The Tyger

Question 1

Structure

Answer 1

Most of the poem is written in trochaic tetrameters.. rhythms occasionally switches to iambs… the change of metre accents in the first lines of the stanza is extremely significant as it is echoed in the final lines of the last stanza .. which suggests that the question cannot be solved
AABB rhyme scheme

Question 2

Context

Answer 2

The Tyger can be viewed as the spirit of early industrialism… describing such a dangerous and exotic animal may be Blake questioning how god could permit the horrors of industrialism, just as poeple have questioned how god could permit satans existence .

Question 3

Themes

Answer 3

Creation, uncertainty, power, religion, good and evil

Question 4

Symbolism of the tiger

Answer 4

The tyger could be argued to be not entirely evil, it simply follows its instincts.. the tiger represents the predatory side of the natural world and perhaps the creative min itself, just as gods wrath is part of his “contrary state”…. Loved by children as a peom that is simply about tigers but to a more critical reader challenges the nature of creation itself

Question 5

Significance of first two lines of third stanza and how the tyger parallels the behemoth in job

Answer 5

“He bends his tail like a cedar, The sinews of his thighs are knit together” the Biblical account tends to focus on the external features of the behemoth… Blake here focuses on the internal features of the tyger.. This links the tyger to humanity by highlighting aspects of its internal life

Question 6

The significance of repeating “could frame ………symmetry”

Answer 6

Creates a circular narrative. This gives a sense that there are unanswered questions that can never be resolved. This works against the notion of the enlightenment thinkers. However Blake is actively exploring complex concepts that are difficult to grasp

Question 7

References to industrial language

Answer 7

“What the hammer”
‘What the chain”
Did he who” made the lamb make thee” the lamb being a reference to Jesus

Question 8

Greek god imagery with the blacksmith

Answer 8

Link to humanity …..