A Poem of Great meaning

 

Nyomi Mosley

ENG 102

Laura B. Cline

9-11-11

     The poem I chose is called “The Tyger” and it was written by William Blake. I chose to write my analysis on “The Tyger” because it I could see that Blake really thought about this poem when he wrote it. I really enjoyed reading it because while I was going through it I could imagine what I was reading, and it made me really think. Another reason I chose this poem, was because it accepts and involves some of the Christian viewpoints. 

     Many do not know this but William Blake was a blacksmith. In this poem he took the things that he did for a living and related them to God through the creation on an animal “The Tyger”. In many lines 
 of the poem we can imagine a blacksmith working hard to create this creature of great majesty. “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”? (Blake ,1) These lines drew me in to read on and as I read I found another thing in this poem that was interesting. Blake not only wished to prove God created this animal but he wished to prove that only God could create the Tyger, and the Lamb. “What immortal hand or eye

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?” (Blake ,1)

     Asking this question shows that he had the intention of making others believe that God is the only one who could create such a majestic creature. Through the greatness of this amazing yet simple creature Blake gave the readers of this poem an example of how there is no one else who could have created the amazing things we see on earth but God alone. Through every line in his poem we can see him working and thinking to accomplish this task.

     The way he gave his example of God creating things by asking questions was a stroke of genius. I found it more profitable for me to answer the questions myself and come to his same understanding through my own thoughts, rather than simply being told the right way. Many times I have seen that it is harder for a person to really understand something when they are being told about it rather than being asked about it. If someone were to tell a person that something is correct and explain why, they would not understand it as clearly as they would if the same person where able to come to that realization on their own. Asking questions helps many to understand quickly and in a way that gives profound meaning, and that is what this poem did for me.

I found a link that really explains the poem from my point of view in a great way. Here it is: http://www.online-literature.com/blake/

Works Cited:

Blake, William. The Poetry Foundation. 2011. 11 September 2011 <http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/172943>.