Analysis of William Blake’s Poem The Tiger

Introduction

Christians believe God did not create evil nor is He to be blamed for the evil in the world. “I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things” (Isaiah 45:7, New International Version). When God created humanity, everyone was given the choice to follow Him or not. Although if one chooses to neglect God and insist on going their own way, God will let one face the consequences until they repent and turn back to Him. William Blake’s poem “The Tiger” is a short poem that explores the struggles between the innocence and the evil of the world, which was created by God, through carefully chosen imagery, suspense, and rhetorical questions that ponder the complexity of the creator.

Analysis of William Blake’s Poem "The Tiger"

From the beginning of “The Tiger,” Blake attracts the reader with an image of a mighty, ferocious creature lurking in a mysterious environment that many may fear. Christians believe that God is associated with being the creator of all the universe and beyond; He is above all. Some may define fear of God as “respecting” Him, and believers of God have no reason to be fearful of Him. Blake leads with chanting as “Tiger! Tiger!” as it signifies the importance of the creature being discussed, as well as ending the poem with repetition in the sixth stanza “Tiger! Tiger!”. This repetition emphasizes the significance and enduring mystery of the creature. Blake then guides the poem with how unpredictable nature can be through fire that is passionate and wild “Burning bright”, “burnt the fire of thine eyes”. The creator of this majestic animal begins to mold the dangerous yet fearful creature as “twist the sinews”. Blake’s poem also introduces imagery of comparing the creator of the tiger to that of a blacksmith. Blacksmithing can be seen in Blake’s poem as the art of crafting objects with master attention to the details of beauty and danger, by using “fearful symmetry”. Some tools of a blacksmith may include “hammer…. “chain”, “furnace” and “anvil”, which can enhance the strength and danger of the tiger’s creation. With Blake using imagery, the reader is able to draw on their own experiences with their unique senses.

Curiosity and Suspense

Curiosity continually builds in “The Tiger” from astonishment to terror with trying to understand how the creator could create such a frightening creature. Blake reveals glimpses of the creator’s body parts as “immortal hand or eye”, “shoulder”, “heart…. feet”. These glimpses add power and fearfulness to the image. Throughout the poem, Blake is intrigued with the unknown of the creator and wants to understand the supernatural power this creator has, which brings up questions of “dare he aspire”, “what hand dare seize the fire” and “what dread hand”. These rhetorical questions highlight the awe and fear that the creator inspires. Then he wonders if the creator is happy with his design as “Did he smile his work to see?”. Blake uses imagery throughout the poem to contribute to the sensory experiences with a constant reflection of danger and beauty.

The Complexity of the Creator

The poem progressively leads to asking troubling questions about the creator and his qualities. As the complexity of the creator is assessed, Blake questions the existence of God and his works of art; What kind of God created this beautiful, yet dangerous creature? Was this a risk-taking or rebellious God? “On what wings dare he aspire”. Did the molding of the tiger lead to the fear of the creature, “could twist the sinews of thy heart” and “what dread hand”. How could one create something that is capable of such destruction? Ultimately, what was the reason for this creation and was God the one who created evil or was it someone else? As Blake’s poem comes to an end, he starts to come to terms with the creator that is forgiving and disciplined by changing the repeated chant “could frame thy fearful symmetry” to “dare frame thy fearful symmetry”. This shift suggests a deeper understanding and acceptance of the creator's complex nature.

Conclusion

William Blake’s poem “The Tiger” uses a rhythmic pattern to bring each stanza together while also creating a common pattern. Throughout Blake’s poem, imagery, suspense, and rhetorical questions are used to articulate the differences between the good and evil of the world, and the complexity of the creator. As Christians, we believe that all things good and evil are created by God. “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16, New International Version). The poem ultimately invites readers to reflect on the duality of creation and the profound mystery of divine intent.

References

Blake, W. (n.d.). The Tiger.

New International Version Bible. (1978). Isaiah 45:7, Colossians 1:16. Biblica, Inc.