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Poem

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?

Short Poem Analysis

"The Tyger" is a classic poem by the English poet William Blake, first published in his collection "Songs of Experience" in 1794. The poem is considered one of Blake's most famous works and is known for its vivid imagery, symbolism, and spiritual themes. The speaker in the poem asks the titular tyger, a fierce and powerful beast, about its creation and the force behind it. The poem reflects Blake's belief in the duality of creation, where the same creator who made the lamb also made the tiger, symbolizing the harmonious balance between light and dark, good and evil. Through its use of imagery, repetition, and rhythm, "The Tyger" invites readers to contemplate the nature of creation, the power of imagination, and the duality of human existence.

The Tyger Poem by William Blake
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