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The Tyger
Summary and Analysis
By William Blake
‘The Tyger’ is a well-known poem by William Blake. It explores the dark and
destructive side of God and his creation.

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William Blake
Nationality: English Poet Guide

William Blake was one of the greatest artistic and literary geniuses of the 18th and
19th centuries.

Initially unrecognized, William Blake posthumously emerged as a key Romantic poet.

Biography Poems
 Poem Guide by Omer Asad
Seasoned Poetry Analyst and Academic Writer

William Blake’s literary masterpiece, ‘The Tyger,’ has been scrutinized from
literal and metaphorical points of view as he revisits his preferred dilemmas
of innocence vs. experience. As for God, his creations are just beautiful and
transcend the notions of good-evil. As with his earlier poems, ‘The Tyger’
gives no visible answers except to offer more questions.

“Songs of Innocence” and “Songs of Experience” juxtapose opposing sides of

human nature, comparing and contrasting innocence with corruption. ‘The
Tyger’ is an extension of the same theme, representing two diverse

perspectives of the human world. William Blake(Bio | Poems) doesn’t take

either side but paints an opposing worldview for his readers.

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 Meter Syllables Rhyme Scheme

The Tyger
William Blake

Tyger Tyger, burning bright, A

In the forests of the night; A
What immortal hand or eye, B
Could frame thy fearful symmetry? B

In what distant deeps or skies. C

Burnt the fire of thine eyes? C
On what wings dare he aspire? D
What the hand, dare seize the fire? D

And what shoulder, & what art, E

Could twist the sinews of thy heart? E
And when thy heart began to beat, F
What dread hand? & what dread feet? F

What the hammer? what the chain, G

In what furnace was thy brain? G
What the anvil? what dread grasp, H
Dare its deadly terrors clasp? H

When the stars threw down their spears I

And water'd heaven with their tears: I
Did he smile his work to see? J
Did he who made the Lamb make thee? J

Tyger Tyger burning bright, K

In the forests of the night: K
What immortal hand or eye, L
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry? L

►
Summary

‘The Tyger‘ by William Blake(Bio | Poems) yields many interpretations.

However, its strong, resonating rhyming drives the key concept in the
reader’s mind efficiently.

‘The Tyger’ by William Blake slowly and gradually leads to some troubling
questions. It, in essence, is a poem where the poet asks the tiger about its
creator and his traits. Each stanza poses specific questions with a vague
subject in consideration. The poem primarily questions the existence of God
and his metaphysical attributes, referring to the tiger’s multiple corporeal
characteristics as purely a work of art. The poet wonders how the creator
would have felt after completing his creation. Is he also the creator of the
lamb?

The Poem Analysis Take

 Expert Insights by Joe Santamaria
B.A. in English and Related Literature, M.Phil in Irish Literature

In ‘The Tyger’, Blake creates a mesmerizing duality, making us question

creation itself. For me, the tiger symbolizes both beauty and terror—
nature’s power, framed as something majestic yet unsettling. Blake’s choice
to contrast this “fearful symmetry” with ‘The Lamb’ suggests that creation
isn’t purely gentle or purely violent but intertwined with both qualities. I’m
struck by Blake’s imagery of fire, hammer, and anvil, evoking industrial
power as both progressive and destructive. The repeated question, “Did he
who made the lamb make thee?” drives home a haunting inquiry: can a
creator embody both innocence and ferocity in equal measure?

Meaning
The poem’s title showcases the central figure, a tiger, spelled as “Tyger.”
Blake uses the term’s archaic spelling to present the world just after God
created it. Through this reference, the poet clarifies that God, with his
diplomatic hands, symmetrically framed his creation long before the advent
of humankind. This creature portrays the destructive side of God, the creator,

as Percy Bysshe Shelley(Bio | Poems) projects in his revolutionary poem ‘Ode to

the West Wind.’

Structure and Form

‘The Tyger’ by William Blake(Bio | Poems) consists of six stanzas, with each
stanza consisting of four lines. The poem flows with a rhythmic
synchronization (AABB) with a regular meter (trochaic tetrameter catalectic).
The hammering is relevant to the blacksmith mentioned within the text.
The poem is written in a neat, regular structure with even proportions. The
poem slowly points out the final question. The first and last stanzas are
similar to the word ‘could’ and ‘dare’ interchanged. The poem, at times, is all
about questions to the divine, with at least thirteen different questions asked
in the poem’s entirety. The poet seems worried as to how the creator shaped
such a magnificent creature, but more so, what/who is the creator himself?

