The Tyger and The Lamb Essay Example

the fierce and destructive tiger. The speaker raises questions in search for an answer but does not receive one. In that same year, Blake blended both contrasting works to form Songs of Innocence and Experience, with "The Tyger" possibly being his most renowned poem.

"The Tyger" was written by Blake in 1794 as part of his collection "Songs of Experience," which reflected his radical phase and criticism of oppressive institutions like the church and monarchy, as well as cultural traditions that stifled imagination or passion. These critiques covered issues such as sexism, racism, and classism. Prior to this collection, Blake published "Songs of Innocence" in 1789 but later always published "Songs of Innocence" and "Songs of Experience" together after five years. In general, "Songs of Innocence" consists of idyllic poems centered around themes of childhood and innocence.

Idyllic poems possess specific qualities, typically conveying positivity, great delight, hopefulness, and purity. They often depict pastoral settings such as the countryside, springtime, harmless creatures, sunsets, murmuring streams, wandering poets, and lovely young women. These poems frequently exalt these elements as their primary subjects. Conversely, the poems in Songs of Experience explore the consequences of losing this innocence. "The Tyger" is commonly associated with the poem "The Lamb" from Songs of Innocence.

The former poem references the latter and reexamines the themes of "The Lamb" through the lens of experience. "The Lamb" is a poem that depicts a picture-perfect scene, in which the speaker asks the Lamb who created it, praises its softness and cuteness, and reveals that God made it, emphasizing the wonder of this creation. However, Blake's tone appears to be ironic, suggesting

that he actually intends to convey a deeper meaning. This interpretation is supported by scholars, particularly when considering his other poems that highlight the dangers of religious dogma. In summary, both poems explore contrasting aspects: "The Lamb" portrays innocence and beauty, while "The Tyger" delves into a more complex and mysterious realm.

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 sieze 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?

The Lamp
Little Lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee
Gave thee life & bid thee feed.
By the stream & o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing wooly bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice:
Little Lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee
Little Lamb I'll tell thee,
Little Lamb I'll tell thee:
He is called by thy name,
For he calls himself a Lamb:
He is meek ; he is mild,
He became a little child:
I a child ; thou a lamb,
We are called by his name.
Little Lamb God bless thee.
Little Lamb God bless thee.

"The Tyger" poem connects the tiger with

its fiery color, mirroring its red and orange hues. It also compares the tiger's eyes to flames, as if they were composed of fire. Rather than portraying the tiger in a factual or zoological manner, Blake presents "The Tyger" from an observer's perspective. In this poem, Blake envisions the tiger as a symbol of God's creative power: a creature that is simultaneously awe-inspiring and visually pleasing, robust and intricate, brimming with vitality.

In terms of the social context, the tiger in Blake's poems represents the revolutionary forces during the French Revolution. Blake supports these forces and sees them as capable of destroying the old system and establishing a new one. Comparing his earlier and later poems, Blake enhances their meaning. Both poems focus on evil and emphasize the importance of recognizing it to attain innocence. In The Songs of Innocence, Blake suggests that reclaiming childhood imagination and wonder can help us become self-aware.

The poems explore how evil can lead to the loss of childhood innocence. This theme is prevalent in both sets of poems and there are also connections between multiple poems within each group. The Lamb symbolizes innocence, while The Tiger represents experience. Blake's objective is to attain balance and harmony in a world that is out of equilibrium, expressing the unity between beauty and ugliness, good and evil, and white and black.

The dialectic ideas are fully demonstrated in both The Tiger and The Lamb. Additionally, a shared theme between the two works is the concept of creation and divine intervention. Blake repeatedly questions the origins of each subject in both poems. In The Lamb, Blake posits that

a godlike being created the lamb. Similarly, in The Tiger, Blake wonders if the same being created the tiger. Consequently, this curiosity serves as a recurring theme in both poems. Thus, through the aforementioned points, it is evident that a common correlation exists between these two separate works by William Blake.

Both poems by William Blake, "The Lamb" and "The Tyger," delve into the interconnected themes that unveil striking similarities. These works probe the dualistic essence of human souls, encapsulating both virtuousness and malevolence. They illuminate the juxtaposing facets of human nature, symbolizing light and darkness, yin and yang, as well as notions of good versus evil. Moreover, these verses serve as allegories for the passage from innocence to experience and offer contrasting depictions of Heaven and Hell.

"The Lamb" and "The Tyger" are two poems that represent different aspects of the human soul. In "The Lamb," innocence, purity, children, and Jesus are symbolized by a gentle lamb. On the other hand, "The Tyger" represents viciousness, cunning, danger, and death through a fierce tiger. According to Blake's belief, humans possess both malevolent and loving qualities. He sees this duality as part of God's magnificent plan and marvels at how the same creator can make both a gentle lamb and a fierce tiger.

The text talks about the idea of the "twisted sinews of the heart" causing the Tiger to instill fear with its "dread hands" and "dread feet", just as humans can be influenced by their wicked side. It challenges those who are astonished by the existence of both tigers and lambs. The text suggests that God has created both the gentleness of

a lamb and the fierceness of a tiger. As a result, it dismisses this seeming inconsistency and emphasizes that religious explanations alone may not always clarify reality.

In his collections Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, William Blake examines the interaction between contrasting states of the human soul, demonstrating their mutual dependence for the advancement of mankind. "The Lamb" depicts the recognizable innocence of infancy and establishes the aspirations and principles that serve as a basis for each individual. Conversely, "The Tyger" questions the perceived simplicity portrayed in "The Lamb" and underscores the importance of experience in human growth.

Blake illustrates the interdependence of contrasting states, innocence and experience, which are sometimes unrecognized. It is not necessary to choose between them or categorize one as positive and the other as negative. By grasping the importance of these opposing concepts, such as love and hate or war and peace, and even mundane actions like going and coming, individuals can better understand their lives. When humanity as a whole acknowledges the equilibrium of creation, it can gain a greater advantage.

Conclusively,

William Blake is a significant poet in English literature, known for his representation of pre-romanticism. In his masterpiece, The Tiger, Blake showcases the resemblance between the metaphorical representation of a tiger and the loud "anvil music," symbolizing the magnificent creation of the tiger.