'The Tyger' by William Blake

Poetry

The Tyger

*William Blake (from Songs of Experience, 1794)*

The Poem Notes on Context Notes on Form Notes on Content Commentary and Quotations

The Tyger 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 seize 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 watered 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?


Back to the article > Burning Questions: A Guide to William Blake’s “Tyger” Back to the index > Poems by William Blake Profile of the author > Visionary poet/artist William Blake

Guides since 1997