Analyzing 'The Tyger' by William Blake

The Tyger by William Blake

Poem Structure

• The poem consists of 6 stanzas, each with 4 lines
• The rhyme scheme is AABB

Themes

• The nature of creation and the relationship between the creator and the created
• The contrast between good and evil, innocence and experience
• The speaker's awe and wonder at the tyger's beauty and power

Imagery and Symbolism

• The tyger is a symbol of fear, power, and beauty
• The "burning bright" eyes represent the intensity and energy of the tyger
• The "forests of the night" create a sense of darkness and mystery
• The "stars" and "skies" symbolize the heavens and the divine

Speaker's Questions

• The speaker asks a series of rhetorical questions throughout the poem, wondering how the creator could have made such a fearsome and beautiful creature
• The speaker questions the nature of the creator, asking if they are the same creator who made the lamb (a symbol of innocence and purity)

Contrasts

• The tyger is contrasted with the lamb, highlighting the difference between good and evil
• The speaker's tone is one of awe and wonder, but also of fear and uncertainty

Blake's Philosophy

• The poem reflects Blake's philosophical ideas about the nature of creation and the relationship between the creator and the created
• Blake believed that the creator was a complex and multifaceted being, capable of creating both good and evil

Poem Structure and Themes

• The Tyger by William Blake consists of 6 stanzas, each with 4 lines, and follows a rhyme scheme of AABB.
• The poem explores the themes of creation, good vs. evil, innocence vs. experience, and the relationship between the creator and the created.

Imagery and Symbolism

• The tyger symbolizes fear, power, and beauty, with "burning bright" eyes that represent intensity and energy.
• The "forests of the night" create a sense of darkness and mystery, while the "stars" and "skies" symbolize the heavens and the divine.

Speaker's Questions and Tone

• The speaker asks rhetorical questions, wondering how the creator could have made such a fearsome and beautiful creature.
• The speaker's tone is one of awe, wonder, fear, and uncertainty.

Contrasts and Symbolism

• The tyger is contrasted with the lamb, highlighting the difference between good and evil, innocence, and purity.
• The lamb symbolizes innocence and purity, whereas the tyger represents fear, power, and beauty.

Blake's Philosophy

• The poem reflects Blake's philosophical ideas about the nature of creation and the relationship between the creator and the created.
• Blake believed that the creator is a complex, multifaceted being, capable of creating both good and evil.