Discussion Topic
Understanding the speaker and their audience in William Blake's "The Tyger."
Summary:
In "The Tyger," the speaker is a person marveling at the power and ferocity of the tiger, questioning its creation and the nature of its creator. The audience is the reader, who is invited to contemplate the themes of divine creation, good and evil, and the juxtaposition of beauty and terror in the natural world.
Is William Blake the speaker in "The Tyger?"
William Blake was a Romantic poet. Based upon this, his poetry tended to revolve around the importance nature and imagination.
One could argue that, in the poem, Blake questioned nature and its role in the world. For the Romantics, nature was very important. The imagery of nature was used to allow readers to also question life and the things around them.
In "The Tyger," Blake (as the writer) questions
the creation of the tiger based solely upon the fact that he finds it hard to believe that the same hand (God's hand) created the lamb.
Given that, one can only assume that Blake is the speaker in the poem based upon the fact that he wrote the poem. The poem contains open-ended questions which force the reader to consider the answers. Unfortunately, for the reader, the questions are unanswerable. Therefore, given that Blake is wanting the reader to...
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consider the creation of the "tyger," one could easily assume that Blake, himself, is the speaker.
Who is the speaker addressing in "The Tyger" by Blake?
In “The Tyger,” William Blake is directly addressing this fearsome beast, which becomes an opportunity for the poet to reflect on creation, power, and beauty.
The Tyger is a fearsome beast with fire in its eyes. It prowls the forest for its prey. It is strong and mighty, terrifying yet beautiful. The speaker asks the Tyger who made it, marveling at the greatness of the one who did but also wondering if the same creator who made the Lamb could also make the Tyger.
Scholars have identified several possible symbolic meanings for the Tyger. Some say that the Tyger represents evil, yet others focus on the power and dynamism and energy and beauty of this beast. The speaker himself seems to stand in awe of the Tyger even as he realizes the danger of this creature.
Blake also uses the Tyger to reflect on the complexity of creation. The same world can contain the innocence and delicacy of the Lamb and the devastating yet magnificent power of the Tyger.