Analysis of William Blake’s The Tyger
William Blake wrote this wonderful lyric poem called The Tyger in 1794. The poem has six quatrains of two couplets each. In this poem the poet addresses the tiger and is in complete awe of the way it must have been created by the Creator. The use of anaphora (repetition of the question what?) brings out the poet’s awe and bewilderment at the tiger’s creation more effectively, which is the central theme of the poem. He just can’t imagine how the blacksmith or Creator could create the tiger’s ‘fearful symmetry’ (l.4).
Blake has vividly described the physical characteristics of the tiger, to add to the awe at its creation. He calls his eyes ‘burning bright’ (l.1) and wonders ‘What immortal hand or eye’ (l.3) could have created such a fearsome animal. He thinks of the Creator as a blacksmith who made this beautiful and fearsome creature in a furnace. Blake wonders at the kind of strength ‘what shoulder’ (l.9) and skill ‘what art’ (l.9) that the Creator must have who shape and ‘twist the sinews’ (l.10) of the tiger’s heart, and the also had the courage to stand before the ferocious animal.
Blake skillfully uses anaphora throughout the poem by asking the ‘what’ question repeatedly. In doing so he has laid emphasis and brought out the Creator’s skill in making the tiger, with profound efficacy. It also gives the poem a dramatic gesture. Thus showing the readers the physical details of the tiger and the Creator’s art in making it, this creates the awe and wonder strongly in the poem.
The way the poet reacts to the creation of the tiger also shows the simplicity of his heart and the extent of his imagination. He compares the making of the tiger to that of the Lamb. Through this he effectively compares the two animals which are in total contrast to each other. The lamb is a meek animal, whereas tiger is a ferocious and violent one, but both created by the same Creator. This is a great comparison as it points at the Creator’s ability and skill in art, and the complexity of creation.
Though Blake appreciates the art of the Creator he’s also baffled thinking ‘Did he smile his work to see?’ (l. 19) because the beauty of the tiger is remarkable, however its destructive nature and ‘deadly terrors clasp’ (l.16) are frightening. It’s difficult for the poet to understand and accept the fact that the same Creator who made the innocent lamb, also made the terrifying tiger.
Therefore Blake has been successful in bringing out the physical beauty of the tiger which is at the same time, frightening and deadly. He’s created a good sense of awe and bewilderment in the poem by using effective figures of speech such as metaphors and anaphora. Appreciating the Creator’s art, skill and wisdom in creating the tiger, has been done in a very unique and creative way, by showing wonder and awe. The poem is an extraordinary yet simple one, which has been liked from generation to generation. Its meter and rhythm makes it easy to read and even memorize. His handiwork and mystery is beyond human imagination. The theme of the poem that humans cannot decipher and comprehend the wisdom and purpose of God the Creator is so clear in the poem and leaves the reader with many thoughts to ponder about.
Reference
SparkNotes. 2012. The Tyger. 16 April 2012.
http://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/blake/section6.rhtml
