The Tyger by William Blake Summary
“The Tyger” is a poem by the English poet William Blake, published in 1794 as part of his collection “Songs of Experience.” The poem explores the nature of creation, innocence, and experience through the imagery of a fierce and powerful tiger. The tiger is symbolic of the darker, more destructive aspects of existence.
The speaker begins by marveling at the intensity and brightness of the tiger, addressing it with the repeated phrase “Tyger Tyger, burning bright.” The poem then delves into a series of questions, pondering the origin and nature of the tiger and the forces that brought it into being. The questions suggest a sense of awe and wonder but also convey a sense of fear and mystery surrounding the creation of such a powerful and potentially dangerous creature.
The poem explores the paradox of creation, questioning who or what could have crafted such a fearsome and majestic creature. The mention of the “forests of the night” and the idea of the tiger burning bright suggest a wild and primal energy. The repeated questioning of various aspects of the tiger’s creation emphasizes the mystery and complexity of existence.
The final stanzas of the poem draw a connection between the tiger and the Lamb, another creation of the divine. The speaker questions whether the same creative force that made the gentle and innocent Lamb could also be responsible for the fierce and terrifying tiger. This contrast between the lamb and the tiger raises questions about the duality of creation, the coexistence of innocence and experience, and the enigmatic nature of the divine.
Overall, “The Tyger” is a powerful exploration of the complexities of existence, creation, and the dual nature of life. William Blake’s use of vivid imagery, repetition, and questioning creates a sense of awe and mystery, inviting readers to contemplate the profound aspects of the human experience.
Key Points
Author
William Blake: An English poet, painter, and visionary artist known for his mystical and symbolic works. He lived during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Form
“The Tyger” is a lyric poem consisting of six quatrains (four-line stanzas). The rhyme scheme is AABB, which means the first- and second-lines rhyme with each other and the third- and fourth-lines rhyme with each other.
Speaker
The speaker of the poem is an anonymous observer, who could be interpreted as Blake himself or a symbolic character representing curiosity and wonder.
Setting
The setting is not explicitly stated, but the imagery suggests a mystical forest at night where the Tyger is roaming.
Theme
The main themes of the poem are creation, nature, and the divine. The speaker questions the nature of the Tyger’s creator and contrasts the fierce Tyger with the gentle Lamb, symbolizing the dichotomy of good and evil in the world.
Plot
The poem doesn’t have a traditional plot. Instead, it presents a series of rhetorical questions about the creation and nature of the Tyger, reflecting the speaker’s awe and wonder.
Tone
The tone of the poem is one of awe and wonder, mixed with a sense of fear and mystery. The speaker marvels at the Tyger’s beauty and power, while also expressing fear of its ferocity.
Style
Blake’s style in this poem is characterized by vivid and fiery imagery, symbolism, and the use of rhetorical questions. The language is simple yet profound, and the rhythm is reminiscent of a song or chant.
Message
The message of the poem is open to interpretation, but one possible interpretation is that it’s a meditation on the duality of creation. The same divine being that created the gentle Lamb also created the fierce Tyger, suggesting that beauty, innocence, ferocity, and fear are all part of the divine creation.
William Blake
1. Birth and Early Life:
William Blake was born on 28 November 1757 in Soho, London.
He was the third of seven children, two of whom died in infancy.
2. Education:
Blake attended school only long enough to learn reading and writing, leaving at the age of 10.
He was otherwise educated at home by his mother Catherine Blake.
3. Career:
Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker.
He is largely known for his lyric poems “Songs of Innocence” (1789) and “Songs of Experience” (1794), and his epic poems, “Milton” and “Jerusalem”.
These works he etched, printed, colored, stitched, and sold, with the assistance of his devoted wife, Catherine.
4. Style and Themes:
Blake’s work combines simple language with complex subject matters.
His work explores important issues in politics, religion, and psychology.
He embraced the imagination as “the body of God” or “human existence itself”.
5. Recognition:
Largely unrecognized during his life, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age.
In 2002, Blake was placed at number 38 in the BBC’s poll of the 100 Greatest Britons.
6. Death:
William Blake died on 12 August 1827 in London.
Word Meaning
| Line | Tough Word | Meaning in English | Meaning in Hindi |
| 1 | Tyger | Old spelling of Tiger | बाघ |
| 1 | burning bright | radiating intense light | तेजी से जलना |
| 4 | frame | create, give form to | आकार देना |
| 4 | fearful symmetry | beauty with a hint of danger | भयानक समरूपता |
| 5 | deeps | vast unknown depths | गहराई |
| 5 | skies | heavens | आकाश |
| 6 | fire of thine eyes | intense gaze, powerful look | तेरी आंखों की आग |
| 7 | aspire | desire strongly, aim high | लक्ष्य रखना |
| 8 | dare | have the courage to do something | हिम्मत करना |
| 10 | twist | bend, shape | मोड़ना |
| 10 | sinews | tendons, muscles | नसें |
| 12 | dread | fear, terror | भय |
| 14 | furnace | high-temperature oven used for melting metal | भट्टी |
| 14 | thy | your | तुम्हारा |
| 15 | anvil | heavy block used for shaping metal | निहाई |
| 15 | grasp | hold tightly | पकड़ |
| 16 | deadly terrors | frightening dangers | घातक आतंक |
| 16 | clasp | hold/catch | पकड़ |
| 17 | spears | weapons for throwing | भाले |
| 18 | watered | made wet with tears | सींचा |
| 20 | Lamb | young sheep, symbol of innocence and meekness | मेमना |
