The Sick Rose, The Tyger and The Lamb

[Iza]

I need some help!!!

I have to prepare those three on my term which is on saturday.

I've read somwhere that "The Tyger" is metaphorical representation of Tower of London.

Tell me if you agree with the statement.


Tiger! Tiger! 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, and what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? and 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 watered heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

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

by W. Blake

[Pryderi Agni]

I think that rather than being an idolizing appreciation of the Tower, Blake was actually angling to praise it's master, i.e. the Tiger of England a.k.a. the King. But of course, caveat emptor.

[emmaclare]

hello,

I'm not sure what the "tower of London" is?
Perhaps you could go along the lines of Blake's anti industrial stance where he holds the majesty of the tyger against anything that could be "forged" by man? I.E- something natural and free compared to something manufactured and tame?

Good luck with the essays!

Emma:thumbs_up

[isidro]

Blake was hardly the type to praise the king, I would think. More often than not he was pulling down the rich and powerful. But both are interesting interpretations. Perhaps studying his life at the time he wrote "The Tyger" might aid in this discussion.

[Stargazer86]

The way I've heard this poem explained before is that Blake is calling God's "goodness" into question.

Why would he create such a ferocious creature? What does that say about the nature of God and good vs evil?

What is the point of what God creates whether it be good or evil?

Remember, this poem is meant to be compared to "The Lamb". The duality of nature and the duality of man.