very commonly found in research reports. It can also be used to refer to something you’ve said earlier in your essay – ‘As indicated in part 1, it’s difficult to make generalisations in this field. However, ….</strong><strong>' </strong><strong> The noun is ‘indication’ – meaning a sign.</strong><strong>The latest research</strong><strong> </strong><strong>indicates</strong><strong> </strong><strong>a growing trend towards eating in cars.</strong><strong>The results can be seen as an </strong><strong>indication</strong> <strong>of increasing </strong><strong>uncertainty </strong><strong>in the market</strong><strong>s</strong><strong>.</strong> </td></tr></tbody></table> " data-gt-translate-attributes='[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]' tabindex=0 role=link>indicate such kind of dream time. Under this beast’s influence, the forests may reflect the wild landscape of our imagination.

Lines 9­ – 10: These lines refer to the power of the tiger, and of its creator. Shoulders and art both bear obligations and burden. Sinews are the very tendons that make the heart function and are therefore regarded as a source of power and energy. Blake seems to imply that this mighty creature’s creator is amazing in his own right. We get the very picture of imagination here, too, as it happens. We are seeing the shoulders at work. We see the creativity cycle mixing the elements which make up a tiger together. We see material core turning into form. The heart not only reflects the tiger’s biochemical power but probably its love for life.

Lines 15­ – 16: An anvil is a tool of art as well as of industry. God or Satan or the artist clasps and seizes with zeal and courage. What makes your bravery and passion so frightening and deadly? The essence of imagination is also Blake’s favourite theme. Through these lines, he is faced with his darkest thoughts about what making entails. However, he also implies the tiger was not to have been made.

Lines 17­ – 18:

Lines 21­- 22: Blake uses repetition to reinforce his ideas and to ask us to take another look at the meaning. If the tiger is not only burning, but it is burning brightly, then isn’t it a creature of light? If it is a creature of light, walking through the darkness, then doesn’t it serve to illuminate the shadows within ourselves, and out in the world? Finally, if this tiger, with its inner strength and prowess, serves as a guiding light through the darkness then doesn’t our fear of it becomes rather shortsighted?

Blake uses repetition to clarify his theories and challenge others to look at the meaning another way. If not only the tiger burns, but it burns brilliantly, then is it not a creature of light? If it is a creature of light, passing in the dark, does it not illuminate the shadows inside and out of the world? Ultimately, if this tiger, with its inner strength and prowess, acts as a leading light in the darkness then does not our fear of it become very short-sighted?

Line 23: There is an invincible immortal who created both the docile lamb and the raging tiger. To consider the organism, we are told to consider the maker. In contemplation, we do need to look at the artist’s imagination in this world’s microcosm. It is important that Blake uses the word “dare” in the last paragraph, rather than “might,” as it highlights once again the idea of courage in relation to life. Finally, once again we must equate and contrast the beast with the tamed one, and we must find the correct equilibrium of nature formed by the Divine eye.

Important Questions Answers

Q. How does the speaker present the Tyger, as compared to the lamb in Blake’s other poem? Ans . The Tyger is more complex <table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td> <strong>complex / complexity</strong><strong>If something is complex, it is </strong><strong>not simple</strong><strong> and that means it can be </strong><strong>hard to understand</strong><strong>. In other words, it has many parts and normally takes a long time to study or understand. It can be used in a neutral way, but is sometimes negative, when a person wants to say something should be simple, but isn’t. Very often the structures, models and theories that you come across at university are complex - this often means that you need to analyse them - in other words, break them down into the different components. The noun form is 'complexity'.</strong><strong> </strong><strong>This is a</strong><strong> </strong><strong>complex</strong><strong> </strong><strong>question which requires careful consideration.</strong><strong>The complexity of the problem meant that we needed to spend many more hours on identifying its causes and recommending solutions.</strong></td></tr></tbody></table> " data-gt-translate-attributes='[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]' tabindex=0 role=link>complex and more ferocious than the lamb. It lacks the innocence of the lamb, and serves as a hunter rather than hunted. Lastly, the Tyger is fiery coloured, while the lamb is pure white.

Q. Explain the implications of the two words ‘immortal’ and ‘fearful’ about the image of the tiger. Ans . The poet expresses wonder at the awful beauty of the creature and asks what “immortal hand or eye” could have framed it. Note the two words “immortal” and “fearful”. They signify the fact that the tiger is a symbol of both terror and divinity.

Q. What kind of poem is The Tyger by William Blake? Ans . “The Tyger” is a short poem of very standard shape and meter, in the style of a child’s rhyme definitely not in substance and implication. It is written in six quatrains each made up of two rhyming couplets with a pulsing, steady, mostly-trochaic rhythm.

Q. What is the main theme in the Tyger? Ans. The main theme of William Blake’s poem “The Tyger” is creation and origin. The speaker is in awe because of the tiger’s fearsome quality and sheer elegance, and rhetorically he wonders if the same maker could also have created “the Lamb” (a reference to another of Blake’s poems).

Q. What does burning bright mean in the Tyger? Ans. Burning Bright “may describe the Tyger’s appearance (tigers have fiery orange fur), or it may describe a kind of strength or force that this Tyger holds at a deeper level. Thus, The burning bright means being so fierce, being so capable, so intelligent, and owning the power to do anything. “what immortal hand or eye could frame thy fearful symmetry?” The usage of the immortal hand or eye refers to God.

Q. Why is the Tyger in Songs of Experience? Ans. Blake meant the Songs of Innocence or Experience to display the two contradictory states of the human soul.’ The Tyger’ and ‘The Lamb’ are the two contrary poems in the Songs of Innocence. The Lamb is about a benevolent God who ‘calls himself a Lamb’ and is himself meek and mild.

