The Tyger

The Tyger

Overview:

• “The Tyger” is a poem by William Blake, forming part of his collection ‘Songs of Experience’.
• The poem contemplates the creature’s existence, nature and origins.
• Blake uses vivid imagery and a range of poetic devices, including alliteration, assonance, and metaphor.

Themes:

Theme: Creation and Divinity

• Central to “The Tyger” is the theme of creation and divinity. The Tyger’s creator is depicted as a divine, yet possibly demonic craftsman.
• Blake raises questions about the nature of God and the implications of his creation, referring to the Tyger as being created in “the distant deeps or skies”.

Theme: Innocence vs Experience

• As part of the ‘Songs of Experience’, “The Tyger” explores the theme of innocence versus experience.
• Both the tyger and its creator are seen as forces of experience against the innocence of ‘the Lamb’ that Blake writes about in ‘Songs of Innocence’.

Devices and Structure:

Device: Repetition

• Repetition is frequently used in “The Tyger” to emphasise the speaker’s bewilderment and awe. Sentences like “What immortal hand or eye” are repeated, reflecting the pressing questions about the Tyger’s creation.

Device: Vivid Imagery

• Blake uses vivid imagery to depict the fierce, fiery nature of the Tyger. Words like “burning”, “furnace”, and “fire” evoke a bright, terrifying image of the creature.

Device: AABB Rhyme Scheme

• “The Tyger” consists of six quatrains with an AABB rhyme scheme, producing a rhythm that echoes the echoing questions and the creature’s mystifying nature.

Interpretation:

• “The Tyger” presents a complex exploration of creation, divinity, and the nature of good and evil.
• Blake’s vivid imagery and choice of words paint a terrifying yet awe-inspiring image of the Tyger and its divine (or demonic) creator.
• While definitive interpretations may vary, Blake’s use of innuendo and symbolism challenges readers to grapple with their comprehension of the divine creation and the inherent nature of all creatures.