Literary Devices
Blake makes use of several literary devices in ‘The Tyger.’ These include but
are not limited to alliteration, enjambment, and allusion. The latter is one of
the most important as Blake alludes to the major question at the heart of the
poem, if God created the tiger, what kind of creator is he? By referring to the
tiger’s fearsome nature throughout the piece, Blake is, in turn, referring to the
darker sides of life itself.
Alliteration is a common type of repetition that’s concerned with the use and
reuse of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of words. For example,
“burning bright” in line one and “frame and “fearful” in line 4 of the first
stanza. This kind of repetition, in addition to the broader refrain that’s used
in ‘The Tyger,’ helps create a memorable rhythm. Enjambment is a formal
device that appears when the poet cuts off a line before its natural stopping
point. For example, the transition between lines one and two of the second
stanza as well as lines three and four of the fourth stanza.

Detailed Analysis
Stanza One

“ Tyger Tyger, burning bright,

In the forests of the night;

 What immortal hand or eye,

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

The initial verse refers to ‘The Tyger,’ questioning its beauty and its creator. As
the poem continues on gradually, the speaker clearly makes it a point to
discuss God as an entity as opposed to the tiger. William Blake champions
metaphors as the first one is ‘burning bright,’ which refers to the tiger’s
bright yellow fur as it roams freely in the forest at night.

The central question, as the reader slowly realizes, pertains to the existence of
God. Slowly, William Blake attacks the Christian God as he asks whether a
divine entity is capable of creating such a mesmerizing creature with perfect
definitions and extraordinary beauty. Whether he deems, God wrong for
creating such a creature is left open-ended to the reader.
The “fearful symmetry” is a nuanced trait that has dual allusions, one for the
tiger and the other referring to a divine deity. The sublime characteristic
refers to an entity that is both big and powerful yet remains mysterious. As a
result, the poet starts off with poetic allusions, entirely open-ended for the
reader to perceive as he pleases. He slowly arrives at the question as to what
kind of God God is if he created such a scary creature.

Stanza Two

“ 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?

The poet’s fascination with the “Tyger” increases as he seems mesmerized by

his fiery eyes. He feels that the fire in his eyes came from a distant heavenly
body such as hell/ heaven. The poet adds to the fiery image of the tiger by
using the metaphor of burning in the first verse. The third line throws the
reader off track. William Blake is slowly coming to the point of his argument–
God.

The poet presents the main point that the creature reflects its creator. The
poet furthermore creates a more supernatural image using the words ‘hand,’
‘wings,’ and fire, relating to the divine being. These words have been
reiterated from above. The term ‘daring’ is introduced, which is repeated in
the latter stanza.

Stanza Three

“ 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?

The poet, in this stanza, discusses the physical characteristics of the almighty
creator, contemplating his various physical features. The lines are lost in
translation as the poet wonders in-depth about God’s physical attributes,
which could also be an allegory to the tiger’s characteristics.
Stanza Four

“ What the hammer? what the chain,

In what furnace was thy brain?

What the anvil? what dread grasp,

Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

This stanza questions the steps involved in the creation of the all-mighty
jungle creature, the tiger. An allegorical reference to a blacksmith is included
in these lines. The hypothesis is that some intelligent creator was developing
his creation as a blacksmith hammers and forms metal with considerable toil.
The stanza is steeped in rhythmic poetry, adding flair and color. As is made
apparent, the poet grows more impatient and begins questioning faith
overall.

Stanza Five

“ When the stars threw down their spears

And water’d heaven with their tears:

 Did he smile his work to see?

Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

These are the ‘Christian’ verses of the poem. The first line indicates the
demotion of God’s arch-angel ‘Satan’ as a sign of rebellion against God’s will.

It’s also a veiled reference to the epic poem ‘Paradise Lost‘ by John Milton(Bio
| Poems).

He refers to the all-mighty creator looking with reverence at his finalized

creation. The lamb can dually mean ‘the lamb of god’ or lamb from his poem
‘The Lamb.’ The former is an open reference to Jesus Christ (the Lamb of
God), sent by God on earth to atone for the sins of humanity.
Stanza Six

“ Tyger Tyger burning bright,

In the forests of the night:

What immortal hand or eye,

Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

The last stanza is the repetition of the first as a chorus. The word ‘could’ has
been replaced by ‘dare’ by the poet. In this section, the poet attempts to
question the creator’s ability. The poet tries to challenge God’s abilities in the
final lines.

Themes
William Blake(Bio | Poems) engages with the theme that all living entities
must reflect their creator in some manner in ‘The Tyger.’ The opening
verses slowly lead to the poem’s primary objective: contemplating God in the
heavens above. In essence, the tiger is a beautifully enigmatic creature that is
at the same time lethal. This also reflects the nature of God.
Religion is another primary theme in this poem. This is seen through Blake’s
constant questioning regarding what kind of all-knowing creator could be
both violent and so magnificent at the same time?

