Monday 18 January 2021

Tyger by William Blake

 

page from Songs of Experience by William Blake


The Tyger by William Blake


Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?


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?


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?


What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp,
Dare its deadly terrors clasp!


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?


Tyger Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?


Answer the questions below. Support each answer with a short quotation from the poem.

 

1

What do you notice about the form of the poem? [shape, rhyme scheme, rhythm, line structure]

2

Who is speaking?

3

What is the setting? [physical surroundings, time of day, time of year]

4

What is the poem about? [narrative, description, reflection]

5

Identify important language features [phonetic techniques, imagery, language features]

6

How do these techniques influence readers?

7

Comment on a theme in the poem

 

Why do you think the poet created a strong rhythm in this poem?

Comment on the use of symbols and images in the poem what do they contribute? 


· Tyger

· Wings

· Hammer, chain, furnace, anvil,

· Lamb

· Body parts – hands, eyes, shoulders, feet

· Fire