Q. What does What immortal hand or eye Could frame thy fearful symmetry mean? Ans. Blake tops off his first quatrain with a provocative question, “what immortal hand or eye could frame thy fearful symmetry?” Blake’s usage of the immortal hand or eye in the line refers to God. So he is expressing what God could create or “frame” is something that is both perfect, symmetrical, and yet scary and threatening.

Q. What is the tone of the Tyger? Ans. The tone of the poem “The Tyger” by William Blake is going from awe to terror, to irreverent allegation, to resigned curiosity. In the first eleven lines of the poems, the readers can feel the reverence that the speaker feels for the tiger as a piece of art.

Short Answer Questions

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Tiger on the Watch

Jean-léon gérôme, the museum of fine arts, houston.

William Blake

From Songs of Experience

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Other works by William Blake...

LEAVE, O leave me to my sorrows… Here I’ll sit and fade away, Till I’m nothing but a spirit, And I lose this form of clay. Then if chance along this forest

O, I say, you Joe, Throw us the ball! I’ve a good mind to go And leave you all. I never saw such a bowler

Little Mary Bell had a Fairy in… Long John Brown had the Devil in… Long John Brown lov’d little Mar… And the Fairy drew the Devil into… Her Fairy skipp’d out and her Fai…

Whether on Ida’s shady brow, Or in the chambers of the East, The chambers of the sun, that now From ancient melody have ceas’d; Whether in Heav’n ye wander fair,

The little boy lost in the lonely… Led by the wandering light, Began to cry, but God, ever nigh, Appeared like his father, in white… He kissed the child, and by the ha…

‘O WINTER! bar thine adamantine… The north is thine; there hast tho… Deep-founded habitation. Shake no… Nor bend thy pillars with thine ir… He hears me not, but o’er the yawn…

I wonder whether the girls are mad… And I wonder whether they mean to… And I wonder if William Bond wil… For assuredly he is very ill. He went to church in a May mornin…

“Father, father, where are you goi… O do not walk so fast. Speak, father, speak to your littl… Or else I shall be lost.” The night was dark, no father was…

All the night in woe Lyca’s parents go Over valleys deep, While the deserts weep. Tired and woe-begone,

I walked abroad in a snowy day; I asked the soft snow with me to p… She played and she melted in all h… And the winter called it a dreadfu…

A little black thing among the sno… Crying “weep! 'weep!” in notes of… “Where are thy father and mother?… “They are both gone up to the chur… Because I was happy upon the heat…

Once a dream did weave a shade O’er my angel—guarded bed, That an emmet lost its way Where on grass methought I lay. Troubled, wildered and forlorn,

Never seek to tell thy love Love that never told can be; For the gentle wind does move Silently, invisibly. I told my love, I told my love,

[PLATE 3] The Guardian Prince of Albion bu… Sullen fires across the Atlantic… Piercing the souls of warlike men,… Washington, Franklin, Paine & Wa…

COME, kings, and listen to my so… When Gwin, the son of Nore, Over the nations of the North His cruel sceptre bore; The nobles of the land did feed

“The Tyger” a Poem by William Blake Essay

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Issued in the year 1794 William Blake’s “The Tyger” is a poem that provides own visualization of the dark side of creation, when its advantages are not as evident as everyday joys. Thesis: whilst the poem may be apprehended in many ways, essentially the framework of a speaker questioning the beast symbolically reflects the beginning of the appreciation of the strength of own soul.

Tiger, tiger, shining in the dark, what creator would make such a frightening beast? Where did you feel such wickedness? Why were you created? What creator dared to deal with the flaming creature? Who would create an absolute beast? When the tiger was born what chaos did it cause? How could the creator dare to carry on? What was he thinking? What malice did the beast bring with? When the universe was irritated and depressing, was the creator proud of this creature? Could it be the same creator, who made the blameless lamb? Tiger, tiger, shining in the dark, what creator dared to make such a frightening beast?

There can be no concise paraphrase of “The Tyger” because each line asks a question, and none of them is answered. One major question, which appears to arise too frequently, is: “What does this poem?” The author calls the animal twice to gain the beast’s attention. Then, the poem provides a concise view of the animal and its setting. It confirms the evil nature of this beast. “Burning bright” offers an image of a fire and the representation of hell, and “the night” adds to the depiction of evil (Kennedy and Gioia 400).

The strange spelling in “Tyger” is another hint of the particular meaning of this work. It is very difficult to explain what the beast actually is because the poem is about many things at once. It should be mentioned that there is absolutely no narrative movement in the poem: no one actually does anything other than the speaker asking his never-ending questions. At the same time, from the perspective of the readers, the primary question can be: “What does this work mean?” It was the primary question I had to answer to begin apprehending the poem.

My intellectual response to this work was one of interest and entertainment as I tried to comprehend it. However, my emotional response was not so simple. The ultimate question asks if a creator would dare to create a tiger symbolizing the fear and hate, without which there would not be the opposites of faith and love. As the speaker started to feel the tiger-like strength for fighting with the evil in the world, I started to recognize that the traits of the pure human being needed to be freed with the help of the tiger-like force of the soul.

Whilst this work may be understood in dissimilar ways, the framework of a speaker questioning the beast symbolically represents the beginning of the appreciation of the strength of own soul. The author’s simplicity in language contradicts the intricacy of his concepts, as the speaker in “The Tyger” starts realizing the concealed power of own soul and recognize its importance. The individual can finally initiate own spiritual revolution. Essentially, the poem is written to make readers to witness the person apprehending the potentials of own soul and to acknowledge it ourselves.

Works Cited

Kennedy, X.J. and D. Gioia. An Introduction to Poetry , New York: Longman, 13th ed. 2009. Print.

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Analysis of Poetic Devices in William Blake’s The Tyger

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