As the poet contends, the tiger, as a powerfully destructive living entity can
be a creation of a purely, artful God. The poet precludes the notion of the
tiger’s creation in any way accidental or haphazard. He feels that this tiger is
allotted immense physical strength and the ability to wield its command over
weaker animals.

The final allusion to the lamb can connote his reference to the poem, ‘The
Lamb,’ as he compares and contrasts the timid living animal to that of a tiger.
God created the tiger as a dominant creature, while the lamb is simply a
weakling compared to the tiger.
On the whole, ‘The Tyger’ consists of unanswered questions, the poet leaves
his readers pondering the will of the creator, his limitless power, and feeling
awe towards God’s creation. In conclusion, the poet ends his poem with
perspectives of innocence and experience, both subjects of great interest to
him.

Symbolism
This poem is full of symbols that are similar to the theme of his “Songs of
Experience.” Firstly, the tiger is a symbol of God’s destructive side. It projects
how God has balanced his creation by making a fierce creature like a tiger. It
implicitly refers to another fact that he is both the perisher and the protector.
Readers can find the symbols of experience in the following words, “night”,
“fire”, “hammer”, “chain”, “furnace”, “anvil”, etc. The symbolic use of the words
is consonant with the overall theme of Blake’s poem. It sets the tone and
mood of the work.

Historical Context
After publishing “Songs of Innocence,” “Songs of Experience” was published
in 1794. The poet aimed to demonstrate the contrarian nature of the soul
and human thought. The poem ‘The Tyger’ was published in his collection of
poems known as Songs of Experience. It became an instant literary classic
amongst all-time classic poems of the modern era.

“Songs of Experience” was written in opposition to “Songs of Innocence,” key

components in Blake’s thought process, being a radical thinker of his time.
‘The Tyger’ was the pinnacle of heresy for William Blake, pitching humans
bearing the onus for their actions.

FAQs

How is ‘The Lamb’ similar to ‘The Tyger’?

‘The Tyger’ is a sister poem to ‘The Lamb.’ The lamb and tiger are both God’s
creations. Blake presents the former as the innocent side of God and the latter as
God’s destructive side. Blake penned these poems to create a balanced picture
of the world.

Why is Tiger spelled ‘Tyger’ in the William Blake’s poem?

The ‘Tyger’ is an obsolete and archaic spelling of tiger. Blake chooses this word
to add a layer of exotic and archaic flavor to his poem. By selecting this spelling,
he tries to refer to the world in its earlier stage.

Who is the speaker in ‘The Tyger’?

This poem is written from the third-person point of view. It seems that the
omniscient narrator of this piece is an awe-struck human being who gives voice
to Blake’s inexpressible feelings.

What’s the central image of ‘The Tyger’?

The central image of this piece is that of a tiger roaming steadily and silently in
the dark forests of the night. It remains constant throughout the poem.

Is ‘The Tyger’ a modern poem?

This poem was published in 1794, and it rose to notoriety in the Romantic era. It
is both a poem of the romantic age and modern age.

What type of poem is ‘The Tyger’ by William Blake?

It is a Romantic poem that has a highly structured rhyme scheme and meter.
Blake uses rhyming couplets and groups them into quatrains.
How does ‘The Tyger’ challenge common assumptions of the
time about God and Christianity?
Blake’s poem challenges the common assumptions of the contemporary period
regarding God and Christianity. During that time, God was depicted as a kind
and meek being who is benevolent to his creation. Blake challenged this
conception and portrayed him as a being who has two sides. He is both the
protector and the perisher.

What is ‘fearful symmetry’ in ‘The Tyger’?

This phrase refers to the symmetrical physical structure of a tiger. Its body is
designed in a manner that presents it as a ferocious creature. From the eyes to
the paws, it is a creature born to feed on other creatures. The speaker is afraid by
looking at this symmetry in the tiger.
Similar Poetry
Readers who enjoyed ‘The Tyger’ should also consider reading some of
William Blake’s best-known poems. For example:

‘The Lamb’ – This poem is commonly considered the companion piece

to ‘The Tyger.’ It is a warm and loving poem in which the poet
describes the kind nature of the lamb while alluding to Christ.
‘A Poison Tree‘ – In this poem, Blake considers anger and how one
might confront it.
‘The Sick Rose‘ – This poem is a well-known piece that uses metaphors
and allusions to speak about a woman’s virginity.
‘Introduction to the Songs of Innocence‘ – This poem is a testimony to
Blake’s purpose in writing poetry and his belief in simple rural life.

You can also read about the best-known poems about God and these
incredible poems on darkness.

Poetry+ Review Corner

 The Tyger
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understanding the poem.

