Introduction
The poem compares the fearsome nature of the tiger to the peaceful demeanor of creatures like a lamb, raising the question of God’s creative intent. The poet uses various literary techniques and linguistic patterns, presenting the Tyger as a personification of Evil. The lines, “Tyger Tyger, burning bright, / In the forests of the night; / What immortal hand or eye, / Could frame thy fearful symmetry?” allegorically refer to God creating the Tyger as a force of nature (lines 1 – 4).
Poem Analysis
It helps to establish the poem’s ominous tone (Gido et al., 2022). Blake builds a little world where the Tyger rules rather than just painting an image of the beast. As a result, the poet successfully conveys his main point: admiration for the powerful forces that formed this remarkable beast and fascination with the animal’s frightening beauty. The poet is skeptical that God could have fashioned such a dreadful beast. Blake asserts that superior forces formed him, and it is up to the reader to determine whether those forces are good or evil.
The poem’s name unequivocally points to the main hero and idea, with the author emphasizing the Tyger’s features, mainly the flaming eyes, throughout the text to symbolically convey the mysterious nature of the dreadful beast. It is also important to highlight how the poem’s imagery generates a unique mood (Živković, 2020). Supporting the central theme of the poem, Blake (2018), as a narrator, delves deeper with every line into a grim and sinister image of the beast, eventually asking, “Did he who made the Lamb make thee?” (line 20). It is impossible to consider another tone when dealing with the idea of God’s powers and intentions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is essential to mention that Blake’s poem “The Tyger,” distinguished by dazzling imagery and masterful literary tricks, is one of his most notable works. The poet creates a unique environment in which the forces of good or evil produce the tiger. The poet succeeds in expressing how he perceives the beast. The beauty of the animal fascinates Blake, but the poet also asserts that this beauty is fearsome and dangerous, questioning God’s intent in creating Evil, represented by the tiger.
References
Blake, W. (2018). The Tyger. Poetry Foundation.
Gido, N. G., Montecillo, F. A., Gila, J., & Sudario, D. C. (2022). William Blake’s “The Tyger”: Poetic theme and figurative language. Galaxy International Interdisciplinary Research Journal, 10(7), 169–172. Web.
Živković, D. (2020). Mythological transformations in the poem “The Tyger” by William Blake and the cycle “There was a tiger here” by Gregor Strniša. Primerjalna Knjizevnost, 43(2), 233–245. Web.