Literal
Meaning:
"" is a poem of questions. The speaker
notes the form, power, and fearsome abilities of "The Tyger" and begins to question
how it came to be. Where was he created? How was he created? What tools were used in the
creation? The "tyger" is mysterious; there is only one declarative fragment (not even
a complete sentence) in the entire poem. Otherwise, the speaker is left to question the
"tyger" and his origins with no clear answers. The final stanza repeats the central
question of the first stanza with one important change: This is a daring
creation.
Figurative Meaning:
Blake references the "Lamb" in this poem, which is another poem he wrote and
which is often taught in conjunction with this one. The "Lamb" is symbolic of
innocence (and even Christ), which directly opposes theof a "tyger" in this poem. A
tiger is fierce, powerfully symmetrical, and merciless when on a hunt. The central question thus
becomes:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?The
Lamb is created by God, its innocence directly representing goodness. Did God also create the
tiger? The tiger comes to symbolize darkness (as seen in imagery in the poem such as
night, burnt, fearful, dread, and terrors). Did God
create both the innocent and the things which could
terrify?This is a powerful theological question
that is still debated today, and Blake uses "The Tyger" to symbolically consider how
all of creation works together.
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