The Tyger

Summary

“The Tyger” is a poem from Blake’s “Songs of Experience”.
It critically explores the dichotomy of the creator through the imagery of a fearsome tiger.
The primary themes include creation, divine power, and the duality of nature and innocence.

Symbolism

The Tyger: Represents the fierce force in the world, which could potentially be destructive or unsettling.
The creator (blacksmith): Portrays the dichotomy of a creator who can create both the innocent lamb and the fearsome tiger.

Themes

Duality of God and Nature: The poem examines the duality of a creator who can produce both innocence and terror.
Perception and Understanding of Power: The Tyger’s power and destructive potential make us question the nature of the creator.
Innocence versus Experience: This theme is central to Blake’s work, and “The Tyger” discourses the transition from innocence to experience.

Imagery

Visual Imagery: Detailed description of the Tyger is vivid and enables us to visualise its fearful symmetry and fire-bright eyes.
Auditory Imagery: The use of words such as ‘dread hand’ and ‘dread feet’ evokes the hammering sounds of the blacksmith at work.

Rhyme and Metre

“The Tyger” uses an AABB rhyme scheme that gives it a rhythmic symmetry.
It is composed of six quatrains and uses a mix of trochaic tetrameter and iambic tetrameter. This irregularity contributes to the unsettling atmosphere of the poem.

Metaphor

The blacksmith metaphorically represents the creator, the scene of the blacksmith’s shop implying a laborious creation of the fearsome tiger.

Context

Crucial to understanding this poem is the knowledge of its counterpart in “Songs of Innocence”, namely “The Lamb”. These dual poems illustrate the dual nature of God, bringing forth Blake’s views on religion and creation.
As with most of his poetry, Blake’s personal religious views and complex symbolism play a big part in understanding the deeper meanings behind “The Tyger”. The symbolism hints at Blake’s complex views on Christianity and his desire for a union of contrary states.

These points present a foundation for an extensive analysis and understanding of “The Tyger” by William Blake.