An Annotation Of William Blake's The Tyger

Representative of this piety, “The Tyger” is a meditation on the beauty and power of nature, and the deity who created it. The speaker’s genuine awe and terror at the sight of a graceful tiger drives the reader to contemplate the power of God himself.

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

It is described as a surreal being “[b]urning bright” in the dark “forests of the night.” The Tyger is clearly set apart from its surroundings by juxtaposing its burning pelt with the shadowy woods. This contrast engenders a heightened sense of wonder in the reader’s perception of the beautiful animal. Also, by describing the “fire of [the Tyger’s] eyes,” Blake portrays the Tyger as a beast of “deadly terrors.” This selection of words serves to enforce the fact that the Tyger is both beautiful and deadly. While allowing the reader to see how truly graceful it is, it also informs the reader that the Tyger commands respect. Furthermore, by asking “[i]n what furnace was thy brain?” and “[w]hat the anvil?” the author proposes that the Tyger was forged by a grand blacksmith. This diction continues to associate the Tyger with fire, and therefore destructive power. However, it also introduces the concept that the Tyger was forged, adding to the reader’s wonder at its remarkable craftsmanship. As such, Blake creates a tone of awe at the sight of this

The audience of this work is the Tyger itself as evidenced by the speaker questioning who “[c]ould frame thy fearful symmetry?”. This poetic form grants the author a great deal of creative freedom as he is able to address something which is immediately nearby. It also allows the speaker to question their audience directly, and describe the Tyger vividly. Throughout the poem, the narrator continually asks questions such as “[o]n what wings dare he aspire?” and “[w]hat the hand, dare seize the fire?”. Through their constant questioning, the speaker appears to be moved to curiosity. It seems as though the speaker is so impressed by the Tyger that they desire to seek answers. Notably, the iambic meter of this work creates a rhythm similar to the lurching gallop of a tiger in pursuit of its prey. Using this pseudo-auditory imagery, Blake causes the reader to consider the powerful movements of the Tyger. This manipulation of the reader’s subconscious furthers the reader’s respect for the beast. Because of his artful manipulation of structure, Blake is able to use words to convey a profound meaning through their