The Tyger Questions and Answers
The Tyger Summary
In the poem "The Tyger" by William Blake, the poet contemplates the creation of the fearsome tiger and explores the enigmatic nature of the creator. The poet marvels at the fact that the same creator could bring into existence both the gentle lamb and the powerful tiger, representing opposing forces in nature. Through vivid imagery and rhetorical questions, Blake highlights the creator's craftsmanship and skill, comparing the creator to a blacksmith forging the tiger with mastery and control. The change from "could" to "dare" in the last stanza signifies a shift in perspective, emphasizing the audacity and courage required to bring forth such a formidable creature. Ultimately, the poem reflects on the mystery and complexity of creation, leaving the reader with a sense of awe and reverence for the creator's ability to shape both the docile and the fierce.
APPRECIATING THE POEM
A. 1. What do these lines mean? Tick (✔) the most appropriate options.
a. Tyger! Tyger! burning bright in the forest of the night
(i) The tiger is a mysterious creature that has a fiery orange coat with black spear-like markings.
(ii) The tiger's bright orange coat and the energy it has gives it an air of myste and power in the darkness of the forest at night.
Answer: (ii) The tiger's bright orange coat and the energy it has gives it an air of myste and power in the darkness of the forest at night.
b. What immortal hand or eye Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
(i) The poet feels that the frightening yet magnificent form of the tiger could only have been created by God or some other immortal power.
(ii) The poet feels that only God or some other powerful immortal being could have made the tiger.
Answer: (i) The poet feels that the frightening yet magnificent form of the tiger could only have been created by God or some other immortal power.
c. In what distant deeps or skies Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
(i) The poet wonders where the tiger could have been created. Did its piercing fearful eyes originate in some dark deep burning hell or in heaven?
(ii) Could the scary tiger have been formed in the depths of the earth or in a heavenly place in the skies?
Answer: (i) The poet wonders where the tiger could have been created. Did its piercing fearful eyes originate in some dark deep burning hell or in heaven?
d. On what wings dare he aspire? What the hand dare seize the fire?
(i) The poet feels that only a powerful creator could have dared to create and form the tiger.
(ii) The poet wants to know which great power had dreamt of creating such a magnificent and fearful creature like the tiger.
Answer: (ii) The poet wants to know which great power had dreamt of creating such a magnificent and fearful creature like the tiger.
A. 2. Answer the following questions.
a. Which words in the third stanza show that the being that created the tiger was really strong and a master craftsman?
Answer: 'What shoulders, and what art,...' (The strength of the shoulders, the mental powers, creating something so strong.)
b. What words in the fourth stanza compare the creator to a blacksmith?
Answer: Hammer, chain, furnace, anvil
c. What are the spears of the stars and what are the tears?
Answer: Each spear like point of the stars and the dew drops at night are the tears.
d. Who smiled and what did he smile at?
Answer: The immortal force that made the Tiger smiled to see how beautiful his work was.
A. 3. Think and answer these questions carefully. HOTS
a. How does the poet convey the feeling that the creator was unafraid to handle the dreaded tiger once its heart started beating?
Answer: In the poem "The Tyger" by William Blake, the poet conveys the feeling that the creator was unafraid to handle the dreaded tiger once its heart started beating through various poetic devices and imagery.
b. Why is the creator of the tiger compared to a blacksmith?
Answer: In "The Tyger," the creator of the tiger is compared to a blacksmith to highlight the process of creation and the craftsmanship involved in bringing the tiger into existence. This comparison serves to emphasize the intricate and deliberate nature of the tiger's construction.
c. Why is it amazing that the creator made both the tiger and the lamb?
Answer: The amazing aspect of the creator making both the tiger and the lamb lies in the stark contrast between these two creatures. The tiger represents a fearsome and powerful predator, while the lamb symbolizes innocence, gentleness, and vulnerability. The fact that the same creator crafted both creatures showcases the creator's immense range and ability to bring forth such opposing forces in nature. It emphasizes the enigmatic and complex nature of the creator's power, encompassing both ferocity and tenderness within the same creative act.
d. In the first stanza, the poet uses the word 'could' in the last line. In the last stanza, in place of 'could' he uses 'dare'. Why do you think he makes this change?
Answer: The change from "could" in the first stanza to "dare" in the last stanza reflects a shift in tone and perspective. The use of "could" in the first stanza implies a sense of possibility or capability, suggesting that the creator had the ability to bring the tiger into existence. However, in the last stanza, the poet changes to "dare" to evoke a sense of courage and audacity. It implies that the act of creating the tiger, with all its power and ferocity, required not only capability but also a daring and boldness on the part of the creator. The change from "could" to "dare" underscores the immense challenge and risk involved in fashioning such a formidable and awe-inspiring creature.
A. 4. The poem consists of six stanzas or quatrains of four lines each. Each quatrain consists of two couplets or two pairs of rhyming lines. Underline the rhyming words.
Answer: Bright-night, eye-symmetry, skies-eyes, aspire-fire, art-heart, beat-feet, chain-brain, grasp-clasp, spears-tears, see-thee, bright-night.
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