The Tiger / William Blake

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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?

Study Guide: "The Tiger" by William Blake

Quiz

1. What is the central question posed repeatedly throughout the poem "The Tiger"? The central question repeatedly posed in the poem is about the creator of the tiger. The speaker wonders what immortal hand or eye could dare to frame the tiger's fearful symmetry and what kind of being could create such a terrifying yet beautiful creature.
2. Describe the imagery used to characterize the tiger in the opening stanza. In the opening stanza, the tiger is described as "burning bright" and existing "In the forests of the night." This imagery evokes a powerful, luminous, and mysterious presence, suggesting both danger and awe within a dark, untamed setting.
3. What specific body parts of the tiger does the speaker focus on when questioning its creation? The speaker focuses on the tiger's "heart," "brain," "eyes," and "sinews." These specific body parts highlight the intricate and formidable nature of the tiger, emphasizing both its physical power and its inner being.
4. The poem uses metaphors of tools and craftsmanship. Name some of these tools and explain what they represent. The poem uses metaphors like "hammer," "chain," "furnace," and "anvil." These tools represent the immense power, skill, and intensity required to forge such a formidable creature, suggesting a divine blacksmith shaping the tiger.
5. What celestial event is mentioned in the poem, and what might it symbolize? The poem mentions "When the stars threw down their spears / And water'd heaven with their tears." This celestial event might symbolize a cosmic upheaval or a moment of divine despair or awe at the creation of something so powerful and terrifying, perhaps even an angelic rebellion or sorrow.
6. How does the poem connect the tiger's creation to that of the Lamb? The poem explicitly asks, "Did he who made the Lamb make thee?" This question directly connects the tiger's creation to that of the Lamb, which typically symbolizes innocence and gentleness. It raises a profound theological paradox about a creator capable of both extreme innocence and extreme terror.
7. What is the significance of the word "dare" in the recurring question about the tiger's creation? The word "dare" emphasizes the immense courage, audacity, or even recklessness required to create something as terrifying and powerful as the tiger. It suggests that the act of creation was not just powerful but also fraught with immense challenge or risk.
8. What is the overall tone or feeling conveyed by the speaker's questions about the tiger? The overall tone conveyed by the speaker's questions is one of awe, wonder, and a profound sense of fearful admiration. The questions are not rhetorical but express a deep philosophical and theological inquiry into the nature of creation and the creator.
9. Consider the poem's setting ("In the forests of the night"). What does this setting contribute to the poem's atmosphere? The setting "In the forests of the night" contributes to an atmosphere of mystery, danger, and the unknown. It suggests a primal, untamed environment where such a fearsome creature belongs, enhancing its enigmatic and powerful presence.
10. What philosophical or theological dilemma does "The Tiger" implicitly explore? "The Tiger" implicitly explores the problem of evil and the nature of a dualistic creation. It questions how a benevolent creator could also create something so fearsome and destructive, challenging conventional notions of divine goodness and power.

Essay Format Questions

1. Analyze how William Blake uses rhetorical questions in "The Tiger" to explore themes of creation, divinity, and the problem of evil. Discuss the effect of this poetic device on the reader's understanding of the poem's central ideas.
2. Compare and contrast the imagery used to describe the tiger's creation with the implied nature of the Lamb's creation. How does Blake use this juxtaposition to highlight the profound paradox of the creator's power and intent?
3. Discuss the role of light and darkness imagery ("burning bright," "forests of the night") in "The Tiger." How do these contrasting elements contribute to the poem's atmosphere and its exploration of the tiger's nature?
4. Examine the various metaphors of craftsmanship and forging used in the poem (e.g., hammer, furnace, anvil). What do these metaphors suggest about the process and nature of the tiger's creation and its creator?
5. "The Tiger" is often interpreted as exploring the sublime. Discuss how Blake evokes a sense of the sublime through his portrayal of the tiger and its mysterious origins, considering both its terrifying and awe-inspiring qualities.

Glossary of Key Terms

• Symmetry: In the context of the poem, it refers to the perfect, balanced, and harmonious arrangement of parts that form the tiger's terrifying but beautiful physique.
• Immortal hand or eye: Refers to the divine creator, implying a being beyond human mortality and perception, whose hand fashioned the tiger and whose eye perceived its design.
• Deeps or skies: Refers to the vast, unknown, and perhaps otherworldly realms from which the tiger's fiery essence or the creator's power originated.
• Frame: To construct, shape, or design. In the poem, it refers to the act of creating the tiger's formidable form.
• Sinews: The tendons or connective tissues of a body, representing the strength and resilience of the tiger's physical being.
• Furnace: A chamber where intense heat is produced, used metaphorically to suggest the extreme heat or passion involved in the creation of the tiger's brain or consciousness.
• Anvil: A heavy iron block on which metal is hammered and shaped, used metaphorically to represent the immense force and pressure involved in the tiger's creation.
• Stars threw down their spears: A celestial or mythological image often interpreted as an angelic rebellion or cosmic upheaval, suggesting a momentous event concurrent with or preceding the tiger's creation.
• Water'd heaven with their tears: Another celestial image, possibly referring to the stars' sorrow or mourning, or perhaps the cleansing aftermath of a cosmic event.
• The Lamb: A biblical allusion, particularly to the lamb of God (Jesus Christ), symbolizing innocence, purity, and sacrifice. Its mention creates a stark contrast with the fierce tiger, posing a paradox about a single creator.

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