[Also spelt The Tyger]
William Blake wrote two companion poems The Little Lamb and The Tiger, in which poems he gives expression to his awe and wonder at the creations of Nature. The Lamb belongs to Songs of Innocence and The Tiger comes from The Songs of Experience. The two poems highlight the two different paradoxical aspects of creation.
Audio Books
Audio Books
In the hands of the poet, both the lamb and the tiger become powerful symbols. The Lamb is a symbol of the innocence, simplicity and gentle beauty of creation. The Tiger on the other hand, is seen as a symbol of the cruelty, ferocity, terrible beauty and beastical power and energy of Nature.
Looking at the terrible form of the tiger burning bright in the forests of darkness, the poet is filled with wonder and awe. He asks who made this fearful symmetry of the creature.
From the creation, he goes to the creator. Form where did the creator get the fire that burns in the eyes of the Tier. From the unfathomable depths of the universe or in the far reaches of space? The poet has no answer. He is bewildered.
How was the beast's heart formed? Who breathed life into him? The poet pictures the creator as a great smith at work in his smithy. What kind of a hammer and chain did he use and what anvil did he forget the terrible form of the Tiger. When the work is finished and the stars look down did the creator smile at his own stupendous achievement. The poet evokes cosmic pity and wonder again. Can the creator who made the gentle meek lamb make the terrible tiger? He feels baffled at the mysterious paradox of the creator and his art.
Audio Books
Audio Books
The dual nature of God and his creation is brought out here. The lamb stands for the benevolent aspect of Nature. It is small, gentle, meek innocent and helpless. The child naturally loves it because it is like him closer to Nature and God. There is no sense of awe here.
The tiger stands for the terrible strength and cruel aspect of nature. It symbolises the malevolent forces of the universe, always ferocious, cruel, and hostile and destructive why should the creator labour hard to create such a beast. The poet is baffled pondering the process of creation. It is the face of experience that is shown here. No matter how hard you try to understand it eludes your grasp. Questions are asked one after the other but there is ot answer. At the end the poet stands awe struck and baffled.
