The Tyger by William Blake — Cheat Sheet


📘 1. Poem Overview

  • Title: The Tyger

  • Poet: William Blake

  • Published: 1794 (from Songs of Experience)

  • Tone: Intense, mysterious, awe-inspired

  • Theme: Creation, good vs evil, power, beauty

The poem explores the fierce beauty and terrifying power of the tiger, questioning how such a creature could be made by the same creator who made innocence.

📝 2. Structure

  • 6 stanzas

  • Each stanza has 4 lines (quatrains)

  • Rhyme scheme: AABB

  • Rhythm is strong and rhythmic, like pounding hammer blows

The poem’s structure matches its fiery, powerful subject.

✏️ 3. Simple Summary

The speaker wonders about the tiger’s creator — what kind of god could make something so fearsome and beautiful? The poem asks about the balance of creation, mixing fear and admiration.

🎯 4. Main Themes

🔥 a. Creation and Creativity

The poem questions the origin of both beauty and terror.

⚖️ b. Good vs Evil

The tiger represents power and danger, unlike the gentle lamb from Blake’s Songs of Innocence.

🌪️ c. Power and Fear

The tiger’s fierce nature inspires both awe and fear.

🔍 5. Key Lines

“Tyger Tyger, burning bright, / In the forests of the night”
➡️ The tiger’s power and fiery presence.

“Did he who made the Lamb make thee?”
➡️ Questioning how the same creator could make both gentle and fierce creatures.

“What the hammer? what the chain? / In what furnace was thy brain?”
➡️ Imagery of a blacksmith forging the tiger, symbolizing creation through fire and force.

📚 6. Literary Devices

Device Example Effect
Repetition “Tyger Tyger” Emphasizes the tiger’s fierce nature
Alliteration “burning bright” Creates a fiery, vivid sound
Imagery “furnace,” “hammer,” “chain” Suggests the tiger is forged like a weapon
Rhetorical Questions “Did he who made the Lamb make thee?” Raises deep questions about creation
Symbolism Tiger symbolizes power and fear Represents the wild and dangerous side of nature

🧠 7. Tone & Mood

  • Tone: Intense, mysterious, questioning

  • Mood: Awe-inspiring, fearful, thoughtful

The poem makes you feel both amazed and uneasy.

🧩 8. Sample Questions

  • What does the tiger symbolize?

  • How does Blake contrast the tiger with the lamb?

  • What do the blacksmith images tell us about creation?

  • Why does Blake use so many questions?

🎓 9. Why This Poem Matters

  • It’s a famous exploration of creativity and the duality of good and evil.

  • Challenges readers to think about the nature of creation and power.

  • Uses strong, vivid language and imagery to leave a lasting impression.

🌟 Final Message

“Power and beauty can come from the same source — but the reasons remain a mystery.”

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