William Blake 99
Perhaps Blake’s best-known poem, and certainly one of the most widely
anthologized, ‘The Tyger’, delves into the nature of God and creation. The
speaker considers the ferocity of the tiger and how they are supposed to
reconcile its fearsome nature with the goodness and peacefulness of God seen
through other elements of his creation. Blake’s speaker asks the tiger where its
eyes were made and how any divine being could’ve made the decision to craft it
in such a way. Although admitting his own fear of this creature, he also
acknowledges its beauty and the skill it would’ve taken to create it.

Poet: Emotions:
William Blake (poems) 99 Bravery 25

Period: Fear 50
18th Century 99 Topics:
Nationality: Animals 95
English 90 Creativity 66
Darkness 67
Themes:
God 93
Beauty 53
Humanity 73
Religion 85
Form:
Quatrain 75

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Home » William Blake » The Tyger

About Omer Asad

Umar Asad is a Pakistan-based writer with over five years of
freelance content experience, including academic, medical,
tech, and poetry analysis. His passion for literature and
language is reflected in his broad portfolio. Umar brings
analytical depth and stylistic clarity to every poem he
critiques for PoemAnalysis.com.
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48 COMMENTS Most Voted

Eshanee
Excellent Analysis

2 View Replies (1)

Mattie
I do see at the end of this article that Asad says that, in “The Lamb,” Blake “alludes”
to Christ. That is an understatement. Christ the God-Man is unequivocally the Lamb
the sin-bearer, in that poem, the perfect sacrifice who took upon himself the sin of
the world before the foundation of the world.

0 View Replies (1)

Mattie
I think this analysis arises from an antichristian ideology. The poet does not doubt or
disparage God. The poet poses a rhetorical question to the Tyger about his Maker as
Blake does similarly in The Lamb. As for the smoke and fire imagery–gee the Bible
has none of that to say about God: He appears as a burning bush, a pillar of fire by
night. . .allusions to burning, too but you somehow don’t register that the God of
Israel is terrible in his majesty.

What was wrought by God’s fire and anvil? Look to the judgment day. Besides
“trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored”. . .He will loose
“the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword.

More fire imagery associated with the God of the Bible: “But the day of the Lord will
come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great
noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works
that are therein shall be burned up.”

The earth shall not perish by water ever again but in the final judgement shall be
through fire. Also the poet ASKS the tiger You’re unconvincing in asserting that this
poem denies God immanence and sovereignty over creation.

The tyger embodies that force of terror and destruction in his divinely ordained
power.

Have you never read Job–the catalog of God’s creative power, chapter 41? God
boasts of Leviathan:

18 His snorting throws out flashes of light; his eyes are like the rays of dawn.
19 Firebrands stream from his mouth; sparks of fire shoot out.
20 Smoke pours from his nostrils as from a boiling pot over a fire of reeds.
21 His breath sets coals ablaze, and flames dart from his mouth.
22 Strength resides in his neck; dismay goes before him.
23 The folds of his flesh are tightly joined; they are firm and immovable.
24 His chest is hard as rock, hard as a lower millstone.
25 When he rises up, the mighty are terrified; they retreat before his thrashing.
26 The sword that reaches him has no effect, nor does the spear or the dart or the
javelin.

Do you also deny the overt Christian doxological expressions in Blake’s “The Lamb.”
What contortions of rhetoric and reason employed to deny the sweetness of the
faith and the love of the Lamb of God for his creatures: child and lamb? Blake is
clear. He poses the same question to the lamb, “Little Lamb who made thee/Dost
thou know who made thee,” and then Blake answers “I will tell thee!” Of course he
speaks of the one who bears the name of the Lamb himself.

Oh I know one is experience and the other innocence, but animals are creatures, not
the brilliantly wrought Lucifer, once the light bearer. By instinct, animals obey God,
not true of Lucifer, whose reason is perverted, which engenders a hubris worthy of
his destruction. He is a creature, too, so how can he bear the great intellect credited
to him by poets? His disobedience belies the notion that he possesses superior
faculties. He is self absorbed and stricken with a very common case of stupefaction.

Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.

How would you purge this poem of God in Christ?

0 View Replies (1)

Nick
Is this written in third person limited?

0 View Replies (1)

Pranav
I was just wondering how can we make a bridge to relate it to marginalization (of
any sort, mental, social,etc.) pls do help as i am in dire need of it! BTW awesome
analysis!!

0 View Replies (1)

VARUN NAIR
Omar Asad! You rock!
‘The Tyger ‘ is one of the best poems of William Blake and you have studied it
deeply and explained this in a very beautiful manner. Thanks for this wonderful
explanation!
 0 View Replies (1)

lulu Fe
Thank you for explaining every stanza, the information is very well presented. This is
one of the most challenging poems I have ever come across. After reading your
review, I was able have a clear concept of the poem.

0 View Replies (1)

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