The Great Gatsby

Who is the Creator?

How could God create something both beautiful and fearful? What kind of God would

create both a tiger and a lamb? William Blake asks rhetorical questions through out his

poem. In "The Tyger", William Blake looks in the eyes of a sculptor or painter. Blake's

spelling of "tyger" shows how he feels about the tiger. He alienates the tiger, and makes

it sound exotic. He also questions what kind of God would make both a tiger and a lamb.

The tiger symbolizing power and terror, and the lamb symbolizing peace and innocence.

In the poem " The Tyger," William Blake uses rhythm, imagery, and other poetic devices

to portray his confusion about who is God.

William Blake's poem is composed of six quatrains in rhymed couplets, and has a

rhythmic beat that reminds one of a beating heart. The beating heart, is the heart of the

tiger, since it is the title of the poem. The rhythm of the poem is important since it can

give a certain tone to the poem. In the line "What immortal hand or eye/Could frame thy

fearful symmetry?"(3-4), the tone of the line sounds harsh. The harsh tone shows the

speaker's thoughts of tigers; they are fearful. Through this line, the speaker asks what

kind of God would create such a fearful creature. He also asks what kind of God would

able to see and create a creature so fearful. The rhythm of the poem portrays his

confusion about God, because he goes from a harsh tone to a soft tone. He writes,

Dare its deadly terror clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,

And watered heaven with their tears,

Did he smile his work to see?

Did he who make the lamb make thee?

William Blake uses juxtaposition in the line "Did he who make the lamb make thee?".

The speaker is not sure what kind of person God is, because he created both a tiger and a

lamb. Personification is used in "When the stars threw down their spears /And watered

heaven with their tears", this line is used to show that God the creator has finished his job.

The stars symbolize angels throwing down their armor, and crying when seeing the tiger.

He also asks if God was happy when he created the tiger, like in the book of

Creation. In the book of Creation, God rested on the last day and he was happy about

what he did. The speaker is confused by why would God create a creature so powerful

and dangerous. He also doesn't understand why make a lamb and a tiger, because the tiger

would devour the lamb. What kind of personality does God have if he could create a

creature that is powerful and dangerous like a tiger, and a creature sweet like a lamb?

Imagery is used in "The Tyger" in order to emphasize the speaker's confusion about

God. In lines 9-12,

In 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?

Blake is surprised how could the tiger's creator be

able to continue working on a terrifying creature.

He is also amazed at how brave the creator is to be

able to create such a creature. Blake uses imagery

in lines 5-8,

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?

He wants to know what creator gave the tiger's fiery eyes, and who would dare to create

it. As a sculptor or painter he is amazed at the artistry. One is able to tell that the

speaker is a painter or sculptor because of the way he describes the creature.